Cheating The Reaper
Sermon
ACTING ON THE ABSURD
Second Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation ..." (v. 1 NIV). No condemnation! No condemnation? Can you think how it would be to live without the fear of condemnation? All too well we know just the opposite! All too well we know the fear of condemnation - the dread that the axe might fall, that the gavel might sound.
I recently heard an interview of Sidney Poitier conducted by Oprah Winfrey. He related to her that his young life was dominated by a sense of condemnation. When he came to New York City in the fifties, he found many doors closed to him and even felt condemned because of the color of his skin. Condemned by the color of one's skin? All too often it has been tragically true!
You may remember the story of Abbie Hoffman. For many years he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. He became a fugitive from the law. Hoffman was always on the run, looking over his shoulder, fearful that he would be found out or caught, waiting for the axe to fall. Then one day, after all those years, Abbie Hoffman walked into a police station and turned himself over to the authorities. "Why have you done this?" they asked. "I'm just tired," he said. "I am just tired of running and I am tired of feeling guilty."
Can you imagine what it would be like to live your life under the heavy and dark cloud of condemnation? Always looking over the shoulder? Always fearful of being caught? This is a life under condemnation. This is a life waiting for the accusing finger to be pointed, or worse yet, one that sees God as a heavenly bookkeeper and is fearful of when the final accounting will be.
In our text, Paul relates that this dilemma does not have to be. He begins by saying, "Therefore!" Why fore the therefore? What's the therefore there for? The "therefore" in Paul's thought always serves as a bridge over which Paul travels from one thought to another and could be translated "as a result of." In light of his argument in chapters 1 through 7, we "therefore" are freed from condemnation and are set free from the law of sin and death. We are able to cheat the reaper (grim, that is). When we act in faith on the absurd notion that God loves us unconditionally and sincerely seeks to share his very life with us, we are set free from the condemning law of sin and death.
Romans 8 is a celebration! As God's children, freed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, we rejoice in the fact that we no longer live under condemnation but are freed to walk in the Spirit. We are freed to walk under the guidance of our Constant Companion.
Paul states in verse 6, "The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Our lives are characterized by a peacefulness grounded in the fact that our past sins are forgiven. We no longer wallow in self--pity or the regret of long ago failures. All of the past is forgiven and forgotten by God and is removed from us as far as the east is from the west. It's gone, forever! We are freed from its condemnation and are now freed to allow God's Spirit to give us the peace that only he can give.
Does that mean that we no longer struggle with sin? Of course not! In fact, the entire passage talks of our continual struggle with the relationship of "spirit and flesh." Scholars are divided as to what that actually means. Some feel that Paul is discussing the dual nature that lives within us - flesh and spirit, good and bad, light and darkness.
Billy Graham tells the story of an Eskimo farmer who went to town every Saturday to the dog fights. He always took his two dogs, one white, the other black, and they would fight each other. People would place bets on the two dogs. Sometimes the white dog would win, sometimes the black dog would win, but the farmer always won. "How do you always win?" they asked. "It is really very simple," he replied. "All week long I feed one and starve the other. The one I feed always wins!"1
I used that story in my daily radio spot called "Gotta Minute?" A young lady called me very irate that I would use a story wherein one had mistreated an animal. I apologized that I had offended her and then asked where she attended church. She replied that she did not. I tried to reply as tenderly as possible that she might be doing to herself spiritually that which she so abhorred in the farmer.
Perhaps Paul is talking about the two sides of our nature that constantly are at war with each other. We cultivate and nourish one side to the neglect of the other, and there is no surprise as to which side is victorious. Or, possibly Paul is talking about something that is much larger in scope. Maybe the apostle is talking about two completely different directions of life - dual directions - one that leads toward sinfulness and the other that leads toward God. One direction is the road of self--centeredness, of "I want what I want more than I want what God wants!" The other direction is accepting God's leadership and guidance in our everyday life. Perhaps Paul is talking about two different ways of conducting our lives, two paths for living, dual directions of destiny.
We do know that Paul is saying that we have a choice, like the farmer or the young woman responding to the radio spot. We can choose to live with an unknown judgment hanging over our head or with a Constant Companion living in our heart. We can live a life alone fearful of the eventual accounting, reaping what we sow, or we can continue with the internal presence begun while on Earth. We are free to share his very life here and forever because our sins were judged on Calvary's cross.
Paul is saying,"There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Paul adds in verses 10--11: "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (KJV). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (KJV). We are now free to live as God's new creation. The past is gone and the future looms brightly ahead. We are to live our lives, reflecting the love, graciousness, forgiveness, and joy that has been given to us.
