One God, One Salvation
A sermon based on 1 Timothy 2:1-7
by Rev. Randy L. Quinn

In one of the churches where a colleague of mine served, there was a story heard time and time again about a coffee pot that had “disappeared” from the kitchen. It was practically brand new when it simply disappeared.

The women of the church especially, but not solely, were the most vocal about their complaints. Some were convinced it was the pastor at the time who took it home. Others were convinced it was one of the many groups who used the church for various activities. Still others could name names of people they were convinced had taken the coffee pot.

That coffee pot divided people in the congregation. Some were willing to write it off, others were adamant that the sinner should be named and punished.

One person, who was tired of the discussion, simply purchased another one.

But that didn’t stop the conversation. It was a sore subject, and it came up every time there was discussion about purchasing new equipment in the church. “How can we make sure it stays in the church?” was always asked. And often there were glares in the direction of whomever that particular person thought had taken it.

Locks were added to the kitchen cabinets, limiting access. Rules were instituted about who could use the kitchen and when. The entire congregation was affected as more locks were installed and more rules made. Sunday School teachers had a hard time getting supplies for their classrooms as more and more people became suspects.

The church was divided over this “stolen” coffee pot. Newcomers, including the current pastor, found themselves in the curious position of not wanting to take sides, to support people on both sides of the discussion, and trying to figure out how to convey God’s love that covered all sins – including the sin of taking a coffee pot.

Most people who visited once, quietly slipped away. It was clear that God was not being honored there; rather sin had become the focus.

A couple of years later the coffee pot was discovered in a kitchen cabinet. It was “hiding” behind a large supply of Styrofoam coffee cups. It had been there all along. No one had taken it. No one had borrowed it. No one had noticed it.

But the damage of the accusations took a long time to repair.

Some of you know that Ronda and I used to open our home to foster children. We no longer have empty beds or available rooms for them, so we have not sought a license here, but over the years we think we’ve shared our home with over a hundred different children. Some are only distant blurs, but there are others whose stories continue to echo in our hearts.

One I remember was a precocious three-year old named Gracie. She’s probably a senior in High School now, but I still miss her excitement and enthusiasm for life. At the time she lived with us, we had a cat named Smokey. Every night we’d put Smokey outside and he would wander off. In the mornings he was at the back window asking for attention.

Gracie was especially attracted to Smokey, but she lived with a constant sense of doubt about his attraction to her. So every time she saw him at the window, she would gleefully shout, “My Smokey’s back! My Smokey’s back!”

I wondered at times if Smokey had a similar thought – “Oh, good; Gracie’s here,” but more often I’ve thought Gracie’s response was very similar to how God responds when we show up in worship or when we get down on our knees and pray at home. “My child is back!” “My people are here!”

Like Gracie, many of us find ourselves doubting God’s presence. And we can all remember worrying about whether or not God would be there when we prayed. But the truth is that whenever we can’t sense God’s presence it has more to do with us than it does with God. As maybe you’ve heard other people describe it: when you think God is missing in your life, it’s important to remember that God hasn’t moved.

Like the coffee pot in the kitchen, God has always been there.

God is here today. God’s ears are open. God’s heart is open.

And Paul reminds us that it’s God’s earnest desire to meet and be known by every person on earth. Including you. Including me. Including those in our neighborhoods who are at home this morning sipping coffee while they read the paper or enjoying a day when they can “sleep in” as a family and enjoy one another’s company. God wants to be a part of each of our lives.

God wants to know us and be known by us.

And there is a difference between knowing someone and being known by them; just as there is a difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone.

Last week, I received one of those phone calls that made me a little uncomfortable, especially in an era when identity theft is so common. She had access to my financial information and wanted to confirm my address. In some ways, the woman who called knew more about me than I did! It was more than a little disconcerting and made me very uncomfortable.

And as uncomfortable and scary as that was, it occurred to me later that God knows even more than she does! God not only knows how I pay my bills but the personal priorities I have for making those payments. God knows how I spend my time and what criteria I use in determining how I use my time.

God knows all about me. But God wants it to be a mutual relationship. For that to happen, I need to know God, too.

But as I said, there is a difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone. I need to know Jesus on a personal basis, not just the stories of Jesus.

Many of us know of the people I mentioned to the children (see above). We know who the President is, for instance. We know who our Governor is. We know of the Supreme Court justices. And maybe some of us have met those people. Very few of us can say we actually know them. We know about them. We know of them.

But there is a world of difference.

A friend of mine recently retired from the Navy Reserves as the highest ranking Navy Reserve Chaplain. Admiral Bigger was a friend of mine. Ronda, Melissa and I stayed with Darold and his wife on a short vacation when Melissa was quite young.

Shortly after he became Admiral, I was working with another chaplain who had never met Darold. I was telling her about him, including why I was looking forward to the years ahead with him leading the Navy’s Chaplain Corps. I told her about his sense of humor and his strong pastoral nature as well as his keen insightfulness.

She knew of him before we talked. Joan knew about him after we talked. In fact, I had a chance to introduce her to him. But she didn’t really know him.

It was nearly two years later when she finally got a chance to work with him on a project. In telling me about it later, Joan told me that while she believed what I said, she now knew it was true. Admiral Bigger is a remarkable man.

But she couldn’t say that with authenticity until she actually knew him. She learned the difference between knowing about him and actually knowing him.

That is true about our God and Savior, too. I cannot say enough about his love or his grace. I can tell you all about Jesus, but the relationship he makes possible between you and God must be developed individually.

God knows you. God loves you.

I want you to know God. I want you to love God.

If you don’t have a personal relationship with God, I’d be glad to introduce you. And I know there are others in this room that could do the same thing. Just ask; we’ll find a time to talk.

Our church exists to help people develop and strengthen that relationship, a relationship made possible by Jesus. He, alone, is the one who brings us to the throne of God and introduces us as brothers and sisters. We are heirs with Christ who have inherited the same gift of eternal life given to him at Easter (Rom 8:17).

Thanks be to God.

Amen.