Believers are living letters, written for impact

II Thessalonians 3

Introduction: Over the weeks of our studies in I and II Thessalonians, we’ve made note of many different individuals who left a distinguishing mark on our world. Perhaps you remember the nominees for the Darwin Awards for 1999, the West Texas gas company employees and the South African hospital cleaning lady. Both of these nominees made very significant marks, though tragic, on our world.
Then there was William Brown who had the hopeful face in Moscow. We included Arminius, the liberator of Germany from the Romans, and we saw Harrison Ford take a huge step of faith as Indiana Jones in the third movie, “The Last Crusade”. We also met Simon Bolivar, the liberator of five South American countries -- what an impact he made! We looked briefly at Scott Fischer, a veteran of Mount Everest, and we learned a bit about Walter Payton, the great running back for the Chicago Bears. We saw the impact made by Turlough O’Carolan, the Irish harpist, and we were fascinated by the school drop-out, Peter Giannini who in time bought the Bank of America.
We were challenged by the Iwo Jima flag raisers and the huge impact they made in 1940’s America. We learned the story of Grandma Moses, America’s best known folk-art painter, and we marveled that archeologist Heinrich Schliemann was able to discover the ancient city of Troy by reading the old classics.
We saw a brief part of the lives of Mike Schmidt, one of baseball’s most valuable players, Walter Reed, the vanquisher of yellow fever, Mary Lou Retton, the premier gymnast, and Lyman Spitzer, the driving force behind the Hubble Space Telescope.
Each one of these individuals made a conspicuous, telltale mark upon this world of ours. Each one did something that the rest of the world noted as uniquely his.
By way of introduction then, as we come to the last three verses of II Thessalonians, Paul tells us he leaves a distinguishing mark in every letter he writes. He makes a distinct stamp that identifies his letters as uniquely his. If the letter doesn’t have this mark, then it’s not Paul’s. This mark of validation is one of three final points Paul makes as he finishes his letter. He offers a last prayer as his first point, and a benediction is his last.
These three points, simple, clear, straightforward, become a launching pad for some final applications we want to make as we say good-by to 2 Thessalonians. Our text reads like this: 2 Thess 3:16-18 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
Let’s take Paul’s middle point first. His mark of validation is his handwriting. He says, “This is the way I write.” No doubt a secretary took his letter down as he dictated it, and Paul signed off on it at the end. His personal greeting, in his own hand, marked the letter as his. We’ve all seen these kinds of letters, written by a secretary, and signed by the author.
As I think of application and what this could mean to us, consider that this same Paul described the Corinthians as “… our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men,…” (2 Cor. 3:2). He further wrote that these Corinthians are “a letter of Christ.” (2 Cor. 3:3).
So, if Paul had a particular mark that identified his letters, and if we are “letters of Christ” as the believers at Corinth were, able to be read by others --- what would be our distinguishing mark? What is that feeling that comes to mind in the hearts of those who interface with us in the community? What word do folks here in the church use as the particular qualifier of our life? If those we work with were to select one or two terms to describe us, what would it be? What is that distinguishing mark of our life?
Let me share what some our your marks are! I know I’m taking some risk here, but you know me as a risk-taker. I like how Lon Solomon said it in the latest “Leadership Journal.” He is the senior pastor of McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA., and he tells people who are considering membership there with them: “If you don’t like taking risks, this may not be the place for you – for at any given moment, we are a nanosecond away from disaster.” And since I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow, I can afford to take some risks today. Anyway…
Art Mahan has marked us with the video images he finds each week to make more clear the message I’m trying to communicate. He does that faithfully along with setting up the sound equipment. If you doubt that mark upon us, watch what happens when he’s away!
Terri Brooks and Judy Sutherland have good histories with our children’s choirs, nurturing our little ones in the truths of the faith. How we have been blessed with the music that comes through their leadership!
Ron Sutherland has marked all of us with most of the creative ideas that have blossomed around here. Several years ago Bob and Jean and Suzie and I went to Ohio for a seminar on creativity led by the great Howard Hendricks. On the little test for creativity we took at the end, I ranked last among the four of us. Did that cause me some concern? Not in the least, for I have lunch with Ron just about every week.…
Keri Manganello has marked this church family week after week on Sunday mornings and at funerals and weddings with her great skills at the piano. I am told her abilities and skills in the sight reading of music are beyond compare.
