God Can 10-11-15
- By flc@fertile
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- On October 20, 2015
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Fertile LutheranOctober 11, 2015Text: Amos 5:6-7; 10-15Psalm 90:12-17Hebrews 4:12-16Mark 10:17-31God CanIt is ironic that although we live in a society where people seem to feel entitled to things andexpect others to make decisions for them-when it comes to spiritual things we want to do itourselves and don’t want anyone telling us what to believe- especially God. I am told that themost popular books in the book stores are the self-help books. With them we diagnose our ownillnesses without going to a doctor and believe things to be true without searching the scriptures.And when things go wrong, people claim to be a victim and blame society when in fact, societyis only a reflection of the condition of their own hearts. But the bible says that all are helpless tosave themselves. But thanks be to God- He can. PrayA rich young ruler came to Jesus with a burning question- what must I do to receive eternal life?He was a student of the law-and had applied himself to the best of his ability- but at the end ofthe day, there was still something missing- a man without peace or assurance. And so one day hedecided to come to Jesus- hoping to find out what that was.Jesus asked him- “Have you fulfilled all Ten Commandments?” “Check”- he replied- and with agrin of pride slowly making it’s way across his face he added- “since my youth.” But his smilequickly faded to that of a man desperate for an answer he so wanted to find and conceded- “But Ifeel there must be something else- If you know what it is- please tell me so I can do it!”The bible says that as Jesus looked at him and loved this sincere young man full of questions.Okay-I know what it is that you lack- if you really want to know-this is what it is- go selleverything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me.”The man was shocked and slowly turned to walk away as he grieved the thought of giving awayall he had. It was too much to ask- after-all-his wealth was his identity-the source of hisauthority, his power and prestige. Take that away and he was nothing- or so he thought.Some would argue with Jesus –“give it away? What a waste! Think of all the things God coulddo to build His kingdom here on earth with all that money and influence. But God has no need of“our” money-after all- all we have is His to start with. God doesn’t need our bank accounts. AllWhat he wants is people with hearts willing to forsake all to follow Him.The first commandment that God gave was this: “Have no other gods before me.” What wouldthat be? We don’t worship idols made of stone or clay. Writing in the Large Catechism, MartinLuther wrote: “the thing in your life you most trust or fear of losing is your god (small g). It canbe your wealth, your health, your status in society- in short, anything you value the most otherthan God has become your god.”
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The young man didn’t realize it yet- but the answer to his question was that he needed a changedheart that loved God more than his wealth and power and the things of the world he thought hecould not live without were standing in the way of following Jesus. For him it was money- but itcould have been anything that stood in the way of following Jesus-and he wasn’t ready.It seems the more we have of whatever we worship more than God, the more important itbecomes and less we think we need God. Whatever it is, whether it be power, wealth, orinfluence, the more we have the more we want and if we do not stop it’s relentless rise to power-soon will take it’s place as most important, most loved, most trusted thing in our lives.Watching him walk away, Jesus commented sadly: “how hard it will be for those who arewealthy to enter the kingdom of God. In fact- it would be easier for a camel to go through theeye of the needle than it is to enter heaven.” When the disciples heard that the bible says thatthey were astounded- how can that be? It has been said- whether it is true or not- I don’t know- that at the time Jesus walked this earth-there was a gate in the old city walls called the eye of the needle because it had a small, low opening- and the only way a camel could get through the gate was if all its packs and burdens it was carrying were removed- and if and only if- the camel were then to get down on it’s knees to crawl through it- would the camel be able to get through.The imagery it portrays at first appears so spiritually right. Only problem is, if all those thingswere done, it was possible to do. With hard, persistent work and a co-operative camel, you couldmake it work. People who look at the law and spiritual principles think it all sounds so spiritual-and then come to the erroneous conclusion like the rich young ruler they think it can be done byour own strength and work if only they do the right things and try hard enough.But if that were true- how do we explain the disciple’s question-“then who can be saved?” Thatmakes me think Jesus was literally talking about the eye of a tiny sewing needle. And why? Tomake a point- Because it would be literally, totally be impossible to do.That’s why the disciples were shocked- “you mean no matter how much we try to do our best- nomatter if we perform all the rituals of the law to the best of our ability- no matter how ferventlywe sincerely pray- it is impossible for any of us to earn our way into heaven- much less haveassurance of it? Jesus had their attention- does He have yours? It is impossible to save ourselves-but thanks be to God- God can.A former Pharisee- a highly respected teacher and doer of the law whose heart was changed bythe grace of God while confronted on a dusty road -confessed and proclaimed: “For by grace wehave been saved through faith- it is not of our doing- it is a gift of God – not because of workslest anyone boast.” People today ask the same question the rich young ruler asked Jesus-what must I do? What must I do to have assurance of salvation- what must I do to be forgiven? What must I do to be content and have peace? But if we are going to ask the hard questions- then we must be ready to receive
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the answer. We cannot save ourselves. But the good news is that God can. God can give usassurance- God can give us forgiveness- God can give us peace.Writing to the Romans, Paul said: “I appeal to you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, topresent your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritualworship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”There is an old saying that says: “Garbage in, garbage out.” If all we put into our minds is thephilosophy and lies of the world’s view, then it is no wonder that our minds are deceived. Theonly way our minds can be renewed is by reading God’s word. God’s word is not justinformation- a classic piece of literature. It is not just good and true information- it is the livingand active word of God- that can cut to the core of issues with truth that both convicts and able tosave. God’s word is the only thing that has the power to bring us to the altar to be a livingsacrifice.But the problem with a living sacrifice is that it wants to get up off the altar and leave. That’swhat the rich young ruler did- and that is what we do every time we begin to love somethingmore than God we are tempted to get up and leave. But it is in those times, we need to know thatwe have a savior in Jesus who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses- who has in everyrespect been tested as we have, yet without sin and He will never leave us or forsake us. With usit is impossible- but God can.The third day after Jesus had been laid in a tomb, three women made their way to embalm a deadman. They were met by an angel who asked them a question: “why they were seeking the livingamong the dead- Jesus who you seek is not here- he has risen from the dead!” What? Jesus isalive? How can that be? To rise from the dead is impossible for us- but with God –He can- Hehas- and because of that- we who are in Christ will rise on the last day too.Teach us to number our days- teach us to live each day to the fullest. Because of the victory ofthe empty tomb- we can live in a confidence-not in our own ability to do things ourselves- but aconfidence that comes from God-because of the victory of the empty tomb- we can love Godmore than anything else; because of the victory of the empty tomb- we can have assurance andpeace in knowing Jesus as our redeemer and Lord. We are saved by grace through faith- it is notour own doing- it is a gift of God- not because of works lest any man should boast. We can’t- butGod can- and has.Many of you are familiar with the poem: “Footprints in the Sand.” In closing, I would like toshare it with you:One night I had a dream- I was walking along the shore with the Lord-and across the sky flashedscenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand.I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints.
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I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest time of my life.This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.Lord- you said that once I decided to follow you- you would walk with me all the way-But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set offootprints. I don’t understand why in those times I needed you most you should leave me?And the Lord replied-my precious child- I love you and would never leave you during your timesof trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints- it was then that I carried you.
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