Advent 2016: The Hope of Christmas

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, the time when Christians the world over begin the celebration of the Incarnation, when God became human and made his dwelling among us in the form of Jesus, the Messiah. The first Sunday of Advent is typically dedicated to the idea of "hope", and the focus is on the expectation of the completion of the rescue of humanity from sin and death. Jesus' sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection are the means by which this rescue is effected for us, but it all began with the expectation and hope of a Redeemer, a Messiah who would come to the aid of God's people.

Some of the passages associated with this first Sunday of Advent include Isaiah 2:1-5 and Romans 13:11-14. Here they are from the HCSB translation:

Isaiah 2:1-5 "The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD's house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths.' For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will never again train for war. House of Jacob, come and let us walk in the LORD's light." 

 Romans 13:11-14 "Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires."

Both of these passages remind us that God's invasion into his creation in the form of his Incarnation not only began the rescue so desperately needed and expected, it also provided the means by which humanity could live in the manner God intended them. Some might call that the "magic" of Christmas or "the Christmas Spirit". The idea is that this season of remembrance of that Child who was born to die and to rise and to redeem creates a kind of opportunity for humanity to imitate the humble service and sacrifice of Jesus in everyday life. The very atmosphere seems charged with the energy of Christ; an energy that helps humans act in ways that God intended. 

As we embrace the idea of God becoming human, as we recognize the humility of Jesus (who being God chose to humble himself to serve us all to the point of death), we find in these actions a pattern for life. We find that humility and service is our proper end, and we also find that as we serve others we introduce the possibility of "hope" for all humanity. In fact, sometimes the very spirit of Christmas can cause people to act better and with more grace. It reminds me of a poem by Edgar A. Guest. 

In the poem below Guest elaborates on how a person responds to the "Christmas spirit" and how it can cause a change in a person's life.  The poem puts into my mind the image of a reformed Scrooge, fresh off his encounters with the ghost of Christmas, now engaging faithfully to live a less self-focused life.

I know that times have changed, and I realize that people do not always have "Christmas cheer" at this time of year.  Nonetheless, my prayer for all of us is that we become the people God intended us to be, especially now as we celebrate the Advent of our Lord Jesus.  May we live in such a way as to create "hope" in others. May our humble service lead to changed lives and a more hopeful future. May the Hope of Advent cause you to emulate the life of Jesus. I hope this poem blesses you!

Thanks for reading!

At Christmas by Edgar Albert Guest

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season is here;
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime.

When it’s Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for awhile
And the true reward he’s seeking is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I’d wait
Till he’d fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate.
I’d not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of pelf,
On the long days and the dreary when he’s striving for himself.
I’d not take him when he’s sneering, when he’s scornful or depressed,
But I’d look for him at Christmas when he’s shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle and he’s oft misunderstood;
There are days the worst that’s in him is the master of the good,
But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside
And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.
Oh, I don’t know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be.

Exposed--John 8:1-11

On September 18, I had the honor of preaching at Gospel Community Church in Lynchburg, Va. My sermon was on John 8:1-11 and the woman caught in adultery. I entitled the sermon "Exposed". You can find a link to watch the sermon here: Exposed--John 8:1-11. The notes from the sermon are below (and I should note that I read several sermons and commentaries in preparing this material. I am grateful for their wisdom and help). Thanks for reading!

Exposed 

John 8:1-11

Technical Issues: If you have a modern translation of the Bible (i.e., after the KJV), then you will likely find this account in a footnote or in brackets. Many scholars feel that it has been inserted into the Gospel of John at this point. In many ancient manuscripts it is found in different places. Some place it at the end of the Gospel of John (or in other locations in John); some place it after Luke 21; and some omit it entirely. As a result, there is some question as to whether this account really occurred at the time we find it in John's gospel. Scholars generally agree, however, that this event did actually occur, and that it was part of our Lord's ministry. It may be put here in John because it illustrates so well the statement of Jesus in Chapter 7, "Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment." (John 7:24 HCSB). Suffice it to say, even though John may not have written this story, the consensus of scholarship and the early church is that this location is best. So we will deal with this passage as an inspired text that provides some kind of insight into how John presents Jesus in this Gospel.

Introduction—Numbers 32:23 “. . .  behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Luke 12:2-3: “There is nothing covered that won't be uncovered, nothing hidden that won't be made known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”

Proverbs 28:13 “The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”

A story of someone being unexpectedly “exposed” as a fraud. Sam Hurd: “He seemed like a great guy, quoting the bible and always friendly,” said an official with the Chicago Bears—the last team to which the former wide receiver Sam Hurd was signed. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Sam Hurd was a state football star in high school and a standout at Northern Illinois University, placing in the top five in many of the categories in their receiving records. In 2006, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. He was released five years later and signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears in July 2011. In December 2011, Hurd sent shockwaves through the NFL when he was arrested after purchasing cocaine from an undercover agent, set up by his friend and an informant at a Chicago steakhouse. Hurd was a man with bible scriptures tattooed on his torso and a drug baron who made an alleged $700,000 per week. According to the official affidavit, a man connected to Hurd’s drug trafficking referred to as “T.L.” set up many deals with and for Hurd. Police found $88,000 cash and marijuana in a car T.L. was operating during a routine traffic stop. T.L. said that the car and money were not his and that it all belonged to Hurd, claiming that he performed routine maintenance on his cars. The authorities seized the money and released T.L., who later tried to broker a deal with an informant on Hurd’s behalf to traffic 5-10 kilograms (11-12 lb) of cocaine and 450 kilograms (1,000 lb) of marijuana per week. Authorities met Hurd at the steakhouse, where Hurd told the undercover agents that he currently trafficked 4 kilograms (9 lb) per week in Chicago. The undercover agent provided Hurd with a kilogram (2 lb) of cocaine and left the steakhouse. Hurd was arrested once he left the restaurant. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2013. (from http://listverse.com/2014/10/29/10-people-who-lived-shocking-and-conflicting-double-lives/)

“Be sure your sin will find you out . . .” God reminds us in his word that taking a path opposite of what he wants will result in exposure at some point in our lives. When we least expect it, the things we’ve tried to keep hidden will spring up and be revealed. There is an old saying that “If our thoughts were broadcast on our foreheads, we’d never remove our hats.” Many of us here this morning would probably agree with that. So, what is it we hope will NOT be exposed? What is it we hope no one finds out? Our passage today shows the experience of some folks who were exposed, and the end results were not always pretty. Let’s see what happens when the things that were covered become uncovered in John 8.

Read John 8:1-11

This passage reveals to us three kinds of exposure. Sure, there is the exposure of the woman caught in adultery, but she isn’t the only one exposed here. In fact, during preparation for this sermon, I concluded that there are three kinds of exposure here:

Unrighteous Exposure—(John 8:1-6) 

Righteous Exposure—(John 8:6-9) 

Redemptive Exposure—(John 8:10-11)

Let’s explore these a bit to see what hidden things are exposed.

Unrighteous Exposure—(8:1-6)—the Pharisees—the first exposure we see here is the sin of the woman. Jesus is going about his usual day of teaching in the Temple. Nothing hidden and nothing exposed. He is simply behaving like a Rabbi teaching those who will listen. During one of his class sessions, the Pharisees interrupt to bring a woman in who they say they caught in the act of adultery. They demand a verdict from Jesus on the woman. Should she be stoned for her offense?

Let’s be honest about the situation. This woman is guilty of adultery. Now, adultery is a terrible sin, but it is no worse than any other sin (cf. James 2:10). In fact, none of us in this room can claim innocence of sin, we are all guilty (Rom. 3:10; 3:23; Gal. 3:22). Like this woman, we are deserving of condemnation and death. We have sinned, even if our sin has not been exposed like hers. Nobody gets away with sin! (see Rom. 6:23; Eze. 18:4) For all who sin, there will come a payday someday!

