Communion Message
A Spiritual Thermometer
January 16, 2005
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Ever since I was very young I have understood the concept of a thermometer, a temperature gauge. A thermometer basically is supposed to let us know if we are where we're supposed to be.

Let me see if I can describe it this way. When my son Sterling was very, very young, I don't know if he was two or three, I have told this story before, but some stories are worth telling again and again and again and again; he was just learning how to put together sentences and he didn't always put the words in the right order, but he was learning how to string together words to communicate ideas.

It was a late afternoon or an evening and he was sitting on my lap in the dining room and we were waiting for dinner, and the table was partial set, but it really wasn't ready for serving yet. In any event, as he was sitting on my lap all of a sudden his arm reaches out for something in front of him on the table, and I said Sterling, not yet. And I remember him keeping that arm out there and looking at me and looking at what was in front of him, and looking at me, and looking at what he wanted in front of him. And eventually the arm went down, but we all know it didn't stay down, don't we?

When he thought Dad was distracted and not paying attention that arm went back out again, and I said, Sterling, not yet. And he looked at me and looked at what he wanted, and he looked at me -- I don't know how many times he did that -- and then he said this, Daddy, you go there. He was pointing down the hall. He wanted me out of the room...and why did he want me out of the room? Because he wanted to do something he knew was displeasing to his father. And how often it is that we do the same thing to our heavenly Father, don't we?

We try to say, Father, why don't You go there, or some place. Can You give me some space? And you know you think about that and the whole idea is really ludicrous when you understand that God is omnipresent. That means He's everywhere at once.

The Bible says if you go to the tallest mountain, He is there. If you were to go to the deepest parts of the deepest sea, He is there. He's everywhere, and He's promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

I remember seeing a sign one time that said, If God feels far away, who moved? How can God be far away if God is everywhere?

The song that we have just sung is sort of a spiritual thermometer to us in this regard...are we just saying it because it's words in a song in a church, and we know we are supposed to sing the words in a song in a church on Sunday, or are the words 'Draw me close to You' an expression from the heart that is sincere and passionate? A spiritual thermometer. Well that is between you and God.

And the Scriptures say at times like this we should examine our self, and so I'd like to invite you, if you are physically able, to join with me as we now kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

And John writes these words: If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins.

Lord we are so thankful that we can - that You invite us to come to You and ask You for forgiveness, and You are faithful to forgive and cleanse. Lord that is our desire this day, to be forgiving of our sin and cleansed from all unrighteousness. And Lord we pray this partaking of these sacred elements in remembrance of You. Let's partake of the bread, and also the cup.

Thank you Lord, in Jesus' name we pray and all God's people said, amen. Let's stand. Let's greet those who come to worship with us today.