Sermon at Higher Things 2024: "Who Am I"

 + Order of Matins, Higher Things “Who Am I” Conference – July 24^th, 2024 +

Genesis 3:1-24

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Who am I?

 

It’s a question of identity. It’s a question that sets us out on a quest for answers about existence. Life. Death. About God and his relationship with us. It’s a question of and a quest for truth and meaning. 

 

And anytime you have a quest, you have a story. 

 

In Genesis 3 we’re told two stories that answer this age-old question of identity. And these two stories are as far apart as Slytherin is from Gryffindor, as far as Ringwraiths are from hobbits; as far as the White Witch is from Aslan. 

 

The serpent, the ancient dragon, tells you one story. Who am I? In the dragon’s storybook we are all fools to be taken advantage of. Marks to be preyed upon. Suckers who, like Adam and Eve, will fall for a lie at the drop of a glimpse of fruit, or a scroll of our smart phones, or anything else that is pleasing to our eyes. 

 

Who am I? According to the serpent, you are your desires, give in to them. Be yourself. Do what makes you happy. What feels good. You’re the master of your destiny. The captain of your ship. The creator of your own little cosmos. It’s the same yarn he spun for Adam and Eve: “You can be like God knowing good and evil.”

 

This is what all villains offer as their temptation: a horde of gold. But ignore that dragon over there. The White Witch tempted Edmund with power over his siblings and lordship of Narnia. Sauron tricked the men of middle-earth with rings of power. He-who-shall-not-be-named promised to conquer death.

 

And yet, beneath the foul, sulphureous air, the lies are all the same. The end is always destruction. Ruin. Lies incapable of giving you life. False promises failing to deliver. 

 

It might appear at first that Genesis 3 is only a story of misery, failure, ruin, rebellion and cosmic death and destruction. Thankfully neither the dragon nor his words win the day. Thankfully there is another story in Genesis 3. The true story. 

 

The quest of our identity isn’t found in the dragon’s lies, but God’s word that gives life. He delivers what he promises. He sacrificed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve. He clothes you in Christ’s sacrifice in Baptism. He sends a child born to slay the dragon by going to the cross for you. When we ask God, “Who am I”?, He answers our question with his grace and mercy in Christ crucified.

 

Yes, Genesis 3 tells us the story of temptation, sin, shame, corruption, curse, and death. But Genesis also tells us a far better story. The story of Christ who overcame all the temptations and the tempter who overcame us. The story of Jesus who bore our shame, and sorrows, and sin on the cross. The true story of Christ crucified and risen from the dead to save you, deliver you, rescue you, and declare to you. Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

 

In Christ, our story has a truly happy ending. For in Christ, our quest and questions of “Who am I” are answered in his grace and mercy. Who am I? You are his beloved, blood-bought, baptized saints. Now and always. 

 

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.