I have thought of this moment many times, and every time, no matter how I tried to think about it, it was a task that was so difficult to do. No matter how we try to package it in pleasantries, saying goodbye to those we love dearly is simply a duty that puts a heavy burden upon our hearts. I say “we” because I don’t speak for myself but for my family as well.
Because there is not a simple way to do this I have searched for a help and have found one in a hymn of the beloved Isaac Watts; one that holds much meaning for Kathy and I. We know it by the title, “How Sweet and Awful Is the Place.” There are six verses to this hymn, and what I’d like to do is to read each verse to you and reflect upon that verse and how it has ties to God’s providence in our lives and our relationship to you, the congregation of Westminster.
The hymnal lists Luke 14.16 as the verse reference for this hymn. This is the beginning of a parable of our LORD Jesus. In this parable he is explaining that there is a great feast planned and those who were on the original invitation list found themselves caught up in the trappings of the world and so despised their place at the feast. This teaching is directed to the Pharisees. They were given a high office in the ruling of the Jewish people, yet they perverted their duty before God and served only themselves. So the parable continues that when the master of the feast heard of the lame excuses of the original invitees that he became angry and sent his servant out into the streets and byways to bring all that he could find to fill his home and enjoy the marvelous feast. We are those who were found and now partake of this feast.
Now please hear my reflections on this passage and hymn.
How Sweet and Awful Is the Place
(Blue Trinity #271, Red Trinity #469)
Click Here or click Hymn name above to hear the hymn
| 1. | How sweet and awful is the place |
| | With Christ within the doors, |
| | While everlasting love displays |
| | The choicest of her stores. |
Sweet and Awful are not terms that you expect to hear complementing one another in a sentence, but that is only because we misunderstand the usage of the term awful. Here it means to fill with inspiring awe; or filling with a profound reverence. With this understanding we should all easily be able to offer a hearty “Amen!” to these words. Although I have to confess that it has not always been this way for me and Kath. We, like so many, misunderstood what it meant to worship our LORD in a biblical manner. But the LORD dealt tenderly with us and through our relationship with Westminster we came to the knowledge that we have today, and share with our daughters; that is, that worship is a command performance that is acted out of a thankful heart. Through the teaching and example that we saw here in your midst, we learned to worship with our hearts, mind, and actions. And we have learned to do this as a family. Today, when I walk into the sanctuary I look forward to scanning the pews and looking at all the heads and faces that make up the many families who have been called by Christ to join together and share their lives together. That is sweet & awful. It should be regarded as precious and always revered. This is found nowhere else in the world, but where you find Christ. And out of this incredible union comes the riches of heaven, what Watts refers to as the “choicest of [Love’s] stores.” I have always been a beneficiary of the love of the church, most often without knowing it or recognizing it. But I thank God that He has allowed me and my family to see His riches in this congregation. The LORD has blessed you all with generous hearts. I think of how Westminster has responded to so many in need. Names like Tammy; Adam & Isaac; Sarah, Connor & Claudia Stiers; the Cassidys; and of course ourselves. And there are many more that could be named. But this speaks only of material “stores.”
We know also that the LORD has richly given of heaven to this congregation through the gospel preaching and administration of the sacraments. As a covenant community we rightly put a high value to these heavenly gifts. Again, this is something that we have learned here and will cherish forever.
| 2. | While all our hearts and all our songs |
| | Join to admire the feast, |
| | Each of us cry, with thankful tongues, |
| | "Lord, why was I a guest?" |
Communion. that’s what this is about. When I think of our communion, names come to my mind. Names of families of Westminster. How we all have come together in different ways, at different times, and with different experiences. But because of the work of Christ we are joined together in our hearts. Our communion expresses these differences with one voice of thanksgiving. That is a marvelous thing. It is sweet & awful. It does beg the question, and often with tears, “Lord, why was I a guest?”
Before Westminster, any notion of communion that I had was between myself and my LORD, or between myself and my wife. But nothing else. The LORD has since shown me and my family, through you all, that communion is much broader than that, and is enriched by the complete body of Christ. I am still learning this and sharing this with my family as I do. You all have done well in allowing God to show us this through you.
