Today, the first of November, is All Saints Day. We will celebrate All Saints Day during worship in all three services this coming Sunday, November 6. All Saints is the day in the church when we remember those who have gone to be with the Lord in the past year. Though we most frequently focus on those who we have lost in the past year, it is certainly appropriate to remember all those who have been united with God in heaven.
All Saints services can be quite emotional, but this is a good thing. It causes us to come to grips with our hope in faith as we wait to come face-to-face with our Savior. We call names, light candles, and offer prayers for those we see no more, but still embrace with the beating of our collective hearts. It is indeed powerful to pause in worship and remember the sting of death, but declare with all cosmic authority that death is not the end, and thanks to Jesus, the grave does not get the last word!
There is another aspect of All Saints Day that I will be embracing this year. Though it has been a few years since I lost an aunt, uncle, three grandparents, and my dad, I cannot participate in an All Saints service without thinking of these loved ones in my life. I am even called to think about those who have departed my life that I never got to see their faces or hold in an embrace, and know that God has a place for us all in Heaven. And since we cannot separate our lives today from the loved ones we no longer see, there is a powerful image that the Bible gives us to help us through each All Saints Day and every day in between; I like to call this, Our Eternal Cheering Section!
In Hebrews 11 and 12, the writer talks about how many faithful people have gone on before us, names like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, and Samuel. Hebrews talks about how these faith heroes persevered through good times and bad, remaining true to the plan and purpose God had for their lives. Hebrews then goes on to talk about how we, too, must complete our journey, using the image of a road race to help us visualize something beautiful taking place. Hebrews 12.1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Think of it this way: as you are running your life race, there is a great cloud of witnesses standing on the sidelines cheering for you! Think about that for a moment – saints like, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, and Samuel are standing on the sidelines of life, cheering your name, and urging you on to the finish line. And standing there with them are saints of a more modern vintage, calling your name, clapping their hands, and encouraging you to keep on going, even when it’s tough. So your parents, children, spouses, friends, neighbors are joining ranks with the heroes of the faith to cheer you on so you will not lose heart. And at the end, you have our greatest cheerleader beckoning you home…Jesus Christ!
Friends, I know personally just how hard it is to lose a loved one. I have grieved terribly and cried the loudest and longest tears, but there is something stabilizing to know that those who have gone on before us are standing side-by-side with other saints and our very own Lord to encourage us to not lose heart or sight of what lies before us. So on this All Saints Day, may you be encouraged by knowing none of us are alone – we have a loving church family, urrounding us and supporting us through our loss. And our loved ones who have gone on before us have joined your eternal cheering section, standing just down the way from Jesus, calling your name, clapping their hands, and cheering you on until you reach your finish line. We are indeed surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, so keep your eyes fixed firmly on Jesus standing at the finish line, even if it’s hard to focus through all the tears.
Your eternal cheering section is shouting your name. Can you hear it?
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