In every war there is a decisive battle that determines the outcome of the war. After this battle, there is no question as to what the future holds. That battle establishes defeat or victory. Gettysburg was such a battle in the U.S. Civil War. Waterloo was such a battle. And in World War II, it was the battle on the beaches of Normandy.

After Normandy, there was never any question as to what the outcome of the war would be. Once the Allies had established a beachhead allowing troops and arms to pour onto the continent, the fate of the Nazi armies was sealed. Nevertheless, it should be noted that more Allied soldiers died following that victory than died in battle prior to it! That victory, which was so decisive, did not immediately end dying among the Allied forces or suffering among the European people. The decisive battle had been fought and won on D-Day. But it wasn't until V-Day - which was a long way off - that the end of suffering and death would come!

The death and resurrection of Jesus was the decisive victory that wiped away all doubts about how history would end. After the resurrection, Christians could yell, "Christ is triumphant!" The forces of darkness were defeated. Satan was overcome. But between God's D-Day on Easter morning and that point in history when Christ returns, which will be God's V-Day, there will be suffering and pain and death. The struggle goes on! But even as we continue the struggle, we do so as people of hope. Knowing that the decisive battle has been won, we struggle against the forces of darkness with the full awareness that victory is inevitable. Today we celebrate Saints Triumphant! The saints, you and me, are and will be triumphant! Victory is Coming! We wait for that victory! God's D-Day assures us of God's V-Day!

But in the meantime, there will be A Time of Distress. Our text says: "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then." Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 24 when He was telling his disciples about the end times. The victory has been won for us, friends, make no mistake! We are forgiven children of God, made perfect by Christ's sacrifice once and for all - and we are looking forward to an eternity in heaven with Him!

But until our road to heaven is completed on the last day, we will go through much distress! We still live in the sinful surroundings of our scarred world, and are still shackled by the chains of our own sinful selves. In your life and mine, there will be health problems, disease, sickness, and death. In the world, there will be wars, fighting, unrest, hatred, and violence beyond belief. The news will continue to amaze you over and over again with what people are doing in the world. It isn't going to get better - the world isn't going to grow up and become more loving and more peaceful - it is going to get worse and worse. God makes that pretty clear!

You will also experience struggles in your own life. You will be insulted by others, gossiped about, unappreciated, and taken for granted. You may be persecuted for what you believe and how you live. You will have difficulties raising your children and doing what is best for them. You will have difficulty staying on track in your own life and keeping your own priorities straight. You will have problems trying to save and prepare for retirement years, and then once you get there, they might not go how you want, or they might get cut off altogether. In many ways, life will bring one disappointment after another.

And often, it will be you disappointing yourself & God as you fail to live the life that you know you should be living - you know, the life that God wants you to live - the one that leaves you with a clean conscience. You have failed God and deserve nothing good from Him at all! Isn't it a constant source of distress in your life when you fail to be who God wants you to be and who you are trying to be? That is because you and I are living in this time of distress. Our passage from Hebrews today explained it nicely: "…by one sacrifice he [Jesus] has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Jesus has already made you perfect forever! That is completed and guaranteed! That was your "D-Day." Your status before God is that you are one of his forgiven, perfect children. But you are also being made holy. This talks about the life you and I live right now to thank God for what He has done for us. This is not completed, but an ongoing process. We are working every day, with the Holy Spirit's help, to get better at being God's children and living lives of love to thank Him. But, we are still living in this time of distress and aren't able to do that how we would want to. Not until V-Day!

So thank God for the next part of the verse! "But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered." There is coming A Time of Deliverance! The real V-Day, Victory Day, is coming! The saints - everyone who trusts in God's Son for their salvation, will be triumphant! That is something you can count on! That is something we can look forward to. You can be sure of that because your name is written in God's book! When He opens that book of his, it says [your name], and then it says "Not guilty." "Forgiven." And then it probably has your room number in heaven or something like that! Your reservations in heaven have been made! How awesome that day will be to finally check in!