I know there is sometimes disagreement about what we should or should not be singing. But there is something that I certainly find agreeable when I see and hear it, and that is this congregation singing together. I will never forget that this is where my daughters learned to sing and appreciate the hymns of our faith. For that matter, that extends to Kathy and I as well. Sure, we have sung a hymn or two that we recall from earlier years, but when you think of them with heartfelt memory, this will be their birthplace.
| 3. | "Why was I made to hear Thy voice, |
| | And enter while there's room, |
| | When thousands make a wretched choice, |
| | And rather starve than come?" |
This verse make me think of Limited Atonement; Calvinism; Reformed Theology; Covenantal Theology; and the Gospel.
Our Father in Heaven has a particular call for His people. The LORD has shown me this for a very long time and it led to me being labeled a Calvinist before I even knew who Calvin was. God’s grace does extend to every living creature under His heavens. This is evident in the seasons, the rains, the rising and setting of the sun. God loves what He has created. But He has a particular grace for His people, and that manifests itself in the form of His only begotten Son. Though my journey into this territory of Covenantal Theology, and thus my family’s, began long ago, it didn’t begin to gel or solidify until sitting under the teaching of Pastor Bordwine along with the guidance of Westminster’s elders and deacons. It was under the wings of Westminster that I learned of true grace and the fulness of that grace as expressed in Covenantal communion. It’s a grace that impacts my wife, and my children. A grace that holds precious promises to thousands of generations for those who love God and keep His commandments.
Look around. The faces that you see are those who have been called into God’s grace. Some of us more mature in that call than others. Even those here in our midst who have not heard their LORD’s call, partake of the grace as they share with us in fellowship. Let us pray for them that they will never despise this grace, but receive it fully by heeding their Shepherd’s voice and avoid making a “wretched choice.”
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| 4. | 'Twas the same love that spread the feast |
| | That sweetly drew us in; |
| | Else we had still refused to taste, |
| | And perished in our sin. |
This verse reminds me that we are loved in spite of who we are. Again, a truth that was well learned here at Westminster, both through the people and the teaching of the pulpit. There is not one of us who comes more deserving than another; all of us, without Christ, face the eternal fires of Hell. This is understood here at Westminster and we warmly embrace each other, warts and all. Westminster is truly a family to the Boyers. We left our home in California 14 years ago and four years later found ourselves being drawn into the love of Christ through His beautiful bride here at Westminster.
These next two verses come more in the form of a charge:
| 5. | Pity the nations, O our God, |
| | Constrain the earth to come; |
| | Send Thy victorious Word abroad, |
| | And bring the strangers home. |
Here at Westminster we have done fairly well in focusing inward to our homes and have been learning to disciple those God has given to us directly through the covenant of marriage and birth. As we master these disciplines let us not forget the lost who do not have the benefits of the covenant in their midst. How can we share this victorious meal with other sinners like ourselves? Let us not forget that we are sinners and that the only thing that separates us from those who have not heard their Shepherd’s voice is the seal of redemption as applied by the Holy Spirit of God.
We have the benefit of not knowing who has or has not been chosen. This makes our job simple. The efforts of our duty is to everyone. There is not a body that walks this planet that is not fair game. All are targets for the impact of the Gospel. We do not know where our Gospel missiles will strike home with effect, but we do know that there are many targets.
A few weeks back David Scott came to share with us his new work in the Puyallup area. He spoke of their own efforts to share the Gospel and I was inspired by the simplicity of their outreach. Each family was asked to choose one, two, or three families that they can begin to pray for and focus on for sharing the Gospel. I would challenge you all to something more simple. Pick one family. Pray for that family. Share your life with that family. Let the LORD reach out to them through you. Imagine the impact upon the kingdom through such a simple effort. And this now takes us to our last verse:
| 6. | We long to see Thy churches full, |
| | That all the chosen race |
| | May, with one voice and heart and soul, |
| | Sing Thy redeeming grace. |
I love this verse. I do long to see the Churches of God full. To know that the streets someday will be emptied of the lost and that all will hear their Shepherds voice is, to me, the most beautiful vision that I can think of.
We often complain of this world we live in. Rather than complain we should be praying. Praying for our neighbors as mentioned earlier; praying for our politicians (yes, even them); praying for all that we would desire to see put right. How much sweeter to stand shoulder to shoulder praising the one, true God with your neighbor rather than having to label him a God-hater.
So, I would sum up my charge to Westminster with three words. Love and pray. Love God and love your neighbor; and pray for the lost and the advancement and fullness of God’s kingdom.
God Bless you all.
Clancy Boyer
11/25/2007
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