Communion Message
(Under God's wings)
August 25, 2002
Pastor Leighton Sheley

I came across this short description a while back. An article in National Geographic several years ago provided this penetrating picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their track of a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One Ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under the dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of the impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

Now she could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Psalm 91:4 says, He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. You are the wings that will hide me.

Some of the words that were thrown upon Christ as He hung on that cross have been recorded for us. Someone in that crowd that day said, others He saved, Himself He cannot save. Now that was meant to be said in mocking, but there's a great deal of truth in what was said. You see, Jesus wasn't really held to that cross by those nails. As one of the old hymns of the Church said He could have called 10,000 angels to take Him off that cross that day. Jesus Himself said no one is taking My life from Me, but I am laying it down willingly.

What was it then that kept Him on that cross that day, His arms outstretched? It was because He was protecting us from the destiny of our sin. The soul that sinneth it shall die. The wages of sin is death. And as Jesus hung there that day He wasn't paying wages for any sin He had committed, for He had committed none. He hung upon that cross and died to pay the wages of our sin. And when we come to His cross we find protection under His wing.

He has taken and paid the wages of our sin. And yet, each and every day, each and every one of us, think or say or do something that is sinful, that's displeasing. And His word says that at times like these we should examine ourselves, and if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so I want to invite you now, if you're physically able, to join with me as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Lord the picture of You with arms outstretched hanging upon that cross, reminds us so much of wings outstretched. Your arms open in sacrifice; Your arms open in invitation. Lord the elements that we hold remind us once again of Your great love and mercy towards us. We're so undeserving. But You, so great, would pay the wages of our sin. Thank you Lord for being so faithful even when we're not. Thank you Lord for forgiveness and for cleansing, and we receive this as we partake of these elements. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup.

Hallelujah. In Jesus' name we pray, and all together let's say, amen. Let's take a few minutes to greet those who have come to worship with us this morning.