There’s a story about two men who met after a long absence. The first said to the second, “How’s your wife?” Replied the second, “She’s in heaven.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the first man responded. Then, realizing that might not be the appropriate response he said, “I mean to say, I’m glad.” And then realizing that that wasn’t very appropriate either, he continued, “What I really mean to say is, I’m surprised.” 

This is a day we remember those who have died and gone before us in the larger family of faith. In some countries, All Saints is a national holiday. It’s the Festival of All Saints, or the Feast of All Saints. In those countries All Saints may be bigger than Christmas or Easter. We observe it here today by reading the names of those who have died in the past 12 months, and also with the memorial All Saints concert here in the sanctuary tonight. 

Who is a saint? Is a saint one who is a really committed Christian? Is a saint one who is a close follower of Jesus? Is a saint one who is a pillar of the church? Revelation 3:12 says, “He who conquers will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” 

I am not too sure about the male language in that text. There’s a story about a little boy who said to his mother, “Mommy, do men get into heaven?” 

“Of course they do,” the mother replied. “Why do you ask?” 

The little boy responded, “Well, Mommy, every time I see pictures of angels, none of them ever have any beards.” The quick-witted mother responded, “Well, that’s because men only get into heaven by a close shave.” 

The Bible says that the saint is a believer. It is a small “s” rather than a capital “s.” A young man in a distant country was caught one day stealing sheep. As punishment for his crime, he had the letters “ST” emblazoned on his forehead to stand for “sheep thief.” As a result of that incident, the young man turned his life around. He gave his life to God at a Christian service. Over the years people forgot about his crime. When someone was asked about the “ST” on the man’s forehead, another would usually respond, “I’m not sure, but I think maybe it stands for ‘saint.’” A saint is a believer—one who tries to follow Jesus. A saint is one who has a God focus. 

Which brings me to the text for today from the book of Jude: “Contend for the faith that was once entrusted to the saints.” Contend for the faith. Make it a passion in your life. Make sure you work hard to preserve the faith that was entrusted to the saints. I see this text as a set of instructions to the church. 

What does the text mean? For what shall we contend? What is worth preserving? What have I seen that must be preserved? For what will I contend? What is central? Let me suggest several things.  

JESUS IS THE PRIMARY REVEALER OF GOD 

First, I will contend for the fact that Jesus is the primary revealer of God. The saints believe that. They contend for that truth. In Jesus I see God. There is never a compromise on that point. 

Somewhere I came across a set of new titles for familiar hymns about Jesus. I think you will recognize some of these.

All hail the influence of Jesus’ name

My hope is built on nothing much

Be thou my hobby

O for a couple of tongues to sing

He’s quite a bit to me

O how I like Jesus

Sit up, sit up for Jesus

What an acquaintance we have in Jesus 

Not the saints! The light of God shines through Jesus at every point. He is the image of the invisible God. Jesus is the source of all that I know and all that I believe about God. 

Oswald Chambers once wrote in his devotional book, “Stay the source.” Obviously it’s a play on words. “Stay the source!” The saints see more of God by building a relationship with Jesus. 

THE BIBLE IS OUR STORY 

The second thing for which I will contend is that the Bible is the story of our faith. The Bible is our faith history over 3500 of written history and at least 1000 or more years of oral history. 

An American was visiting in a third world country. He saw a native sitting beside the road, reading his Bible. Somewhat astonished, the American said, “My good man, in my country many people consider that book to be out of date.” 

The native thought for a moment. Then he said, “My good man, if this book was considered out of date in my country, you’d be eaten by now.” 

The Bible is our faith story. It has been carefully pieced together and preserved for us. We may not all interpret it the same way. We may not all understand it the same way. But it is our faith history. 

SHARING GENEROUSLY 

Thirdly, I will contend for the fact that a saint is someone who shares generously whatever God has given to him or her. It does not always mean large sums of money. It means being generous with whatever we may happen to have. 

Lee Strobel was a journalist with the Chicago Tribune for many years before he was called into the ministry. He had a rather remarkable conversion to Christianity. He tells a story of a time with the Tribune that began to change his life. It was the Christmas season a number of years ago.  

