Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to proclaim Your glory to the whole world. Keep us watchful, we pray, lest having witnessed to others we fail to be vigilant, and so disqualify ourselves from our heavenly calling. Amen.
“Watch!” That’s the radio word for today. It’s one of Jesus’ favorite words. For example, when He taught His disciples about the end of the world, He told them to watch. “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. Be careful! Watch!” He said in Mark (Mark 13:32-33).
But I ask myself, “What does it mean to watch?” Imagine a high school basketball game. An important shot is being made. Everyone is totally focused on that shot. If Jesus came back for Judgment Day at that moment, would He give everyone thumbs down, go to hell, because we weren’t watching for Him? When He comes back will He give the thumbs down to an adult who happened to be totally focused upon a business meeting or a social event? What about a married adult who is getting emotionally involved with someone who is not his or her spouse? That is not watching for Jesus’ return. Thumbs down? Let me suggest one more case. What about the poor soul in a coma or afflicted with Alzheimer’s? Obviously, they are not watching. So I ask myself, precisely what is Jesus telling us to do when He says, “Watch”?
Let’s set that question aside for a moment and move to something that may seem totally unrelated. Christians are increasingly aware that we’re not the only world religion represented here in North America. For a long time we’ve had Jewish friends and neighbors. More and more we are meeting Muslims, people who follow the teachings of the 6th century prophet Mohammed. Their religion is called Islam, and one of its most important times is Ramadan.
About Ramadan, Philip Lochhaas has written, “Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. Such fasting, the Muslim believes, teaches self-discipline and aids in the curbing of appetites also at other times” (“How to Respond to Islam,” CPH, 1990; p. 16).
Why do they do that? Lochhaas quotes their holy book, the Koran. (On the day of judgment) it says, “They whose balances shall be heavy with good works, shall be happy; but they whose balances shall be light, are those who shall lose their souls and shall remain in hell forever” (p. 24). So our Muslim acquaintances keep the month long fast because they believe salvation is a result of good works and the fast of Ramadan is one of those good works. Without good works, they believe it will be thumbs down.
To that, we Christians might be tempted to say, “Hey, glad we don’t have to do that! We’re saved because we have faith, not by any works we have to do. No need to fast!” “Whoa!” I say. You’re jumping to some wrong conclusions. Fasting has a long tradition in Christianity. Like our Jewish friends, we regard the Old Testament as sacred and it is filled with references to fasting. “I humbled myself with fasting” (Psalm 35:13). “I cried and fasted” (Psalm 69:10). Many other references could be added. To that Old Testament, Christians add the New Testament which tells about God’s climactic revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament we see Jesus and His disciples continuing the practice of fasting. Jesus began His visible ministry with a 40-day fast. “During those days Jesus ate nothing” (Luke 4:2). In His Sermon on the Mount, we hear that some of Jesus’ followers fasted. Jesus said, “When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites…. When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. Then your fasting won’t be obvious. It will be obvious to your Father” (Matthew 16:16-17).
That verse gives us an important insight. This isn’t just about fasting. I’m not doing a commercial for Weight Watchers or Slim Fast or what have you. For Christians, Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount tell us what’s most important is your relationship with God. Are your outward actions consistent with the faith in your heart or are they not? (Outward actions are everyday “all the time” things). Through the centuries, Christians have practiced various forms of bodily disciplines to make sure their physical life conformed to their confession. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, St. Paul makes a general statement about his own practice of bodily discipline. He says, “I make my body my slave so I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.” So I’m saying, when you hear about Ramadan or hear about people fasting during Lent, don’t dismiss that and other forms of bodily discipline as unnecessary because of faith. Bodily discipline is necessary so your conduct remains in line with your Christian confession.
A quotation I often use in sermons comes from C. S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity.” Christ says, “Give Me all. I don’t want so much of your money and so much of your work – I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self…. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself, My own will shall become yours.” (CPH; 1982; p. 81).
