THE JOURNEY MATTERS

 

1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

               Last night Suanne and I watched a movie called The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It is a fictional story about a man who receives a letter from a friend telling him that she is in hospice and dying. He struggles with how to respond to this friend. Through a chance encounter he is inspired to walk the 600 miles from his home to where his friend is, believing that his effort will extend her life. Throughout this incredible journey, Harold learns about himself and others. He faces his own grief at the tragic loss of his son by suicide. Near the end of his journey, he almost gives up, discouraged and spent, but his wife challenges him to finish his journey, which he does. His encounter with his dying friend is anticlimactic, but Harold is a changed man.

               At several occasions on his journey, he is offered a ride that would make his trip shorter and easier, but each time he declines, simply saying, I made a promise. He endures the 600-mile trip on foot, sleeping rough and depending upon the kindness of others.

               We are all on a journey through life that requires of us perseverance, stamina, and the will to keep going. Along the way, we have the choice to take short-cuts or to stay the course. There are parts of our journey that we would rather move through at a rapid pace or skip altogether. There are other parts of the journey that refresh us and renew our energy. We often wonder why God allows us to walk the paths that we do, but each situation is a part of our personal pilgrimage. Although we may want to rush to the end, the journey itself matters. It is the journey that shapes us as people. It shapes our character. It shapes our relationships. It shapes our faith. Without the challenges of the journey, our faith and our character will be weak and ineffective. It is the challenging times that build the spiritual muscles we need in order to endure to the end.

               When Jesus came into the world, he could have come as a fully grown man, displaying all of his power and glory. But he took the hard road instead. He took on our humanity and lived our life. At the beginning of his ministry, the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness to face Satan. Satan offered Jesus several shortcuts to his end goal. It would have saved Jesus much pain and grief if he had accepted them. But he did not. Instead, he stayed committed to the journey that was before him. He literally walked his “unlikely” journey through the parched countryside of Palestine. He slept rough and depended on the kindness of strangers. He never wavered in his commitment to follow the path set before him all the way to the end.

               As followers of Christ, we have been called to walk our own “unlikely” journey of faith. Along the way we will face challenges that will require us to lean upon God and others. There will be times of discouragement and even disillusionment. At those times, God will send others to come along side of us and encourage us to keep going. As the writer of Hebrews put it, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

               The year that is ending was a year of challenges, disappointments, and set-backs. There were some highlights along the way, but it was a hard year in many ways. It is natural for us to ask for an easier path ahead of us, but that is probably not going tom happen. There will be more challenges ahead. They are all part of our journey and the journey matters. It is the journey that is shaping us into the people we will be for all of eternity. As C.S. Lewis has said, we are either moving toward being such glorious beings that if we saw them today, we would be tempted to worship them, or toward being such distorted, twisted people that we would recoil from them in horror. The shape we will take as we enter eternity will be formed through the journey ahead.

               Harold Fry was a very different man when he finished his journey than when he began it. God has invited us into a journey that will transform our lives, if we don’t give up. The journey is essential. The journey matters for all of eternity.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

Encounter the First Christmas

                The first Christmas was a confusing, bewildering, exciting, amazing time. The known world was thrust into frantic activity by the decree of Caesar to take a census. It would have been easy enough except everyone had to travel to their ancestral home. The Jews are very clannish, like the Scots. To make the census more palatable to the Jews, the authorities tapped into their ancient loyalty to their patriarchal tribes. So it was that Joseph and Mary had to travel, at a most inconvenient time, to the town of Bethlehem.

                The trip would have been an ordeal. It would normally take 3-4 days to walk to Bethlehem from Nazareth, but with Mary being very pregnant it took longer. Like all expectant fathers, I’m sure that Joseph didn’t want Mary to overdo it. So they made their way, slowly, to Bethlehem because Joseph came from the line of David, the King.

                Joseph may have puzzled over the irony of his connection to Bethlehem. He was anything but the son of a king. A simple carpenter, living in a small, obscure village on the fringe of the nation. He was a man who worked with his hands, not one who gave orders and ruled a nation. Of the line of David. A more unreal thought couldn’t have passed through his mind.

                When they finally arrived, Bethlehem was bedlam; there were people everywhere. It had not been designed for this influx of humanity. Every available accommodation was taken; occupied by some weary traveler, anxious to get registered and go home. The atmosphere was not festive, it was tense. Nerves were on edge, tempers were short. Roman soldiers roamed the streets adding to the uncomfortable feeling in the air. A young couple, arriving late, were viewed as a nuisance, an inconvenience, an unwanted burden.

                They found shelter in a stable. It was probably a cave that had been enlarged, with a fence and gate to keep the animals in. Like most caves, it would have been musty, slightly damp and dirty. The stale air, mixed with the aroma of the animals, would have made for a pungent atmosphere. But near the back of the stable, the young couple would have a measure of privacy. Privacy that they dearly needed, for the time for the baby had arrived. Had they been accommodated in the inn, they would have been crowded in with other guests, exposed to the curious stares of strangers. In a strange way, God provided a private room for his son to be born into our world. Possibly shielded by the oblivious animals, Mary gave birth to the son of God. 

                In the villages of Israel, the birth of a child was a major event. The whole village would be in anticipation of the arrival. When the baby entered the world, it was customary for some local musicians to gather outside of the house and herald the birth with music. Soon the whole village would be informed and a collective celebration would take place.