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis says, “If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity (sexual sin) as the supreme vice, he is quite wrong. The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual. The pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and backbiting; the pleasures of power, of hatred. For there are two things inside me...they are the animal self and the diabolical self; and the diabolical self is the worst of the two. That is why a cold self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But of course it is better to be neither!”

The reason we call this exposure “unrighteous”, however, has little to do with the nature of the woman’s sin. It has to do with the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees. They brought this woman to Jesus not to find out about righteousness, but to try to trap Jesus in saying something they could use against him. Did they think he’d let her go? If so, then they could say “See, he doesn’t keep the law!” Did they think he’d offer to kill her? Maybe then they would talk about his insensitivity and his lack of compassion. Knowing that Jesus hung out with people like this woman, however, the leaders probably wanted him to let her go. The problem is this: the people trying to spring a trap by exposing this woman’s sin, will end up exposed themselves. "Be sure, your sin will find you out . . . "

But we get ahead of ourselves. Here we simply want to see that these leaders wanted to use this woman’s failure to further their own cause. They exposed her to shame and condemnation in order to trap Jesus and get him in trouble. They were unrighteous in their exposure. They wanted to make the woman look bad, to make Jesus look bad, so that they could in turn make themselves look good. This is why this is unrighteous exposure. They do not want to help anyone become right before God, they want to look like they are right while everyone else looks wrong. Unrighteous exposure looks to reveal the failures of others simply to make ourselves look good in contrast. Sin may be exposed, but at what price? We see the results in the next section when Jesus shows us what righteous exposure looks like. "Be sure, your sin will find you out . . . "

Righteous Exposure—(vv. 6-9)—Jesus and the Pharisees. The second exposure is a contrast to the first. The scribes and the Pharisees think that they have an advantage over Jesus because of the woman’s sin. They think they’ve exposed Jesus to a problem--one that he will not be able to work out. The problem is that they have also exposed themselves by their unrighteous exposure of the woman. Those who wanted to trap someone now find themselves in a trap. They who wanted to expose another’s wrong find themselves uncomfortably exposed. "Be sure, your sins will find you out . . ."

After they set a trap for Jesus, he responded by stooping down and writing on the ground. What did he write? Wouldn’t we love to know? Maybe he wrote out the 10 commandments, or Lev 20:10/Deut 22:22 (which deals with the sin of adultery), or the names of the girlfriends of the leaders. He may have written Jer. 17:13 (“LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away from Me will be written in the dirt, for they have abandoned the fountain of living water, the LORD”). We don’t know what he wrote, but the impatience of the leaders is clear as they pressed him for a decision: “We’ve exposed the sin of this woman, what should we do with her?”

Jesus never answers their question. He exposes their own sin. He stood up, and he challenged them: “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." He isn’t advocating that one has to be sinless to judge. No, Jesus is pointing out the failure of the scribes and the Pharisees to follow the law they seem so zealous to enforce. You see, Deut 22 reminds us that in cases of adultery, two people are to be judged and then condemned if the charge is true. But here the leaders bring only ONE person—the woman! Where is the man with whom she was caught in the act of adultery? Was he one of the leaders? Did they allow him to escape? We may never know, but we know that they are genuinely guilty here of failing to keep the law. 

They want to condemn the woman (without her lover) and to use that condemnation to trap Jesus. Jesus turns the trap on them. These sanctimonious prosecutors were themselves in stark violation of the law. Had Jesus been under a commission to render a civil judgment in this case, he could not have countenanced this “kangaroo” procedure. The thrust of Christ’s statement—“He that is without sin . . .”—was this: “None of you is in a position to stone this woman, for you have disregarded the very law you profess to honor. It is a travesty.” The Pharisees’ inconsistency had been laid bare. Jesus exposes them. They were breaking the very law that they claimed to uphold when they did not include the man to be stoned. They are guilty of sin, they are trapped, they are exposed! Proverbs 16:2: “All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.”

What happened then? The exposed leaders, caught now in their own trap, begin to leave one at a time. As they realize that they have been exposed, they decide that the better part of valor is to leave. Turning away from Jesus (who they wanted to trap) and the woman (who they wanted to expose), they walked away defeated, done, exposed for their own unrighteousness. Let's at least give them credit for the fact that when they saw themselves as they really were, they stopped calling for the death of this woman. "Be sure, your sin will find you out . . . "

Seeing ourselves as we really are is one of the hardest things we can face! However, when we see ourselves in our sinful state, then we can do something about it. When we are convicted of our sins, then is the time to come to Jesus. After all, He is the only One who can deal with our sin problem! The guilt of the Pharisees is exposed in their failure to bring the man and their intention to “trap” Jesus instead of pursuing justice and righteousness. When you are intent on “trapping” someone, you will often find yourself snared. Selfishness and self-righteousness may lead to exposure and ensnarement. This poem by Elton Higgs illustrates the predicament of the Pharisees well:

"Convicted" 

We slink away, heads hung in shame,

With tongues and hands disarmed

By flash of sin reversed;

Not one of us had conscience clear

Enough to start the slaughter.

We came to trap him in his words,

Yet our words became our snare.

He turned on us the double-cutting sword

Of Law-based righteousness,

And bleeding now we leave the field,

Our cleverness in ashes.

Jesus showed righteous exposure here when he revealed the true nature of the Pharisee’s actions. Jesus exposed them to their own sin, and they walked away. Righteous exposure reveals sin for what it is—a falling short of God’s glory, a turning away from God’s expectations and plans. But if we respond to that exposure by turning away from Jesus, we have missed the third kind of exposure: Redemptive exposure. This is what we find in the end of our text. "Be sure, your sin will find you out . . . " 

Redemptive Exposure—(vv. 10-11)—Jesus and the Woman. The end of our story today is the end that many of us have encountered. We look up and there is no one there but Jesus alone. The woman’s accusers have left, they are not there to condemn her. She is left alone with Jesus. 

Jesus asks her if there are any witnesses against her. Is there anyone left to condemn? She responds with “No one, Lord.” Maybe at that moment she realizes that the only one who could condemn her was standing in front of her. As Paul notes in Romans 8:33-34: “Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.” We may never know what the woman thought, but we know that Jesus looks at this sinful, guilty, and rightfully condemned woman and says, “If there are no witnesses to condemn you, then neither do I.” Jesus isn’t overlooking her sin, he is acknowledging the law--if there are no witnesses, she cannot be stoned. Jesus didn’t see her commit this sin, and none of those who claimed to do so are there, so Jesus acknowledges the redemptive truth that no witnesses means no condemnation. (cf. Rev. 12)

The Greek word for “condemn” is a strong one and suggests handing down a judgment, passing sentence. The Lord was informing the woman that she was not judicially sentenced. As Bloomfield observed, Jesus was simply making “a declaration that, since his kingdom was not of this world, so he would not assume the office of a temporal magistracy.” He was not sanctioning adultery, nor minimizing the woman’s wickedness—quite the contrary. Christ was commenting upon the legal aspect of the situation. With the accusers gone, there was no case left! The witnesses were required to throw the first stones (Deut 17:7); without them the matter simply could proceed no further.

