I was thinking this week just how bi-polar our existence in this life is. By by-polar, I mean how outright manic-depressive life can be! One minute we are soaring with Eagles oozing in confidence, the next… cruising the fiery depths of regret. Constantly in flux of hoping to belong to whatever (you name it), only in the next moment how to keep others from getting the same access that you have. Celebrating our salvation, and in the next thought, denying and condemning the salvation of others. All while daily we (who live here in this most beautiful region of this land of ours), are offered by God; landscape after awesome vistas, plus surreal natural one-of-a-kind landmarks, celestial wonders, all showing the work of God’s hands, only to filter out God’s gifts, or outright deny His ongoing involvement, guidance, or even God’s existence.
It is plain to anyone who really is searching for Him, that the one and only God, creator of all of creation and more; is alive, robust, and in charge of every atom, molecule, and scintilla of content… everywhere! Every shred, spec, scrap, and jot, imaginable within the realm, knowledge, sustenance, and control of our majestic God! Always has been, and always will be so thru our eternity. I say our eternity, because we can’t speak for God’s infinity!
And yet humanity being fallen and depraved as it is, chooses not to look at the wonderous creation for what it is, an overwhelming miracle in the making in real time life. No. From almost the beginning of the history of you and I, humanity has willfully chosen to go it alone without God time and again to humankind’s great peril. The Apostle Paul rightfully sums this up in his letter to the church in Rome, two millennia ago. Please let me read for you, Romans 1:18-22:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
*Interrupting Paul just to say; yea, and even more so; … why? Why are we so head strong for our own demise, hurt, and self-betrayal? Paul continues now at verse 21;
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…
Ouch, and woe is me some more. Because this is me every time, I choose to follow the shinny stuff of allusion instead of clinging to the solid rock of salvation in our Lord. In this topsy-turvy existence, we’re hard wired like a moth to the flame, built to flirt with the abyss, instead of really enjoying what the good life in and with our Lord provides.
This is when most of us outright need someone to provide a dose of reality our way. Someone who brings some street cred to the table. You know, someone who has demonstrated an ability to screw things up royally, and then, still have the wherewithal to repent, and come back into the fold of God’s family. I’m thinking of the Apostle and early Church leader Peter. Here are some of his thoughts on life in the Body of Christ, or just living around other people. Reading from, 1 Peter 4:7-11;
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
*I need to interrupt Peter to say; And when I’m mad, I’m not sober minded, just mad. So, amen, and amen! Love covers all that junk. The stuff that we work on trying to forgive in one another, and even in ourselves, over the course of our lives. Loving mercy, or giving love, is what separates you and me from those who do not yet know our Lord. Which is why we are needed in this world, at this time. To bring light into darkness, and hope, where people have given up. Given up on life, themselves, and even God. That’s where you come in my friends. On to verse 9;
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Indeed, to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever. That’s what I love about our Congregation: many parts one body. All are important, essential, and vital in this partnership of ours! And when this is our mindset, we are able to achieve wonders… humbly in God’s name. And we begin to sound more like King David, who’s words Shanna read today in the Call to Worship. Reading from David’s, Psalm 19 this time verses:1-6;
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
It is right and good to appreciate and thank God for this wonderous creation of His making. While doing so, it’s essential that we never start worshipping the created instead of the creator. That’s idolatry, and it is not acceptable. We must be in the business of praising, glorifying, and magnifying God’s holy name (not ours) for giving all of us the creation, to include our very being.
When we get stronger in our relationship with the Lord,… our mindset becomes even more focused on praising God and living a life of gratitude, for all that He has provided. At some point this next passage begins to resonate from with us. Reading from Psalm 105: 1-7
1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
And we need not be in fear of His judgements, in spite of our imperfections my beloved. For we are justified by a Savior who has sacrificed all for your eternal ransom with His blood, and that gives new life in Him. That justification from your Savior provides us with confidence for the days ahead, and the challenges before us.
When this is the way that we are thinking, we are beginning to become not one with the universe, but more importantly and essentially, in sync with the one who made the universe. The beginnings of becoming more in accord with the Lord. Hence today’s title; The Harmony in God, is Deeper than Zen! That harmony is our working on trying to build that relationship in and with our Lord, by working in and with our Lord.
Some days it’s just beautiful to behold. I got through a whole day without loosing it over petty nonsense, or ignorant jealousy, or impotent arrogance. And then there are the other times. Not so pretty, and not very edifying. But if we can’t own our mistakes and treat them like lessons learned, how do we realistically grow as people?
How do we avoid the mistakes made by countless others of the past? Those who Paul spoke of in Romans chapter one, who God turned over to themselves. Ready for destruction. Yes, how do we go from those miserable people destined for ruin in their own making, to the people who Paul was instructing in the Church of Rome? The teachable people, willing to learn, listen, and grow, who had a future in the Lord. Please listen again to today’s Message Reading from, Romans 12: 9-21;
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
*Interrupting Paul to say; that means getting to know those people in need, and not just throwing time, money, or blind effort towards helping, but knowing those people. For that is how you begin to love your neighbor as yourself. Verse 14;
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
**OK…That hurts; but I think we can never really have harmony in the Lord, if we are not willing to try and live in harmony with other people! It’s a heavy load sometimes to push our pride to the side, and humbly abide, and then serve! Now, verse 17;
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
And don’t focus on the burning coals on another’s head, or you miss the point. I think I know what some of you are thinking…; yea but…and, are you up in the night? Let’s just face it my friends. This stuff is simple…Easy? No, and no! But it’s required… and if you are not working on forgiveness, grace, and harmony with those you struggle with, … you have every reason to question if you have been, and are being saved. By a God who loves even you in spite of … even you!
No one is saying you are mandated to perfection, for we all come up short of the glory of God and miss the mark of desired behavior. But you must get in the game, and try, really try, and then try again to seek the standard your Lord has set for you in this life. Don’t beat yourself up, just get back up, and try some more with Him!
By the way, there is a life that is even more beautiful, when you are engaged in making a difference in the standards of good will for others. The people in your life! And in this community. Oh, and that is grace working through you, not you being you, because that aint pretty. Nor can it be without your Lord holding our hand, as we seek to play well with others on the playground of life.
And just as it is beginning to look really hard for us to live up to the true standard, please let me pile on with the words of our Lord from the Prelude earlier. Reading again from, Matthew 5:43-45;
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Now we are in Detrich Bonhoeffer territory. The German pacifist Lutheran Pastor who opposed the Nazi regime, and was executed for not being willing to kill others, and for saving Jewish families.
So, what is our Lord asking us to do? Are we being called to give up our lives? To die for others? To be martyrs? Here is my thought. But that’s all it is. You have the heavy burden to pray, study scripture and to think for your selves with the Lord as you compass.
My thought is that when Paul is calling us to be living sacrifices for others, our Lord is saying, your relationships with other people are important to God. Go read Matthew 5:21-24 some time. Over and again, scripture repeats that our relationships are serious things, because our relationships are the intangible assets, we bring into eternity. Taking care of the needy, and the less fortunate, brings all of us closer to a God who know what giving means!
If we begin to actually spend some time with our Lord. Some quality time where instead of complaints, we actually focus on listening to where His Holy Spirit is leading you. Time reflecting on God and others wellbeing before your own. This trains us to actually begin to be in harmony with the creator of all. Making this last passage from Psalm 96:1-9, make more sense, because it reflects a deeper understanding of Him.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth. Amen!
Benediction; Psalm 96:1-4, and Numbers 6:24-26
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.