Lewis tells us God’s claim on us is total. That’s not because He’s some mean slave driver but because He’s your God. He’s your Creator; He made you and He preserves you. He’s your loving Father. He’s your Redeemer. Jesus, the Son of God, gave His all in life and in His death on the cross, all for you-all to bring you to forgiveness, life, and salvation. God is your sanctifier. It simply means God’s Spirit works through the Good News of Jesus to cleanse you from your sins and enables you to live a holy life. God wants you, all of you! “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Now if you’ve been led to believe this, and I pray you have, the last thing you want is for something physical, unrestrained feeling, emotion or urge to trip you up. “People who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don’t fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). That’s why bodily discipline is so important to the Christian. What form might bodily discipline take in your life? That’s up to you. Some fasting from food and drink for a limited time might be enough. Lent will start the 28th of this month. You might “fast” not from food but from something important to you. Some years ago I gave up TV for Lent. There are other ways of disciplining your body. Getting up before your normal time for the purpose of reading the Bible and prayer is one. These forms of discipline help bring the body into subjection. Life is filled with times when desires of the body need to be reined in. What God has done for you in Jesus Christ is so important, you’ll discipline your whole being so as not to lose your heavenly calling. In other words, watch! I’ve come back to that word. Watch every aspect of your life-physical, emotional, spiritual. Watch your conduct to be in line with your confession. Watch every aspect of your life so you don’t take your eyes off your heavenly calling.
Now let’s revisit those cases I brought up at the start of today’s message: the crowd at a basketball game, the business person who can be tempted, and lastly, the poor soul suffering from Alzheimer’s or in a coma because of illness or accident. Is a player or spectator going to miss out on Judgment Day for being absorbed in the game and not thinking about Jesus? The Greek word Jesus used for watching is the same word that Peter used when he wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant” (That’s the same word translated elsewhere as watch). Be vigilant “because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). If a lion walked into that gymnasium, would people notice? Of course. If Jesus comes while you are absorbed in sports, will you notice? Of course you will, even though you weren’t looking for Him at that precise moment. You know what will make the difference for you between heaven and hell? It’s a disciplined life, the daily focus upon your Savior. It’s the same with adults who might be focused on some event when Judgment Day comes. It ‘s not that disciplined watching will earn you heaven, as many Muslims believe about the fasting of Ramadan. It’s rather God’s gift of salvation so precious to you that you are vigilant, watchful, to keep it at the center of your heart and every day life.
Talking adult now, what about spending a lot of time with a co-worker or an acquaintance? You know, he or she seems to be giving you some emotional support you haven’t been getting at home. You’re not thinking of cheating — people seldom do — but this emotional draw is getting stronger and stronger. Emotions are getting the upper hand. You know what? The lion has not only come into the room but is moving directly toward you. Sin is lying at the door of your heart. To let a situation like that go on, you are not being vigilant. You are not watching. You are not living a disciplined life. I won’t say you’ve lost your salvation. That, I don’t know. Only God knows. Your lack of discipline, however, is jeopardizing your heavenly calling.
Here’s a good way to monitor your actions. As you probably know, some Christians do not have a favorable view of hard liquor. Dale Clemens, a retired Baptist pastor in our town of Collinsville, told a personal story that’s worth keeping in mind. As a boy growing up in a small Illinois town, his parents sometimes asked him to return empty soda bottles for the deposit. And where in this small town did he have to take the bottles? Of all places, to the tavern! Pastor Clemens recalled as a young, pious Baptist boy, he was always afraid Jesus would come for Judgment Day and catch him in the tavern. Don’t just smile at the story; take it to heart. Before you do something, ask yourself: Will I be embarrassed if my Savior comes and finds me doing this? Is this conduct consistent with my Christian confession? Daily watching means that you won’t be embarrassed if Jesus comes when you’re absorbed for the moment with sports or a meeting or a social event. However, many Christians are not disciplined in body, soul, and spirit that walk naively into sinful situations where the devil is prowling. These are situations that jeopardize your heavenly calling.
Let me wrap up with the last case-the sad situation of someone afflicted with Alzheimer’s or someone in a coma. Two things need to be said. First, because that can happen to you or me, we should discipline ourselves day by day for our heavenly calling. This is your time of grace. Bend all the energies of your mind, body and soul to the Gospel of God and your heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. In other words, be vigilant. Watch.