The woman had reached a place in her life where it was just her and Jesus. It always comes down to that! Eventually, somewhere, someday you are going to have to face Jesus. Eventually, somewhere, someday you are going to have to bow to Jesus! The beauty of the woman’s situation is that she is now face-to-face with the one who can redeem her. She is alone with Jesus, and he tells her to “Go, and sin no more.” Jesus addresses her sin, and then addresses her need. This is redemptive exposure. Jesus will not command us to do something he will not give us the ability to do. So when he commands her to sin no more, he intends to provide her what she needs to accomplish that. By coming to Jesus alone, by recognizing him as Lord, she could walk away not condemned but redeemed! We don’t know the rest of her story, but we can be sure she was never the same. Here is another poem by Elton Higgs to explain the woman's situation: 

"Reprieve"   

Only when He spoke did I meet His eyes,
Full of beautiful severity.
As ugly the sin as it was before,
But condemnation gone!
Reproach was swallowed up
In “Go, and sin no more.”
 No backup plan for being stoned,
I walk toward home to find my way again.
Old way of life must now be buried,
As--rising from forgiveness—
His love replaces carnal lust.
Unjust escape from penalty say those
Who hide behind the Law,
But blissful boon to her who heard
The quieter voice
Replacing heartless rage.

What about us? Are we being exposed? Is someone taking advantage of our failure or sin to trap us or to further a selfish agenda? Has the Holy Spirit exposed sin today that needs to be addressed? Will we respond like the Pharisees and walk away, or like the woman and receive redemption? "Be sure, your sin will find you out . . ."

This beautiful story brings us to that place this morning. We understand that when our sins are forgiven, it is to free us that we might begin to live a different lifestyle and never to go back to the things that we have left behind. Sometimes we may. Sometimes we are weak, and need again the forgiving grace of God. But forgiveness is always designed to set us free. That is why it is given. When our Lord forgave this woman that is what he did: He set her free to be a different kind of person than she ever was before.

Conclusion/Application

How do we respond? Here is what we need to do:

1)    Take inventory. What is being exposed in our lives? Where are we trapped? Where do we need Christ to free us? Today do real business with God and the Holy Spirit. Do not walk out of here without dealing with the exposure God’s Word has brought today.

2)  Take heart. No matter what your situation, Jesus can bring redemption.

3)  Take note. Are we looking to Jesus alone, or are we looking for ways to justify ourselves? We cannot find redemption without Jesus, and he alone will not only expose our sin but give us the means to walk in freedom. Remember, we are not destined to lives of condemnation but to lives of freedom. How we respond to exposure is as important as the recognition that exposure is a possibility.

As we leave here today, let us commit ourselves to living in the light of redemptive exposure. Let us deal with each other as Jesus dealt with this woman. He did not use her sin to his own benefit, nor did he hold it against her in a way to keep her from progressing to holiness. We need to learn redemptive exposure today—to expose the sin in our lives in a way that leads us to embrace Christ and each other. This week, look for opportunities to expose truth and to be people of redemption. No sin is too big for Jesus.

Where are you exposed? Jesus is there—cling to him alone. 

The Great American Novel: A Song by Larry Norman

Tonight as I have been hanging out with my family, I have had a song running through my head.  The song is by Larry Norman, something of a pioneer in Christian music.  Norman wasn't afraid to take on controversial topics in his songs, and in many ways he was a bold man.  I dearly loved his music, and I own several of his albums on actual vinyl records.  In some ways Larry Norman (along with DeGarmo and Key, Petra, Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, Bob Bennett, Sweet Comfort Band, Chuck Girard, Rich Mullins, and others) wrote the background music to my Christian life as a young man.  Nonetheless, there was one song that sticks with me.  That song is entitled "The Great American Novel."  Here are the lyrics:

i was born and raised an orphan
in a land that once was free
in a land that poured its love out on the moon
and i grew up in the shadows
of your silos filled with grain
but you never helped to fill my empty spoon

and when i was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but i know you better now
and i don't fall for all your tricks
and you've lost the one advantage of my youth

you kill a black man at midnight
just for talking to your daughter
then you make his wife your mistress
and you leave her without water
and the sheet you wear upon your face
is the sheet your children sleep on
at every meal you say a prayer
you don't believe but still you keep on

and your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it

you are far across the ocean
but the war is not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies

the politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take note
and they exaggerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them
whether this country sinks or floats
well i wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote

well my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
from whispering through the fence
you know every move i make
or is that just coincidence
well you try to make my way of life
a little less like jail
if i promise to make tapes and slides
and send them through the mail

and your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it
you say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don't ask me for the answer i've only got one
that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son

Although the issues he addresses in this song are predominantly issues of the 60s and 70s, the song still has a lot of relevance for today.  How often do we (as Christians, or even as Americans) think of our own needs first, putting our needs before the needs and suffering of others?  As Norman sings, our silos are full of grain, but we don't make a move to fill another person's empty spoon.  As Christians, we are called to feed the hungry, and yet so often we fail to do so (or we write a check or expect the government to do it because "we pay taxes").  Love for others should require us to consider the concerns of others as more important than our own (see Philippians 2).

And that is only ONE issue Norman addresses.  He addresses corrupt politics, racism, war, and a multitude of other issues, many of which still linger in our society.

I can almost see him, looking a bit prophetic in his long hair and faded jeans, singing his words of truth into my soul.  I remember seeing him in concert, and I remember wondering how he was able to read my heart and address my concerns so clearly.

I was young, I was idealistic.  And Larry Norman fed my soul things it needed to hear.  I needed to be reminded that the kingdom of God is more important than presidential elections.  I needed to be reminded that how I treat my neighbor says a lot more about my faith in God than how often I read my Bible.  I needed to be reminded that how I spend my money shows my real concerns and my true convictions.  I needed to be reminded that what I think of God often says more about me than it does about God.

I needed someone like Larry Norman to remind me--Christianity isn't necessarily a panacea for the world's problems.  It is a relationship with a living Lord who invades our lives with His amazing kindness and expects us to spread that love to others.  Christianity should be an ongoing journey into the Light, into the Truth, and a continuous connection and growing into the image of the One who made me and who laid down His life to save mine.

I needed to be reminded that Christianity isn't simply about creeds, belief systems, or doctrinal statements.  It is action.  God loved, and He acted.  How can we who follow Him expect to do anything less?  If we love as He loves, we will (indeed, we MUST) act.

Larry Norman wasn't perfect, but he was a good reminder for me at just the right time.  God used Norman to shore up my conscience, to remind me that in all my gaining of knowledge I needed to also gain wisdom to live life as God intended.  In some of his music, Norman shared that wisdom.

As he reminds us in the song above:  "you say all men are equal all men are brothers/then why are the rich more equal than others/don't ask me for the answer i've only got one/that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son."

How are we doing?  Are we walking out of darkness into God's great Light?  Are we moving in God's direction?  Where else can we go, Jesus alone holds the Words of Life . . .

Thanks, Larry Norman, for sticking in my head.  May your tribe increase!

Thanks for reading!

"Beautiful Letdown" (Switchfoot) and Dual Citizenship

This morning our pastor preached a sermon on "Dual Citizenship" to remind us Christians that we are NOT citizens of this world. Our citizenship in Christ and in his kingdom must take priority in how we live out our lives as citizens here on earth. Before he started his sermon, he mentioned the lyrics of the Switchfoot song "Beautiful Letdown". Since it is one of my favorites, I wanted to share it in its entirety here:

It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt 

It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew
That all the riches this world had to offer me
Would never do 

In a world full of bitter pain
And bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in, fit in
Until I found out 

That I don't belong here
I don't belong here
I will carry a cross and a song
Where I don't belong, I don't belong 

It was a beautiful letdown
When you found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear 

I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free 

We're still chasing our tails in the rising sun
In our dark water planet still spinning
In a direction no one wins, no one's won 

See, I don't belong here
Well, I don't belong here
I will carry across with a song
Where I don't belong, I don't belong
I don't belong here 

Well, I don't belong here
I'm gonna set sight and set sail
For the kingdom come, kingdom come
Your kingdom come 

Won't you let me down, yeah
Let my foolish proud
Forever let me down 

Ah, easy living you're not much like the name
Easy dying, you look just about the same
Would you please take me off your list?
Easy living, please c'mon and let me down 

We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
And losers and sinners and failures and the fools 

What a beautiful let down
Are we salt in the wound?
Hey, let us sing one true tune, hey yeah 

I don't belong here
No, I don't belong here
No, I don't belong here
It feels like I don't belong here, yeah
No, I don't belong here
It goes like I don't belong here
Yo, I don't belong 

Won't you let me down?
C'mon and let me down
You always let me down
So glad that I'm letdown, hey
C'mon and let me down
'Cause I don't belong here
Please, won't you let me down

The sermon focused on John 17 and Jesus' prayer for his followers to have unity. One of the things Jesus mentions is that his followers are in this world, but they are also not of this world. He prays for God to protect them, to help them be unified, and to show them how to love as God loves.