Virgil Corll has left his mark all over our facilities with numerous remodeling projects -- woodwork, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, painting, door locks, you name it; Virgil’s done it.
Geoff Schwartz is just a younger Virgil. Known for doing things right, Geoff has been resodding the grass around our parking lot, removing and replacing rotting railroad ties; he built the concrete retaining wall on the east side of the gym, and has plans to begin to pour curbing around the parking lot.
Ron Dudleston has marked this church family with his get-it-done approach to any kind of project. Whether it’s a BASSYCS banquet, or the food you ate in the park on July the 2nd, or these communion elements we’ll be sharing shortly, Ron is completely dependable with every project he undertakes.
Cindy Callison has left her green thumbprint on our sanctuary, altar table, and both entryways. Her skills with plants and artificial plants, wreaths and bows has said to visitors that this is a warm place to come for worship.
I doubt that many of you know that Bob Hodge has unique skills in the arena of stains, lacquers, varnishes, and other wood finishes. The new trim for these sanctuary windows that is awaiting installation is absolutely beautiful -- something special for this church building from Bob’s careful hands.
The one who takes care of our financial books and records, Barb Valerio, is a great steward of the funds that are given by us to the work of the ministry here. She has pinched every penny that has come through the offerings -- most, twice! -- so that the funds you entrust to us go as far as possible.
Any of us who know Mike Koch know that there isn’t anything he can’t do. If an elevator chair needs to be installed for Teresa Smith on the stairs of the funeral home, he’ll make sure it’s done, even if it has to be repaired, rebuilt, remodeled and adjusted. And when he finishes, it will work. I know; I rode it myself.
A person doesn’t have to be here long before he/she comes to know Pam Harrison is the congregation’s nurse. Pam will take your call and give you the right kind of counsel. She was still at the hospital with the Seaman family long after Alan and I left on the day Rick died.
Kathy Herrmann has left her mark all over this community. If someone needs to know what color scheme would be just perfect, he calls Kathy. The paint on the town depot was chosen by Kathy; the carpet used anywhere in the university was picked out by Kathy; the color scheme for this very room is the result of her gifted eyes. She has chosen carpet to replace this current floor covering -- when the funds come in to do that.
Everywhere I go in this community the patients of Heidi Lakanen tell me what a wonderful doctor she is. If anything ever happens to my doctor, I’m going to get on her waiting list. I remember the fellows coming back from Honduras one year relating accounts of how John Lakanen, a chemistry professor at the “other” university, had a daily devotion or commentary on something unique and unknown there in the jungle that everyone found fascinating. Of course, we all know that John and Heidi’s primary contribution to this church family is a little boy called David.
And who can tell me what Chuck Stevens has done to mark this church body? The better question is, “Who cannot tell me who Chuck Stevens is?” Greeter and recaller of names like no one else I know.
Ken and Beth Smith are master hosts, marking all of us with their gifts and resources of hospitality. There are not two harder workers in the area of trustees and music than these two.
Suzie Heth has brought credit to this congregation through her volunteer service to the elementary school. In fact she put together a whole program of volunteers that has helped the school staff immensely. And if a person ever needs an in-depth Biblical and theological study of any topic, thoroughly researched and footnoted, Bill Heth’s work will be complete.
And who hasn’t had a lump in his throat and tears on her face when some of our youth, led and trained by Joanne Seaman, have signed a particularly moving song or hymn in a worship service?
Larry Winterholter has impressed me as a superb communicator, saying powerful things in the emotional contexts of weddings and funerals and I’m left wondering, “How does he do that?”
Gary Johnson has always been available to help us with electrical wiring issues here in the church. If it’s tough, he can figure it out. And I’ve always been impressed with the breadth of Gary’s reading interests. He’s shared books with me -- bought me some -- from a great variety of topics and subjects.
Mark Cosgrove has often pinch hit for me here in this pulpit, and many of us appreciate his teaching, but I’m more impressed with the three young men that have grown up in that home, each one polite, courteous, responsible, and someone to make a mom and dad proud. It doesn’t hurt that their roots are in Texas, too.
Suzie’s folks are with us today; many of you have met them in their visits over the years. I’ve told you before of Bill Sweaney’s almost fifty years of ministry to the 2 year olds in his large church in Arlington, TX. There must be at least 10,000 people who know this man as Uncle Bill. Talk about leaving one’s mark on the world….