The editors had found a family by the name of Delgado—a grandmother and two granddaughters—who had been burned out of their roach-infested tenement. They had moved into a tiny two-room apartment on the West Side. Strobel was assigned to visit and write their story. 

When he arrived, he could not believe how empty the apartment was. There was one small table, some rice and other bits of food on the table, no carpet, nothing hanging on the walls; the apartment was totally devoid of possessions. Yet despite their poverty, the Delgados talked confidently of their faith in Jesus. 

Lee Strobel went home and wrote the story about the Delgados as asked. He then moved on to what he considered to be more interesting events. 

On Christmas Eve he sat at his desk, wondering how the Delgados were doing. He decided to pay them a visit. Listen as he describes that experience. 

When the granddaughter opened the door, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tribune readers had responded to my article by showering the Delgados with a treasure trove of gifts—roomfuls of furniture, appliances and rugs; a lavish Christmas tree with piles of wrapped presents underneath; carton upon bulging carton of food; and a dazzling selection of clothing…On top of that, they donated thousands of dollars in cash.

But as surprised as I was by this outpouring, I was even more astonished by what my visit was interrupting. The grandmother and her granddaughters were getting ready to give away much of their newfound wealth. When I asked her why, she replied in halting English, “Our neighbors are still in need. We cannot have plenty while they have nothing. This is what Jesus would want us to do.”

That blew me away. If I had been in their position at that time in my life, I would have been hoarding everything…

They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I knew only the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual, while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material—and something made me long for what they had. Or, more accurately, something made me long for the One they knew.[i] 

Saints share generously whatever they may happen to have. Saints have shown me the joy of giving over the years. 

LIVING A LIFE OF SERVICE 

Fourthly, I will contend that life is to be lived as a life of service. Saints are those who sense their calling to serve as the way in the world. 

A colleague of mine shares a story of a retiree named Johnny, who lived in northeastern Oklahoma. Every Tuesday and Thursday Johnny would go to his church for prayer and Bible study. Then he would go out and mow lawns for people who couldn’t do it on their own. He took his pickup truck with a lawnmower in the back. Every Monday and Friday he went shopping for people who could not get around. He did this for at least 16 years in his retirement. 

Finally he contracted cancer and died. His funeral was one of the largest in the memory of that county. The church was packed. There was a long procession to the cemetery. When the people got to the cemetery they found a tombstone that had already been put in place—pre-ordered by Johnny. On the tombstone was a single sentence that read, “Thank you for giving me a life to serve you.”[ii] 

Saints are those who understand what life is about. Saints are those who understand of what Jesus meant when he said, “I am among you as one who serves.” 

So what is the faith entrusted to the saints? It is a faith that sees Jesus as the way to know God. It is a faith that sees the Bible as our invaluable faith story. It is a faith that sees generosity as the way to live. And it is a faith that sees service as the path to walk. 

For this and for these principles I will contend. I have seen these principles at work all my life. I have seen them in those who have gone before us in this church. I honor them. Some of them I have seen clearly on the list I read today. I often think how impoverished my life would be had I not known these persons. 

ONE MORE PIECE 

But there is one more piece to all of this. The fact is that you and I may be that person for someone else. You and I might be the ones who contend for the faith in such a way that those after us will see and remember. You and I might be the one in whom others see the design for faithful living. You and I might be the ones called by God to pass on the great tradition of Christian living. 

Twelve years ago (1993) we put together a video here for a capital campaign that was in full swing at that time. The closing music and scenes from that campaign were powerful then. They are even more powerful now. The video shows scenes from the life of the church—men, women, children and youth—and behind the scene Steve Green sings one of his powerful songs. It is entitled, “Find us Faithful.” The song goes like this.

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road,

And those who’ve gone before us line the way;

Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary,

Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

Let us run the race not only for the prize;

But as those who’ve gone before us,

Let us leave to those behind us

The heritage of faithfulness passed on through Godly lives.

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

May the fire of our devotion light their way.

May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,

And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone,

And our children sift through all we’ve left behind,

May the clues that they discover and the memories they    

   uncover

Become the light that leads them to the road we each must 

   find.

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

May the fire of our devotion light their way.

May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe.

And the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful. 

Contend for the faith entrusted to the saints. Pass it on. So that all who come behind us find us faithful.  Amen.