No, I don't belong here . . . the story doesn't seem complete. This world is missing something . . . it is incomplete. Would be messiahs will tell us that they can fix what's wrong with this world, but ultimately it will take the return of the One who created it to make it right. The story isn't over yet, and even though the current chapter is less than happy for many, the truth is that it will not remain that way forever.

I don't belong here . . . every fiber of my being reminds me that there is something better that comes because of Someone by whose humble love I can learn to be truly alive.

May we all learn to be good citizens to that kingdom that will come! May we learn to be more like our King!

Thank you for reading!

In Honor of the Fourth of July--Happy Birthday America!

Well, the USA is about to celebrate yet another birthday, and although some people think that the brightness has worn off this "city on a hill," I'm not ready to read her obituary yet. I went back into the archives to find some quotes for today. The first one comes from John Wayne. On the internet you can find a lot of fun stuff about the Duke, but this audio of him speaking about his country is priceless to me. Click here to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuteyiYN6js.

I wanted to add another one from my favorite actor. In the movie "The Alamo," Duke plays Davey Crockett, leader to the Tennessee volunteers. At one point in the movie he gives a speech about the USA and the idea of a "republic." Here is the excerpt I liked the best:

"Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat - the same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound as a man. Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. Republic is one of those words."

Finally, I wanted to share a poem with you all. About 8 years ago I discovered the poetry of Edgar Guest. The first poem I ran into was his "It Couldn't Be Done" in which he describes an optimist who wouldn't say "it couldn't be done" until he tried, and in trying the optimist accomplished the thing. At any rate, Guest is the author of dozens of patriotic poems, and I wanted to share this one in honor of the men and women who serve the USA in the various branches of our military and reserves. As you read this poem, why not say a short prayer of thanks for their service and ask God to protect them as they serve? Here's the poem, "The Things that Make a Soldier Great," by Edgar Guest:

The things that make a soldier great and send him out to die,
To face the flaming cannon's mouth nor ever question why,
Are lilacs by a little porch, the row of tulips red,
The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed,
The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the wall:
'Tis these that make a soldier great.
He's fighting for them all. 

'Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a soldier brave;
'Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave;
For soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam
As when behind the cause they see the little place called home.
Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run,
You make a soldier of the man who never bore a gun. 

What is it through the battle smoke the valiant solider sees?
The little garden far away, the budding apple trees,
The little patch of ground back there, the children at their play,
Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray.
The golden thread of courage isn't linked to castle dome
But to the spot, where'er it be --the humblest spot called home. 

And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there
And homesick soldiers far away know spring is in the air;
The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green,
And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been.
He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call,
And only death can stop him now --he's fighting for them all.

On this fourth of July weekend, as you give thanks for the freedoms and opportunities God has given you in this land, please remember to pray for those who defend our way of life and for the families of those whose loved ones paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy our great republic. Remember, it may be a cliche, but it is true that "Freedom isn't free."

Thanks for reading!

Memorial Day Speech from Ronald Reagan, 1982

Typically on the weekend of Memorial Day I post a famous poem by Edgar Guest.  This year I decided to share a different message.  Below is a speech by Ronald Reagan in 1982.  I think a lot of what he says sums up my opinions on the observance of this day in honor of our military and those who gave their lives in defense of freedom.  I hope you enjoy it!

Speech: Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982 

In America's cities and towns today, flags will be placed on graves in cemeteries; public officials will speak of the sacrifice and the valor of those whose memory we honor. 

In 1863, when Abraham Lincoln dedicated a small cemetery in Pennsylvania marking a terrible collision between the armies of North and South, he noted the swift obscurity of such speeches. Well, we know now that Lincoln was wrong about that particular occasion. His remarks commemorating those who gave their "last full measure of devotion'' were long remembered. But since that moment at Gettysburg, few other such addresses have become part of our national heritage -- not because of the inadequacy of the speakers, but because of the inadequacy of words. 

I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. 

Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice. 

Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we -- in a less final, less heroic way -- be willing to give of ourselves. 

It is this, beyond the controversy and the congressional debate, beyond the blizzard of budget numbers and the complexity of modern weapons systems, that motivates us in our search for security and peace. War will not come again, other young men will not have to die, if we will speak honestly of the dangers that confront us and remain strong enough to meet those dangers. 

It's not just strength or courage that we need, but understanding and a measure of wisdom as well. We must understand enough about our world to see the value of our alliances. We must be wise enough about ourselves to listen to our allies, to work with them, to build and strengthen the bonds between us. 

Our understanding must also extend to potential adversaries. We must strive to speak of them not belligerently, but firmly and frankly. And that's why we must never fail to note, as frequently as necessary, the wide gulf between our codes of morality. And that's why we must never hesitate to acknowledge the irrefutable difference between our view of man as master of the state and their view of man as servant of the state. Nor must we ever underestimate the seriousness of their aspirations to global expansion. The risk is the very freedom that has been so dearly won. 

It is this honesty of mind that can open paths to peace, that can lead to fruitful negotiation, that can build a foundation upon which treaties between our nations can stand and last -- treaties that can someday bring about a reduction in the terrible arms of destruction, arms that threaten us with war even more terrible than those that have taken the lives of the Americans we honor today. 

Our goal is peace. We can gain that peace by strengthening our alliances, by speaking candidly of the dangers before us, by assuring potential adversaries of our seriousness, by actively pursuing every chance of honest and fruitful negotiation. 

It is with these goals in mind that I will depart Wednesday for Europe, and it's altogether fitting that we have this moment to reflect on the price of freedom and those who have so willingly paid it. For however important the matters of state before us this next week, they must not disturb the solemnity of this occasion. Nor must they dilute our sense of reverence and the silent gratitude we hold for those who are buried here. 

The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. One gets that feeling here on this hallowed ground, and I have known that same poignant feeling as I looked out across the rows of white crosses and Stars of David in Europe, in the Philippines, and the military cemeteries here in our own land. Each one marks the resting place of an American hero and, in my lifetime, the heroes of World War I, the Doughboys, the GI's of World War II or Korea or Vietnam. They span several generations of young Americans, all different and yet all alike, like the markers above their resting places, all alike in a truly meaningful way. 

Winston Churchill said of those he knew in World War II they seemed to be the only young men who could laugh and fight at the same time. A great general in that war called them our secret weapon, "just the best darn kids in the world.'' Each died for a cause he considered more important than his own life. Well, they didn't volunteer to die; they volunteered to defend values for which men have always been willing to die if need be, the values which make up what we call civilization. And how they must have wished, in all the ugliness that war brings, that no other generation of young men to follow would have to undergo that same experience. 

As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation. And let us also pledge to do our utmost to carry out what must have been their wish: that no other generation of young men will every have to share their experiences and repeat their sacrifice. 

Earlier today, with the music that we have heard and that of our National Anthem -- I can't claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I don't know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask.

Thank you for reading!  And special thanks to all those families whose loved ones paid the greatest price to ensure our freedom. "Greater love has no man than this . . . " May God bless you all!