Sam Cocking is the kind of friend you need for troubled times. She and her husband Kent are generous, too, with the fruit of their Asian pear tree. In season, Kent brings them to our elder meetings -- healthier for us than those marvelous cookies Sam sends during the rest of the year!
Well, I’ve gone way too long on this segment of this message this morning, but I didn’t know where to stop! And there are many more of you who call this church your home that also deserve mentioning. Perhaps there’ll be another opportunity in another sermon soon….
But the point is clear, isn’t it? Paul left a distinguishing mark on all his letters. That mark proved its authenticity. As living letters of Christ read by many in our community, we leave a distinguishing mark wherever we go as well. That mark needs to authenticate our relationship with Christ.
And that leads us to Paul’s first point -- his last written prayer in this letter for his friends. “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”
I want to make a couple of observations about this prayer. First, when we think of peace, we generally mean an absence of strife or a cessation of hostilities or a tranquil mind. But in the Scriptures, it means so much more than that. When Paul writes to the Romans (16:20), he describes the God of peace bruising Satan “under your feet shortly.” In a context of what seems like war, God is designated the God of peace. Paul wants us to know this peace, Biblically speaking, means a sense of general well-being. The Hebrew word, shalom, from which Paul would draw his meaning, has the thought of completeness, soundness, welfare.
And so often this ‘well-being’, this ‘spiritual wholeness and soundness,’ occurs in the context of struggle. It is possible to experience spiritual well-being, ‘a prosperity of soul’ (Leon Morris) all the while facing conflict, strife, and tragedy!
It can happen to us and for us and in us because of the Lord of peace. He is the One Who grants it. John reminds us of Jesus’ offer in his gospel (14:27), “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” What an incredible peace He offers! While in the garden, Jesus asks His disciples, (Matt 26:53) “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
Remember the great storm we mentioned two weeks ago from Acts 27? When everyone has abandoned all hope of being delivered from death to safety, Paul is very much one who is at peace.
Notice in Paul’s prayer the use of the terms ‘continually’ and ‘in every circumstance’. Tell me, friends, what is not covered in the words ‘continually’ and ‘in every circumstance’? Describe for me in your own minds one condition or situation that lies beyond the parameters of ‘continually’ and ‘in every circumstance’.
A tragic accident? The sudden death of a family member or close friend? The diagnosis of a dread disease? A collapsing economy? (Ever wonder why those who handle our investments are called brokers?) The onset of unrelenting pain? A bad call by the umpire calling your son’s game? Shocking, unfounded gossip circulating about you? An unwanted pregnancy? Passed over for promotion? No, not one of these conditions escapes the lasso of ‘continually’ and ‘in every circumstance’.
My friends, there is nothing in this world that would mark us as followers of Christ better than a mind at peace, continually and in every circumstance. This peace is not just for an apostle named Paul or the Son of Man called Jesus. It is for all of us, too! We can leave a legacy like all of you that I’ve mentioned this morning from our church, or we could leave a heritage like all the people we’ve mentioned in the course of our Thessalonian studies… but nothing would quite compare to the aura of well-being that Biblical peace denotes, especially in every circumstance and situation.
The Lord’s presence makes that a very real possibility. Paul’s prayer is that “the Lord be with you all.” The proof of His presence is His peace.
And His grace, in Paul’s benediction, is the icing on the cake. Verse 18: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” God’s unmerited favor, His grace, makes possible peace in every circumstance. Whatever boat we are in, whatever storm blows up, whatever wind and whatever waves have blocked out our vision, God’s grace and the presence of the Lord Jesus guard our hearts with peace.
When Paul wrote to the Philippians about the peace of God guarding our hearts (4:7), he used the picture of military garrisons built near the gates of a city. From these garrisons soldiers could monitor the gates and control all the traffic. Any and every type of the wrong kind of traffic would be stopped and prevented from entering the city.
The analogy to peace and our hearts is quite clear. When the wrong kind of traffic seeks to enter… traffic like anxiety, anger, arrogance, bad attitude, belittling, bedlam, crankiness, crabbiness, conceit, etc., etc., the soldiers of peace lower the crossbars and prevent entrance.
(Conclusion) So, friends, what kind of mark distinguishes us? Do we know enough of the reality of God’s presence and His grace to be marked by peace all the time and in every situation? Is this living letter that is our life like a piece of junk mail easily tossed aside, or is it like a warm, personal letter quickly opened and quickly devoured?
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”


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