And that day will come either when you check out of this temporary earthly visit, or when Christ returns again on Judgment Day. There will be A Time of Judgment coming. Our text continues: "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." Again, Jesus quotes this verse in John 5, our gospel reading today. A Day of Judgment is coming. When Jesus returns, everyone who has ever died will be raised back to life. Then, all those who wanted nothing to do with God, his Son, or his amazing love and mercy, will be granted their wish! They will be allowed to have nothing to do with God, his Son, or his love and mercy - forever. But those who depended on God for his love and mercy, and trusted that God provided that love and mercy for us, will get to bask in the warm glow of that love for all eternity! If you trust that God showed his love to you through Jesus and his work on earth, this day is one you will look forward to!

Because finally, there will be A Time of Victory! Our text concludes: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Proverbs tells us that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." So "being wise" means having faith in God and his love! Fearing Him! Honoring Him for his love for you! With this faith in your heart, you can be assured of shining like the brightness of the heavens! You can be assured of entering that wonderful place with God someday because He wrote your name in his book out of love!

And there is even a special promise for those of you who lead others to the righteousness Christ won for them - you will shine like stars forever and ever! God's light will emanate from you like stars in the heavens! You will bring light into the lives of others that lasts forever. So friends, share the wonderful hope you have with others! Parents, teach your children. Talk to your neighbors. Let your light shine into their lives! Help people understand why you can approach life the way you do - that you aren't afraid of death, but can look forward to it. That you know the ultimate victory is still coming for you! Show others, as you share Jesus with them, that the final victory is also coming for them. Let's always let the message we share as a Christian congregation, and individual disciples, be one of triumph and victory!

Victory is coming! God has made you his child - no matter what you have done or failed to do. Out of great love and amazing grace, He has written your name into the book of life.

The Rogers are devout Christians who have built a strong family. The father has a special interest in the spiritual condition of each of his children and often would quiz them in order to know if they were sure of their salvation. Occasionally he would ask them to share in their own words about their relationship with Jesus Christ.

One day it was seven-year-old Jimmy's turn to express how he knew he had eternal life. Jimmy told his version: "I think it will be something like this in Heaven. One day when we all get to go to Heaven, it will be time for the big angel to read from the big book the names of all the people who will be there. He will come to the Rogers family and say, "Daddy Rogers?" and Daddy will say, 'Here!' Then the angel will call out, 'Mommy Rogers?' and Mommy will say, 'Here!' Then the angel will come down to call out Susie Rogers and Mavis Rogers, and they will both say, 'Here!'" He paused, took a big deep breath, and continued. "And finally that big angel will read my name, Jimmy Rogers, and because I'm little and maybe he'll miss me, I'll jump and shout real loud, 'HERE!' to make sure he knows I'm there."

Just a few days later there was a tragic accident. A car struck down little Jimmy Rogers as he made his way to catch the school bus. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, and all the family was summoned. He was in critical condition. The little family group gathered around the bed in which little Jimmy now lay with no movement, no consciousness, and no hope for recovery. The doctors had done all that was in their power. Jimmy would probably be gone by morning.

The family prayed and waited. Late in the night the little boy seemed to be stirring a bit. They all moved closer. They saw his lips move; just one word was all he uttered before he passed from this life. But what a word of comfort and hope for a grieving family he was to leave behind! In the clear voice of a little boy, loud and clear enough so all could hear and understand, little Jimmy Rogers said the one word: "HERE!" And then he was gone to another life beyond this world, where a big angel was reading the names of all those written there.

Friends, one day you will be standing before God and his angels, and you will hear your name being called out. Then, you will get to confidently respond, "HERE!" because Jesus made that possible by coming HERE once, long ago, to win you the victory then that assures you of the real victory still coming. And Jesus will be standing by your side at the roll call, holding your hand, letting you know for certain that Victory is Coming! Amen.

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