A Sad Anniversary and a Reminder--The Holocaust

Recently we remembered a sad page in the history of humanity, we recalled the liberation of prison camps and the people in them from the nightmare of Nazi oppression and tyranny. Annually I try to remind myself of the depth of depravity to which humanity can slip, especially humanity that justifies its inhumanity and brutality by science. The Nazis showed the dark beastial side of humanity, the side we all possess to some degree (although most of us will never admit it). The Nazis were more than thugs or brutes or even barbarians, they were humans that (in C. S. Lewis' words from The Abolition of Man) were humans without magnanimity, they were "men without chests." Here are Lewis' own words about such people:

"They are not distinguished from other men by any unusual skill in finding truth nor any virginal ardour to pursue her. Indeed, it would be strange if they were: a perservering devotion to truth, a nice of intellectual honour, cannot be long maintained without the aid of sentiment . . . It is not excess of thought but defect of fertile and generous emotion that marks them out. Their heads are no bigger than the ordinary: it is the atrophy of the chest beneath that makes them seem so." (C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2001, p. 25).

These oppressors were not less human than the rest of us, they just acted as people without that emotion that makes our "better angels" show up instead of the "brutes" in each of us. They became the "elites" who judged other races in humanity as mere brutish nature to be studied. They were Social Darwinists who wanted to keep their race pure, and who ultimately participated in that which Lewis deems "the abolition of man." They were people like us. In many ways we hate to admit, they were us. As one survivor records the event of his liberation:

"The full record of the pseudo-medical experimentations came to light. Prisoners had been used as laboratory animals, without the humane restrictions placed on vivisection. Hannah Arendt suggested that `the camp was itself a vast laboratory in which the Nazis proved that there is no limit to human depravity.' For it was remembered that these experiments were not planned or conducted by identifiable psychopaths. They were performed or supervised by professional scientists, trained in what had been once considered peerless universities and medical schools. Reverend Franklin Littell called them `technically competent barbarians.' Indeed the procedures had the full approval and cooperation of Berlin's Institute of Hygiene." (Sachar, Abram L. The Redemption of the Unwanted. New York: St. Martin's/Marek, 1983, pp. 8-10)

Let us remember with sadness the number of innocents lost and the reality of our own potentially brutish nature. Let us never forget that without grace, we are all irredeemably lost. Could Dachau or Auschwitz (or the others) happen again? Only if humans let it, only if we deny once again our own humanity and treat our fellow humans as mere animals. Yes, it can happen again. Let's pray that it doesn't. Let's make sure it doesn't.

This topic is heavy and sad. I don't apologize for that, but I do want to put the weight down now. Thanks for reading.

Sounds of Silence--A Repeat

Nine years ago I was in the middle of trying to write and to establish a new program of study at Liberty University, and I found myself a bit overwhelmed.  You might even say that I was drowning in busy-ness and work.  Today I often find myself right back in that same ocean . . . swamped by a sense of "things to do" and "work, work work".

I think we all have been there.  The waves of life crash around us, and we sense we are sinking in the foam of life and finding ourselves stuck in the mire of everyday expectations.  The thunder and bluster of life's storms cause fear, and we lose focus on what really matters.  We succumb to the slumber brought about by drowning in activities--e-mail to answer, calls to be made, classes to prepare, friends to meet, people to impress, notes/articles to write, family expectations or obligations, to do lists full of things that just HAVE to be done today, etc.  The raging waves lull us to sleep as we are rocked steadily into a coma of concern.  The cacophony of our activities becomes the lullaby to our souls, and we yield to the siren's call, surrendering to what we think is really important.  We forget that we sometimes need a pause, a moment of Selah, a time to come apart before we fall apart.

In the middle of such a situation nine years ago, I wrote the following words.  They spoke to me then, and they convict me now.  How often I forget to sit silently in the presence of the Father who genuinely cares!  I come into his presence with my own agenda, dropping my "to do" lists in his lap as though they were a heavenly call that cannot be avoided.  Anyway, today I want to remind myself to sit with God, to just be silent in his awesome and awful presence with no agenda except to be with him.  I need some "quiet time", how about you?

Silence, cold eerie silence.

In this post-modern day and age, we rarely find ourselves in a place that is so utterly silent as to be practically without sound. We are surrounded by noise—the chattering of talk radio, the booming of the latest music craze, even in the shopping centers and elevators of life we encounter the ever-present reminder of Muzak to keep us company. At work we are assaulted with myriads of sounds, from the boss handing out assignments to the response of the assistant or the ringing of the phone. Even the internet is now wired for sound so that you can search for the latest piece of news or information with surround sound convenience. We return home from work only to turn on our cable TV to act as a kind of “white noise” in the background of our family lives. Some of us even go to sleep with the latest tunes playing on the radio to soothe our tired souls and “give us rest.” Today a human can actually go from womb to grave completely surrounded by the music of their own chosen personal soundtrack. Surely we are rarely without noise in our lives!

In this post-modern life we seem to have grown afraid of silence. We avoid it. We try to fill it with something that will give “meaning” to the emptiness. Why do we do that? Why do we fill our lives with sound?

Could it be that we are afraid of what we may actually hear if we are silent?

Could we be afraid that we may hear nothing? That we may be drowning in silence?

I believe we have grown accustomed to sound as a substitute for genuine communication with the transcendent. We have blocked out the very voice of the cosmos with our sound track so that we do not have to give our souls pause and just listen.

When was the last time you listened, really listened, to nature around you? I heard a mockingbird this morning, the bark of my dog, the jingling of my cat’s tags as he walked up the walk. It was so quiet I swear I could hear the sun groaning as it rose from its sleep!

I sat there, in silence. I listened. After a few seconds I grew jittery, even panicky. I really should be doing something, listening to something, “accomplishing” something worthwhile with my time.

I heard a voice, quiet and still—“Hush, be quiet. Be still and know . . . .” I listened, and in that silence I found a reverence for life that I hope only grows throughout the day. The quiet voice didn’t offer any startling revelations, but my basking in silence lent a kind of sacred feel to my morning. God was there. We had coffee. We sat quietly like two old friends for whom words would be a waste of effort. We silently toasted the beginning of a new day, and I felt as though the Almighty smiled at me. That stillness of that moment had created an almost “holy” space for the two of us to share. I know he was there. I long for a few more quiet moments with my Father and Friend.

Shhh . . .

Listen. . .

Was that the whisper of his voice?

Thanks for reading!  

Borrowing Grace . . . Do You Hear Him?

Some recent reading prompted me to pen the following thoughts.  I am indebted to people like C. S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer for the thoughts below. They not only compelled my thinking, their writings provide the source of some of the "grace" I tend to "borrow" the most.  So, "borrowing grace" refers to receiving something of worth unexpectedly.  Here is today's "borrowed grace".

C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity:

The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

Each morning there is a voice calling to us. Do we hear it? Oh there may well be a cacophany of voices in your mind/heart! I know there often is a raucous and rowdy group of them in mine!

"Don't forget your work! Don't forget that review you promised! Don't forget to play with your children! Don't forget to read your Bible!"

The voices vie for my attention even as my mind tries to shake the cobwebs of sleep and regain some semblance of focus. I hear them every morning. As Lewis notes, they rush at me.

What voices call us away from the Voice?

Do you hear him?

God is calling--"come to me, all who are weary and I will give you rest."

"Take my burden upon you."

"All you like sheep have gone astray."

"Come to me, all who are burdened."

The imagery of coming out of the wind is a good one. Lewis reminds us to leave the wind of the voices calling us to busy-ness so that we can stop to listen to the one voice that matters.

God's call matters.

