Psalm 103:10-13

[God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him."

When would you like to be a fly on the wall? At what historical event or which moment in history would you like to have witnessed?

This was the question put before us on Saturday as we remembered the life of Rob Hiner when Pastor Stephen delivered the message. He was speaking of Rob's family gatherings and enjoying them from the perspective of observer, "fly on the wall," status. We even watched a brief video during the family message taken by Rob that showed the interaction of the Hiner family at one of their gatherings.

Pastor then said he would have loved to have been a "fly on the wall" at the time of Christ meeting Nicodemus as found in our gospel lesson that day, as recorded in John 3: "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

Our baptism is our confession of faith into the kingdom of Christ. We become part of God's kingdom on earth as we find forgiveness and mercy in the waters of Holy Baptism through the Holy Spirit, who moves our hearts to faith. This faith is part of the steadfast love that God has for his people as Christ notes further in John 3: "16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This steadfast love forgives our sins and iniquities in God's eyes as far as the "east is from the west," as read in Psalm 103.

This psalm was, as Pastor Stephen noted, one of the psalms covered in our men's retreat this past October, which Rob attended and in which he participated in faithfully as he has since we began them four years ago.

As we remembered Rob this past Saturday, and as we remembered all the saints who've gone before us Nov 1 on All Saints Day, we give thanks for the steadfast love God has for us. We give thanks for the redeeming grace found in our baptism and we share the good news of this redemption with those who do not know God. Amen.