                There were no mistrals waiting to announce Jesus’ birth. But God was not going to let His son’s birth go unnoticed. He sent His messenger to a group of Temple shepherds who were staying with the flock out in the field. The sky blazed with the glory of God and one or two of these hardened men may have wet their tunics. We know that they were not just startled, they were terrified. The message the angel gave was one of comfort and joy. Don’t be afraid, God has just fulfilled his promise to send the Messiah into the world. Here is the really good news. You marginalized; blue collar laborers are included. The Messiah has come, not for the religious elite, but for the common people; for all the people! He is just over there in Bethlehem. You can find him, wrapped tight in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.

                At that moment the sky exploded with the praise of heaven. If one angel is enough to terrify a person, consider what a whole army of angels would do. God sent his angelic army to celebrate the most amazing miracle that has ever happened, that will ever happen. God invaded our world in the form of a vulnerable baby.

                The shepherds were stunned and amazed. As the night sky returned to its normal appearance, the shepherds were moved to do something they would never even consider doing. They left the flock, unattended in the field, and rushed to town. They searched every cave, stable and barn looking for the baby. When they found him, they were stunned into silence. At the sight of the baby, they knew it was all true. Their silence was broken with uncontrollable praise. They left the bewildered young family, and raced through the sleepy streets proclaiming the good news. Although everyone who heard the news was amazed, there is no record that they went to check it out for themselves. The morning was dawning. The busy day was ahead of them. The census demanded all of their attention. So they forgot what they had heard and went on with life.

               God chose a very unlikely cast of characters to participate in this monumental event. A young girl, a rough carpenter, a group of smelly shepherds. He didn’t choose the elite, the informed, the upper crust. He chose common people, and he still does.

                Paul reminds us that none of us have a claim on God’s gift because of our social status or reputation. We are recipients of the gift because of His great love. 1 Cor. 1:26-31

    Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

                Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts. God has given us the greatest gift of all, His son. The Christ of Christmas is our Savior purely as an unmerited gift from God.    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephes. 2:8-9

 

               You know the story; you have been invited into the story. How will you respond? Will you respond like the people of Bethlehem, and go on with life as usual? Or will you take your place with Mary, Joseph and the shepherds?

AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH

 

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."      

               In a couple of days, we will celebrate Christmas. For many it will be a day of fun, excitement, presents, and family. For others it will be a day of disappointment, regret, and loneliness. Our secular world has hyped up Christmas to a fever pitch. The focus is on gifts, decorations, and presents. The hype of Christmas stirs many emotions within us. It gets our emotional adrenalin pumping. We can become frantic in our attempts to live up to all of the expectations that come along with the season. When finally we are past Christmas there is both relief and let down. As our adrenalin subsides, we feel drained and sometimes empty.

               All the fun and excitement, hurry and busyness of Christmas can obscure the true meaning of this celebration. It is a time to stop and reflect upon the reality that in one moment God changed the course of human history forever. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

               The Christmas story emphasizes the reality of the incarnation. The story of Jesus is not a myth or a legend. It is a historical fact; a reality that we all must deal with. In the Christmas story, the unapproachable God became approachable. The unknowable God became knowable. The untouchable God became touchable. In the Christmas event, God became tangible for all of humanity. John summarized the reality of Jesus in the opening lines of his first letter. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NIV)

               The Christmas story is not a legend, but an invitation to take our place in the story.  It is a living story that continues to expand even today.

               On that very first Christmas there was an unlikely group of people who were called to take their place in the story of Jesus; and there were shepherds living out in the field, watching their flocks by night. The shepherds were common people. They lived on the fringe of society. Because of their occupation they were excluded from worship in the Temple. Yet they played a vital role in the worship of God. It is very likely that these particular shepherds were temple shepherds, keeping watch over the sheep that would be used in the Temple as sacrifices.

               On that monumental night, God sent his birth announcement, not to the priests in Jerusalem, but to common shepherds out in the field. The message that God sent to them was profound and unexpected. The Messiah has been born! The long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived. The Messiah has been born to you! Yes, you common shepherds have been included. You have been invited into the inner circle of God’s kingdom. You get to be the first to welcome the Messiah into the world.

               The shepherds were left with a choice. They could marvel at what they had heard and stay where they were, or they could follow the angel’s instructions and find the child; and that is what they did. The angel gave the shepherds tangible clues to the identity of the child; you will find the child, wrapped in clothes, and lying in a manger. The message was clear. The Messiah was real, tangible, knowable, approachable.

               So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:16-20 (NIV)

               We know very little about Jesus’ life as a child and young man. But we know that he didn’t just show up on the world stage out of nowhere. He came into this world in the same way we all did. He walked the same journey of life that we all do. He lived among us in reality.

               Luke 2:20 stands out in my mind. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. God confirmed the reality of His message in the form of a newborn child.

               For many people God is a concept, a vague idea, an unapproachable, out there somewhere entity. Christmas made God tangible and real. Jesus was born in a real place, in real time. He lived in a real place in real time.

               Christmas can be just a holiday, with a nice story to go along with it. Or Christmas can be an encounter with the reality that God invited our world; that God came near. The shepherds were told that they could find the child if they were willing to seek him. The same promise is held out to us. We too can find Jesus if we have the courage to break out of our routine and earnestly seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.