There is something about the call of God that transforms us when we hear it and respond. It isn't what we do, it is the very fact that God in his grace and kindness "called" us, spoke to us, singled us out, so to speak.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in The Cost of Discipleship:

The call of Jesus makes the disciple community not only the salt but also the light of the world: their activity is visible, as well as imperceptible. "You are the light." Once again it is not: "you are to be the light," they are already the light because Christ has called them. They are a light which is seen of men, they cannot be otherwise, and if they were it would be a sign that they had not been called. How impossible, how utterly absurd it would be for the disciples--these disciples, such men as these!--to try and become the light of the world! No. They are already the light and the call has made them so. Nor does Jesus say: "You have the light." The light is not an instrument which has been put into their hands, such as their preaching. It is the disciples themselves. By an amazing act of mercy, they are the light.

When God speaks, something changes. The very call to discipleship changes us.

As in the beginning when God simply spoke things into existence, his Word continues to breathe creative life into the heart of humanity (see John 1). His Word enlightens us, illuminates our dark lives, transforms us into the light of the world.

God speaks, something happens. Light comes into being. Darkness is confused, overcome, ruined.

God speaks, light breaks forth.

God calls, and we become salt and light. Every part of us becomes a testimony to the kindness of God. Every aspect of our life bleeds his kindness, his love, his grace, his mercy, his call.

God speaks, stuff happens.

Wow!

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Thank you for reading!

Paul's Parting Word: Fulfill Your Ministry

This is a sermon I preached to seminary students in the Spring of 2015 in a seminary chapel.  Here is the outline of the sermon.  I am indebted to many sources for the material below, and I wanted to make sure my students understand that these notes represent my reading of other sermons, some commentaries, and lexicons/dictionaries.  I hope it is a blessing to you.  

Paul’s Parting Word:  Fulfill your Ministry!

2 Timothy 4:1-5

1. Fulfill your ministry because Jesus is coming, and when he does, he will judge. 

“His Appearing”: The word epiphaneia could be used in two special ways. It was used for the obvious intervention of some god, but it was specially used in connection with the Roman Caesar. His ascension to the throne was his epiphaneia; but it was also used to describe his visit to any city or province. When the Emperor was due to visit any place, everything was put in proper order. Streets were swept and decorated and all work was brought up-to-date so that the town might be fit for Caesar's visit. So Paul says to Timothy: “You know what happens when any town is expecting the visit of the king; you are expecting the coming of Jesus Christ. Do your work in such a way that all things will be ready whenever he appears.” So we should so order our life that at any moment we are ready for the Christ's appearing.

Paul understands that God is omnipresent and we cannot escape him or his gaze, but soon we may well be in God's presence in a more literal way. It is as if Paul cautions us to remember that God is watching us. Jesus will one day return and then there will be judgment. Some will rise to be blessed and will receive the reward due them. Perhaps most urgent, when He returns it’s too late to do his work. What a sobering charge! One day we will all face the Lord Jesus Christ as a righteous judge. We will stand before Jesus one on one, and give an account for our lives. Romans 14:12 says, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." What will we have to show for our time spent on earth as believers? What will we say? Will we be able to say anything, or simply bow our heads in shame? Every generation of Christian leaders faces that same prospect!

2. Fulfill your ministry by preaching/teaching: Proclaim the message, preach the Word—Paul refers back to chapter 3:12-17 here. Paul is telling Timothy to proclaim the inspired Scripture, but it is also to proclaim the message.  What message?  The one Paul has diligently passed on to Timothy.  There is a reminder of discipleship here.  Paul is writing a letter to his disciple, his son in the faith, and it is a last word or a dying wish if you will.  He is telling Timothy, “I entrusted these things to you, now you pass them on to others.”  2 Timothy 2:2 “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

A W Tozer: "I heard of one graduate of a theological school who determined to follow his old professor’s advice and preach the Word only. His crowds were average. Then one day a cyclone hit the little town and he yielded to the temptation to preach on the topic 'Why God Sent the Cyclone to Centerville.' The church was packed. This shook the young preacher and he went back to ask his professor for further advice in the light of what had happened. Should he continue to preach the Word to smaller crowds or try to fill his church by preaching sermons a bit more sensational? The old man did not change his mind. 'If you preach the Word,' he told the inquirer, 'you will always have a text. But if you wait for cyclones you will not have enough to go around.'”  

"Preach the word." The word "preach" means to herald, or proclaim publicly. Paul encourages Timothy to boldly and vigorously proclaim the Word of God. The Word of God, the Bible, Sound Doctrine, the kind of things you should be learning in seminary.  These are the things you need to entrust to others.  Let the text determine your message.  Stick to the context.  No need to try to help the text out with your own flourishes, simply let God’s Truth speak and let the Spirit convict. 

Persist in preaching the word: “in season and out of season” Verse 2 continues, "..be instant (ready and prepared) in season, out of season." It didn't matter if the time seemed favorable or not. It didn't matter if Timothy felt well or not. It didn't matter if there was a ready audience or a rebellious audience. It didn't matter if there was a big crowd or just a few. Timothy must always see himself on call, on duty, ready and prepared to serve, ready and prepared to share, the Word of God. 

Barclay says: The Christian teacher is to be urgent. The message he brings is literally a matter of life and death. The teachers who really get their message across are those who have the note of earnestness in their voice....Any man with the note of urgency in his voice demands, and will receive, a hearing from other men. The Christian teacher is to be persistent. He is to urge the claims of Christ "in season and out of season." As someone has put it: "Take or make your opportunity." 

The Greek here for “Be ready” means something like "Stand right up to it" (according to Spurgeon), be prepared, take a stand, carry on, stick to it. “In season and out” carries the idea of urgency.  We must do this urgently and at all times. We must preach when it is convenient or inconvenient, whether we feel like it or not! We should always be on duty and take advantage of every opportunity for service.

Teach with patience:  Timothy must preach the Word impartially.  We must preach to all equally. Verse 2 concludes, "..reprove, rebuke, encourage with all patience and doctrine." Timothy was to administer the Word of God as it was needed. The Word of God is described in the Bible as a fire, hammer, and a sword, and as such it has many applications! To some, it meant reproof. The word "reprove" means to correct, which involved pointing out their faults and errors. As pastor, Timothy must tell people where they have gone wrong, and what they need to do to correct it. To some it meant "rebuke." The word "rebuke" means to confront using sharp words with authority. It involves warning someone in order to prevent an action. As pastor, Timothy must not mince words when it came to turning people from sin and destructive behavior! This alone is enough to get most pastors of churches in America, fired (according to Leonard Ravenhill). If a pastor starts reproving and rebuking today, he may not last long. To some it means "exhortation" or encouragement. The word "exhort," means to comfort or encourage. Once someone is rebuked, the pastor must come along side of him or her in love, with encouraging words.

Timothy is to do all this with patience and sound teaching/doctrine. Timothy's words must be rooted and saturated with the truth of God's Word.  “Patience” here means “longsuffering” or “endurance” or some such.  The idea is that we are to fulfill our ministry of proclaiming God’s Word/Jesus with an eye toward the long haul.  This is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  Isaiah 6:11-13—"How long, Lord?" And He replied: “Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate, 12 and the LORD drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. 13 Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak, which leaves a stump when felled, the holy seed is the stump.” Keep proclaiming God’s message until God tells us to stop or until God finishes his work. We do not determine the “fullness of time,” that is God’s job. We should simply obey. The key to success as a disciple of Christ is simple—obey. Fulfill your ministry even if the crowds leave. 

3. Fulfill your ministry even if everyone runs from it:  Paul does not minimize our difficulties. He comes right out and warns us that we may well encounter some very frustrating conditions as we fulfill our ministry. We will attempt to make God’s Word known with all our might, and like Isaiah we will find that people aren’t really interested in that. They may find somebody who suits them better. They may complain about sound doctrine. Eventually they may also believe anything but the truth. Remember that this section of 2 Timothy comes directly after Paul's reminder that all Scripture being inspired. In other words, people may well reject the truth.  It is not always enjoyable to hear.

