July 13, 2003

Fifth Sunday of Pentecost

Ephesians 1:3-14

 “Destiny?”

     When the fifth book in the Harry Potter series was about to be released, the publisher claimed that eight million copies would be needed to meet the demand.  Everyone thought this wild estimate was just a gimmick to generate more interest in the book, but when “Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix“ arrived, more than six million copies flew off the shelf the first weekend, just like wizards on broomsticks!  Now it appears eight million copies won’t be enough.  The book sales on the first day of the release exceeded by nearly five-fold the record for the highest-ever movie ticket sales.  Harry Potter is the best thing that ever happened to the publishing industry.

     What’s all the fuss about?  If you haven’t been keeping up, you can get a good crash course by asking any twelve-year-old.  In the meantime, here are a few of the basics: The story is about a boy named Harry Potter who was forced to live under the stairs in the home of his aunt and uncle.  He was under appreciated and underfed and constantly berated.  In spite of this, however, it is eventually discovered that he was destined to be a great wizard.  He escapes his abusive relatives and enters the magical Hogwarts School.  From there, adventure after adventure unfolds as Harry grows into his role as a wizard, discovering day-by-day his ever-increasing powers. 

     Harry Potter is the story of a disadvantaged person rising to the greatness for which they are predestined.  It’s the classic fantasy of the common person unaware of the truly special person they really are, surprised by the uncovering of their latent greatness.  It’s the sort of story we might all wish were our own and perhaps, therein lies the reason for the mass appeal of the books…and movies…and action figures…and games…and...

     Have we not all fantasized at one time or another about such a wonderful turnaround in our lot, to find one day that we are the unknown prince or princess after all, the heir of some fabulous legacy?  Wouldn’t it change everything to know, really know, that we are meant for something truly great, that we have some great destiny?

 We do.

      In fact, the greatness to which we are predestined is better than anything Harry Potter has discovered in even five books on the subject because our destiny is not magical or make-believe.  It is the surest truth because it is promised by God.  We are a people chosen for great things because we are the children of God, by God’s own choosing.

 Ephesians 1:5-8:

God has destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed upon us.  With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will.

Ephesians 1:11:

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things.

Ephesians 1:13-14:

In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of your inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people.

     You are probably aware that there has been a centuries-long debate over this issue of predestination.  Does our future with God in a heavenly hereafter depend on our choice, the action of our free will, or does it depend on God’s choice for us, a destiny over which we have little control?  I won’t pretend that I can settle this debate with a simple sermon, but for me, it seems there’s a little of both involved here.  God has big plans for us.  God has good intentions for us.  God goes out of his way for us, claiming us as his own, giving us the wonderful saving love of Jesus, accepting Christ’s sacrifice as final payment for all our sins.  These are choices God makes for us.  We mean this much to him.  From there, I think we’re supposed to make some choices too, choices that show how much we appreciate God’s love, choices that show we’ve embraced our destiny and consequently, are changed by it. 

     Harry Potter books, movies and merchandise weren’t around when I was a kid.  We had Davy Crocket, the Lone Ranger and Howdy Doody.  Of course, I wanted all of it - the books, coon-skin caps, the six shooters, the puppets, the lunch boxes, the games.  I wanted it all because I thought my friends had it all.  But I remember being told I was not in my friends’ families, but our family, and the values of our family would determine what was right for me.

     What choices do we make, based on our destiny, based on the fact that we are children in God’s family?  Do we give glory to God with our choices?  Do we reveal our Christian heritage and future with our choices?  Do they “know we are Christians by our love“?

     It’s important to reflect the values of the family to which we belong - God’s family.  It’s equally important to know we can always return to God when we have failed to do this.  We are always God’s children because our inheritance isn’t based upon our ability to earn it.  We are loved and forgiven because God wants to love and forgive us.  Christ came as our Savior not because we deserved a heavenly visit, but because God chose to set things right through him.  God’s wonderful love is simply inescapable.

     I hope you never forget this.  I pray that the next time someone puts you down, belittles you, considers you a second-class citizen, that you’ll still stand tall knowing that by faith you are a citizen of heaven, first-class all the way, a child of God by God’s own choosing.  I also pray that you will always see God’s great gift in every person.  It is there, waiting to be revealed in them, in you - a great destiny.