Secondly, should this sad state come to you or to a loved one, remember salvation is by grace and not by works. “You have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). When you were baptized, you were washed in the blood of Christ and robed in the righteousness of salvation. While a disease or an accident can rob you of your mind and the ability to do good works, it can’t take away the robe of righteousness which God gave you in baptism. Only unbelief, rejecting your heavenly calling in Christ, eternally condemns. The sincere Christian with Alzheimer’s or in a coma is in the arms of a gracious Savior and -here’s comfort-will be in the Savior’s arms forever.
See, when all is said and done, it comes down to God’s grace; God’s free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Your discipline through the years, your church attendance and Bible study, your daily devotions and countless prayers to God — those never were and never will be the source of your salvation. You’re not saved because you believe, or because you go to church, or because you discipline yourself. That’s not Christian. Other world religions teach that; Christianity doesn’t. Christianity says it will be “thumbs up” for you by grace. You are saved by grace, by the free gift of God in Jesus Christ. Faith is God enabling you to grasp His grace, to grasp and hold onto His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. The proper way to say it is: We are saved by grace through faith. Isn’t that what Ephesians 2:8-9 says? “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
About the unknown time of Judgment Day, St. Jerome wrote, “The one day is hid from us in order that we may pay heed to every day.” Jesus says, “What I say to you, I say to all, watch!” Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 18, 2001
ANNOUNCER: I’m Mark Eischer. Joining me is Dr. Dale Meyer. We’ve been talking about homosexuality and the church. Often homosexuals will say they were born that way, implying God created them that way and intends for them to be homosexuals.
MEYER: Mark, I don’t know if that’s true. I’ve heard it both ways. I do know the Bible tells us we are all born with original sin. Before we’ve even committed an actual sin, we are sinners from our conception. That tells me that even if we are born this way, it’s not necessarily God-pleasing.
ANNOUNCER: Well, what can Bible-believing Christians do when confronted with this issue?
MEYER: The church denomination to which I belong, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, published in 1999 a plan for ministry to homosexuals and their families. It lists six goals, and I suggest we go over those goals briefly now. The first goal is to confront the individual with his/her sinfulness and call him or her to repentance. I hasten to say before that happens, some other things should happen. You want to build a relationship with this person, and be a genuine friend. Secondly, before you go to someone about God, go to God about that person. Pray about this long before you ever raise the subject.
ANNOUNCER: What would the next step be?
MEYER: Next it’s important to assure the repentant sinner of forgiveness in Christ. Last week we shared the story of Rob Castille. He was an active practicing homosexual, and then when AIDS struck him low, he repented. He found out as we all need to find out, God forgives us for the sake of Jesus.
ANNOUNCER: What then?
MEYER: Goal #3, according to this helpful plan for ministry, is to help the individual rely on Christ’s love and strength, and to abstain from homosexual behavior. You know the act of repentance really has three parts. One is confessing your sin, whatever that sin happens to be. Secondly, look wholly to the cross of Christ for forgiveness. But third, something we often forget. Because of gratitude to God for saving you, seek to live according to His Word. And in this case, that means abstaining from practicing homosexuality.
ANNOUNCER: Really, we can fill in the blank here – whatever the offense, repentance applies for all.
MEYER: A good point, Mark. As heart shattering as this issue is, homosexuality is not an unforgivable sin. There is forgiveness with Him, says the psalmist; that He may be feared. Feared meaning respected and reverenced.
ANNOUNCER: What’s the fourth goal of ministry?
MEYER: To assure this person of the acceptance of the church, whatever the sin might happen to be. I certainly don’t want to go into a church where I’m going to be clobbered over the head for something I’m doing wrong. It may be wrong, and I need to hear it, but I want to be accepted. The church needs to remember that Christ died for all.
ANNOUNCER: And the next goal, Dr. Meyer?
MEYER: The fifth one is to help the individual bear his or her burden without fear of recrimination and rejection by his or her sisters and brothers in Christ. It’s not enough simply to get that person to say “I’ve sinned and I trust now in Jesus for forgiveness.” We have to walk with them all the way. St. Paul told the Galatians, bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is the law of love.
ANNOUNCER: The final one?
MEYER: The sixth and final goal is to keep ministering. Keep serving homosexuals and their families. They should be on our prayer lists; they should be on our care lists all the time. Again, that’s what Christ would have us do for Him.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Meyer. We come now to the end of our broadcast for another week.