The phrase "itching ears" in verse 3b, speaks of people who are more interested in being titillated, excited with pleasure, than being set straight. They will seek entertainment instead of enlightenment. People will often want to hear something that is positive instead of a message that convicts or speaks truth. “Itching ears” here has the idea of “hearing” that focuses on pleasure. Like my dog loves her ears rubbed, sometimes people will not tolerate truth. They will want to have their ears rubbed. Paul tells us that Biblical teaching and preaching often involves telling people what they do not want to hear, and making demands that they do not want to follow.

4. Fulfill your ministry with a clear head, endurance, and evangelism: If we’re going to attempt this, we must be personally fit for it: Be clear headed or sober minded. Know what we may face.  Be aware of the potential problems and make up our minds to endure. We should know by now that suffering may be part of the call. Regardless, do your job in spite of these things. Yes, it really is that simple.

Stay calm, collected, and focused in all situations. Verse 5 begins, "But watch thou in all things." The word "watch" means to remain calm and collected. It has the sense of being in control or temperate. There was once a Dry Idea deodorant commercial that said, "Never let them see you sweat." Unfortunately a pastor is never afforded the luxury of losing it. He must always stay in touch with his call and the expectations of his office.  

Always be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Verse 5 continues, "....do the work of an evangelist." The word "evangelist" speaks of the bearer of good news! The "good news" of course is the gospel of Jesus Christ! Timothy was to share the message of the gospel at all times with all people. Timothy's preaching must always point people to Jesus Christ! Peter Wagner gives three parts to evangelism:  Presence, Proclamation, and Persuasion. We are to be living, breathing representatives of Jesus.  Serve others in word and in deed, that is true evangelism.

So, we are called to fulfill our calling and ministry. Verse 5 concludes, ". . . make full proof (make the most) of your ministry." The apostle Paul was telling Timothy to fulfill his ministry, to do all that God had called him to do. Timothy was no Paul. There was only one Paul. Timothy was gifted differently and given a different assignment. He was to fulfill his own ministry. The same is true for us.  As my mentor Dr. Bill Lane used to say, "Never covet another person's gift, and never despise your own."  Whether we are teaching a Sunday school class, working in a small group, greeting visitors with a warm smile and welcome hand shake, or preaching to thousands, we are to fulfill our ministry in our own way and with God's guidance.  We are not to endeavor to be "like" another minister, we should strive to be like Jesus in our service to others.  We must each fulfill our own calling.  What has God called you to do?  Do it with all your might!  Complete it as a humble servant looking for his king's approval. 

This solemn charge given by Paul needs to burn within each of us as believers in Jesus Christ. We are living in the "last days." These are "perilous times." We never know just when we will be called home, or when Jesus Christ will return to catch us out. Are you committed? If Jesus returned today, would He find you faithfully and effectively serving Him? How are we doing?  What are we building for Jesus?  What is our call, and how are we doing in fulfilling it for Christ's sake?  

It may be as simple as completing the degree to which God has called you, or writing that paper, or taking that test, or loving your neighbor or spouse or child . . . it may be something like sharing the love of God with someone who has been overlooked and denigrated . . . it may simply mean doing the right thing when nobody is looking.  Whatever it is, let us hear the great apostle to the Gentiles reminding us. . . Fulfill your ministry.  Finish what he has called you to do.  Be faithful, and get it done!  

Thanks for reading! 

Beautiful Mess: Appearances can be Misleading (Genesis 29:1-30)

Several months ago I was privileged to preach at Gospel Community Church in Lynchburg, VA.  We are going through a series on the book of Genesis, and our pastor (Andrew Moroz) asked me to speak on Genesis 29:1-30.  They recorded the sermon, so if you'd like to see and hear me preach this message, follow this link:  GCC Appearances can be Misleading .  I will also post the notes I used for the sermon below.  Please feel free to comment if you'd like.  I hope this sermon is a blessing to you.

Beautiful Mess: Appearances Can Be Misleading Gen 29:1-30

Intro: The Story so far:  Pursuit of the Seed (Gen 3:15) to destroy the Serpent and Sin. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Jacob vs. Esau. Esau is angry, so Jacob has to leave. His mom encourages him to go to her hometown and find a wife there. On the way, he “meets God” in Bethel (i.e., Jacob’s Ladder—referenced in John 1 as being Jesus himself). Now, he makes his way to Haran. 

The Fairy Tale: Once upon a time a strong prince came to a magical well where sheep were watered. The stone covering the well was so enormous it could only be moved by all the shepherds working together. The prince saw a beautiful princess at the well… she was so beautiful he fell in love at first sight, and kissed her, weeping for joy. His love was so strong it enabled him to move the enormous stone, to uncover the well, and to water her flock. They went to see the king, who was overjoyed at the love match. The end.

But appearances can be misleading.  There was once a man who loved cars.  He saw an ad for a car a Cadillac for $100, so he went to see the car.  As he looked at the car, he realized that it was worth more than $100, and said to the woman selling the car:  "Ma'am, this car is worth more than $100."  She replied, "Yes, I know that.  But what you don't know is that my husband recently left me to be with his secretary, and he called me and requested that I sell his car and send him the money.  So I am."  Appearances can be misleading.  

The Real Story . . . Jacob is not quite as noble as he pretends, the beautiful princess is not God’s intended goal, and the king is not as honest and caring as he appears.  Three points—Jacob Takes a Trip, Jacob Takes a Job, Jacob Takes a Wife

Jacob Takes a Trip (vv. 1-12)

“lifting up his feet”—he has a new spring in his step since Bethel, but has he really changed? He travels 400 miles from Bethel to Haran.  Haran is his mother’s home town, so he hopes to find family there.

The well? (Remember Rebekah’s story here). Tries to get rid of the shepherd’s kind of like a boy getting rid of his kid brother so he can have time alone. The shepherd’s don’t buy it.

Jacob is unlike his father’s servant in that he is acting on behalf of God instead of letting God act on his behalf.  Jacob is still trying to make things happen on his own terms.  He sees Rachel, and he decides to pursue her.  He doesn’t ask for God’s direction, he simply bulls his way in. 

               Jacob shows off—he moves the stone by himself (to impress Rachel?  Here Jacob acts more like Esau), he waters her sheep, and he kissed her (the first kiss recorded between cousins “kissing cousins” and the first kiss in which a man kisses a woman that is not his mother or wife).  Jacob is being a bit presumptuous, it seems, and running ahead of God.  He pursues Rachel, he does not wait on God.  

               It appears here that Jacob may be casting off conventions in an effort to make a good impression. He is actually the despised son of his father, a man who cheated to get what he wanted from his brother, and a man who is even now trying to “help God out” in fulfilling the promise.  Jacob is not yet broken, he still thinks he can “fix” things.  Fresh off of his radical experience at Bethel and after hearing God’s promise, Jacob doesn’t humble himself and seek God’s guidance.  As usual, Jacob wades into the situation with his self-confidence in tow and tries to help God complete the promise.  Proud Jacob sees Rachel and decides to claim his territory without even asking if that is what God intended! 

               How are we like Jacob?  Where have we heard the promise of God about our situation or lives and yet keep trying to “help” God out? 

Appearances can be misleading—The manipulator tries to be a hero, but he is still manipulating

Jacob Takes a Job (vv. 13-20)

After Jacob introduces himself to Rachel, she runs to get her father.  Laban in turn runs to meet this young man.  Do you think Jacob made an impression on Rachel?  The fact that his mother’s family are running to meet him would indicate that the old Jacob charm was still working.  Of course, giving what we learn about Laban later, it may just mean that Laban thought he had a “sucker” on the line. 

“Kiss” and tell—Jacob receives a customary greeting and shares his story.  Does he tell all? Including the details of his trickery to his brother and father? Laban’s response “You are my own flesh and blood” could warn of issues to come.  We could hear these words as Laban’s ringing endorsement of his nephew. Or… maybe there the tiniest hint of warning. If Laban is perfectly suited to his nephew, might that mean that the deceiver has at last met his match? Time will tell—Appearances can be misleading.

