Main Text: Luke 20:27-38 (Job 19:23-27a; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17)
God wins! That is the bottom line of faith and changes everything. To believe this is true through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is to believe that death should no longer be the focus of our lives and our vision. Job, who lost everything he owned and loved including his wealth, health and family, found the strength to endure through the solid assurance and promise that God stands with him. As we celebrate Veterans Day, we remember those willing to serve and sacrifice in the protection of our country. We are reminded in Thessalonians that we are involved in a battle. This battle is for our hearts and allegiance to the call of God in our lives. We are called to not be shaken by the battle that rages, but instead, know that God does win. We are called to hold onto this promise and continue to mold our lives to this truth. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and so they try to trip Jesus up in convoluted argument limited by their vision. Jesus instead, points out that God is not the God of the dead, but the living. This is because all are alive to God. In him, there is no death even though we still face it. There is a battle for our hearts and allegiance. There are forces that use death and loss to make us afraid in order to keep us compliant and conformed to what is. We are, however, invited to grow in our faith by stepping up to God and stepping out to live God’s love!