But the word today is that death is not what it seemed to be. Because of Easter, death is no longer in charge. Because of Easter death no longer has the last word. God does. Because of Easter we literally live in a new world where the ultimate reality is not the death of all things, including you and me; the ultimate reality in life is God and love everlasting.

The Easter word is not that God will protect you from every danger, that you and I will never encounter serious trouble, sickness, or death. The Easter word is that whatever happens to us, God will be with us, to comfort and strengthen and uphold. The Easter word is that nothing in all creation, as St. Paul put it, not sickness, not failure, not disappointment, not persecution, not even death itself, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Then in conclusion –

So dear friends, walk through the door, into a new reality, a new world, in which death with all its greedy deadliness has been overcome, replaced with a love that will never die,

“Let us walk through the door”: love without reservation, love without holding back, love your dear ones and friends, love neighbors and strangers, give your life away in love.

In the full confidence of a love that will never die, a love from which even death cannot separate us, commend all your dear ones who are no longer here to God’s eternal love. Walk through the door. You are gloriously free. Fear not. Do not be afraid. Sing and laugh this day and every day, for Christ our Lord was dead but is risen and is going ahead of us into the future. There we will see him.

Christ is risen. Hallelujah.

John M. Buchanan

April 24, 2011

Last Easter Sermon at Fourth Church

Full Sermon

https://www.fourthchurch.org/sermons/2011/042411.html