Lonely Jacob finds a welcome place, a place to call home. For one month he enjoys hospitality and rest. He got to know Rachel better, and Laban got to see what kind of suitor/employee Jacob may be. This month brought both Laban and Jacob to the conclusion that a continuing relationship between them could be of mutual advantage.  But, appearances can be misleading, and the month-long vacation may be about to end as we move to the next scene.

Laban makes a proposition, and Jacob offers a counter.

Lackluster Leah vs Ravishing Rachel-- Please note the irony here: Laban has two daughters—an older one named Leah and a younger one named Rachel.  Jacob has an older brother too, remember their relationship?  Esau lost everything a first born could hope for, and he lost most of it by means of Jacob’s manipulation. Rachel and Esau were desirable, but Leah and Jacob not so much. “Cow” and “delicate” eyes versus “Ewe” and shapely beauty. Jacob chooses beauty over character. 7 years of labor=over $200,000 today.

Breaking convention yet again, Jacob responds to Laban’s proposition with a counter-offer, and both men think that they will win.  Appearances can be misleading, and this seven year engagement will not end exactly as Jacob plans!

Appearances can be misleading—What looks like help, may really be deception

Jacob Takes a Wife (and gets Taken) (vv. 21-30): The big day arrives.  After seven years of labor, 364 weeks, 2,555 days, Jacob goes to Laban and demands his pay!  “Give me my wife!”  Jacob may well have had this day marked on his calendar, the day the woman he loved enough to work for her for 7 years would finally become his wife . . . the beautiful romance will finally be fulfilled.  Most couples today wouldn’t wait 7 days to have sex, but Jacob has waited 7 years (and worked hard during that time) just so he can marry the woman he desires.  He wants to be paid. Laban calls a feast—but this won’t end well for Jacob. His emotion is boundless, his excitement is off the charts. He is finally getting the beautiful woman he desires! Jacob is focused, and after the proper amount of feasting, he heads to the marriage tent. But remember, appearances can be misleading.   Things are not as they seem.

Laban has replaced Rachel with Leah. We aren’t sure exactly why the switch is made (except for Laban’s excuse later). Perhaps Laban realized he could get more free labor out of Jacob? Greed could be the motive. On the other hand, imagine how the women here may have felt. Why did they go along with their father? Were they victims or participants? Was their competition between the two for Jacob (next week’s sermon)?

Jacob is deceived, but how did he not figure this out—the wedding veil and the alcohol may have contributed. The darkness of the tent may have been a factor. Remember, appearances can be misleading. In the dark, Leah may seem a lot like Rachel. (Jesus calls us to walk in the light).

Imagine the next morning. Jacob wakes up, light is streaming into the tent. He rolls over to kiss Rachel, and “Look! It’s Leah!” I can imagine he jumped five feet into the air, wrapped a blanket around him, and said, “What are you doing here?” I wish that conversation had been included. Jacob grabs his robe and heads to confront his father-in-law about the change in wages! What is this you’ve done? Why have you deceived me?

What irony that Jacob should repeat almost the identical words of Pharaoh to Abraham (12:18) and almost the same expression of Abimelech to Abraham (20:9) and Abimelech to Isaac (26:10).  Interestingly, the Hebrew verb translated “deceived” is cognate to the noun used in 27:35 to describe Jacob’s deception of Esau. Jacob is discovering what goes around comes around.  The deceiver is deceived. The trickster is tricked. The younger brother who supplanted the older brother finds that the younger sister whom he loves has been supplanted by her older sister, to his great dismay. And now it is Jacob’s turn to suffer.

Laban had a response (older marries first), but note the irony. Jacob had dishonored the principle of the firstborn by cheating his brother out of the birthright and the blessing. Now God forces him to honor the principle he had violated by marrying Leah first. And who had Jacob deceived? His father, Isaac. Now the deceiver is deceived by his father-in-law! Everything that goes around comes around.  Laban is going to change Jacob’s life forever. Up until this point, Jacob has lived by his wits. He has survived by relying on his native intelligence and his shrewd ability to take care of himself in any situation. Now, he finds himself agreeing to another seven years of labor for his love for Rachel.  Appearances can be misleading—the happy wedding day has turned into a bit of a disaster.

God trains Jacob by allowing him to meet his own sins in someone else. Now he knows what Esau felt when he was tricked out of something that was precious to him. Jacob is being made to see just how despicable his tricky ways are. It is all a part of the training in his life. If Jacob hadn’t stolen Esau’s blessing and had patiently waited for God’s intervention and timing, he would have had the financial resources to acquire Rachel immediately, rather than having to invest 14 years of his life, laboring for Rachel’s hand in marriage. Lesson: Taking short cuts and failing to trust God is costly! What a heavy price sin requires! Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Jacob has been sowing for a long, long time. Reaping day has come. He’s been sowing the seeds of deceit, and the harvest is about to come.  Jacob is deceived, yes, but he is also receiving God’s discipline (cf. Hebrews 12).

The story of Genesis is the quest for the “seed” to destroy the work of the serpent and the sin that came as a result.  Abraham receives a promise that his descendants would bless the nations.  Isaac carries the same promise (as does his son Jacob).  While Jacob looked to ravishing Rachel for the fulfillment of that promise, it will actually be lackluster Leah through whom God provides the seed.  Of the many children Leah produces for Jacob, two of them are named Judah and Levi.  From Levi the children of Israel will find a model prophet/leader named Moses.  From Judah they will receive a model king/leader named David.  These two men become the models for the future Messiah who will be known as a prophet, priest, and King.  Oh, and it is through Judah that Jesus is born according to human lineage. 

Appearances can be misleading—What looks like a problem may actually be a blessing

Leah is actually God’s provision (Things are not always as they seem)

Conclusion— We must remember that appearances can be misleading.  What we think are negative things may in fact be positive things.  While those things we sometimes cherish may turn out to be not as precious as we thought.  In fact, they may turn out to be stumbling stones for us.  The invisible or overlooked things in our lives may well be the vessels through which God provides the teaching and the lessons we need to become the children of God he intends us to be.

1) Make sure what you cherish is genuinely precious: Jacob loved Rachel, and his love for her is evident. Nonetheless, it was through Leah that the world would be blessed, and Jacob later realized that when he was buried next to Leah and honored her. What are the beautiful things we try to grasp? Are they really important to our lives spiritually, or do they just get our attention because they are flashy and pretty? Do we need to repent about putting too much faith in things that are not that precious?

2) What is overlooked may be vessels of grace: Jacob overlooked Leah, and she was the vessel of grace. Pay attention to the “overlooked” things in our lives. We may find a blessing there. God sometimes works out godly character in hard situations (Romans 5:3-4). God also will sometimes use weakness to reveal his strength. Or he will work through our weakness to show himself great (1 Cor 1:26-31).  

Appearances can be misleading

Application—1) Evaluate your situation: Are we trying to manipulate your situations? Are we trying to help God out? Where are we pretending to be a hero when we are not? Where are we trusting what looks good instead of seeking God’s guidance?  How are we like Jacob here?

 2) Value those who are overlooked: Who in our world needs attention?  Maybe we are the invisible and overlooked Leah, where do we go? Proverbs reminds us that to have friends we must be friends. Look around, and see who is “hidden” or “overlooked,” we may find a blessing. Remember, things are not always what they seem.

3) Accept God’s help/guidance: we must quit trying to be boss and let him lead. Where do we need God’s guidance? Where do we need his help? Will we be bold enough today to step out of our invisibility and come to the front of this building to say we are turning to him? Will we repent of putting our faith in what looks good on earth, and start looking for our help from God?

Thanks for reading!