This new life is one that is lived out in a new community that exists for others. Our new life is nurtured and strengthened in a loving fellowship characterized by concern that translates itself in caring deeds which were inherent in the very life of Jesus. But, is it sometimes true that the loudest voices we often hear from the Christian community can be a little irritating on the ear or even divisive within the fellowship? Is it true that the outside world is turned off by the contentious attitudes within our ranks, the splitting of denominations, and the squabbles over hymn books and worship styles? I do not know if they are or not! But if so, why? Is it because we don't adhere to the proper creed or theology? Is it because we do not align ourselves with the appropriate political position, whatever that is? Is it because we are not in some ways successful? Some Christians are famous, have glamorous, glitzy churches, and seem to be mightily used of God. But as I look at all this in my very limited vision, there continues to be a question gnawing at my heart. That question is, "Where is the love?" We have adequate buildings, trained clergy, somewhat proper political positions, near to appropriate theology, and some measure of success! But where is the love? Where is the life that reflects the vibrancy and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ? I only may be pointing a finger at my own inadequacy, but still I am urged to ask, "Where is the love and the spirit of Jesus in all of this?"
In his book, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion, Gordon MacDonald quotes the wonderful preacher Calvin Miller. Miller writes of an antique wooden dynamite box in his home. The box was made in the nineteenth century and was carefully constructed to withstand shock as its explosive contents were transported from the manufacturer to a place of use. On the lid were large, red and black letters which read, "DANGER DYNAMITE!" "But the last time I saw it," Miller wrote, "it was filled with common paraphernalia that could be found in any workroom."2 What irony! Fashioned by skilled hands with the finest of materials for such a noble purpose and filled with "common paraphernalia." Created by the loving hands of One who died on the cross to house his marvelous Good News of grace for the purpose of sharing his love with the entire world and too often filled with the common paraphernalia of littleness, self--centered pettiness, and arrogance that "only we are right" - such sometimes is the fellowship of the church. Very possibly Paul is saying that it is the responsibility of each of us to strive continually to see that our lives, individually and corporately, are governed by the side of our nature that loves and cares for others, reflects the life of Christ, and exists for those not yet of our midst.
Freed from the condemnation of sin, we are not only free to live our lives in a community that exists for others, we are liberated to exercise a certain wisdom that is a by--product of our walk in the Spirit. Paul states, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (v. 11 NIV). Here Paul is speaking about a life that is alive because of righteousness. He speaks of a life that is in right relationship with God. A by--product of such a life lived in obedience to the Spirit is a certain kind of wisdom. This way of wisdom is discernible by those who are sensitive to it and can or cannot be gained through experience or education. It is not a wisdom that we earn or deserve. This kind of wisdom is born of God and is his gift to us as we live in relationship to him and to his community.
Wisdom! My paternal grandfather was a bi--vocational preacher and pastor for over forty years. I stood in the room as my father talked to his father as my grandfather lay on the bed in which he would die two days later. "Papa," my father said. "I am so frustrated. I am trying to get the state highway department to pave the service road in front of my house, but they are just giving me the run--a--round." In a soft but firm voice, my grandpa replied, "Well, son, did it ever occur to you that you might not always get everything you want?" Wisdom! Some people are wise in the Lord. When my back is against the wall, I seek out those who are wise in the Lord to pray for me or to give me counsel.
When I felt that God was calling me into the ministry, I sought counsel from my Uncle Hosea, a pastor for over forty years. "Are you going to continue your education?" he asked. "Yes, sir!" I replied. "I hope to transfer to Samford University in the fall and study religion before entering seminary." "That's good, son," he said. "Go to Samford. It's a good school. I went there. Learn all you can about biology, archeology, and zoology. But more than anything, Gary, learn all you can about kneeology. Learn everything you can about getting down on your knees and hearing God's voice through prayer." Wisdom! With the ability to gain an abundance of information at break--neck speed today, we may be lacking the wisdom to use our knowledge wisely. Wisdom!
There is a tale told of a very wise old woman traveling alone who was joined by another traveler. As they talked around the camp fire, he noticed in her knapsack a very precious stone. He thought to himself that this old woman had no idea what the stone was worth. He decided to trick her out of it. "May I see the stone?" he asked. She nodded. "This is just a stone. Do you mind if I have it?" he asked. "You may," she replied.
He left with the feeling that his future was now secure since he had tricked the old woman. Three days later the old woman was joined by the very same traveler. "I will gladly give back your precious stone, if you will give to me what it was that allowed you to give me the stone in the first place." 3 Wisdom!
Are our lives characterized by a wisdom born of our daily walk and relationship to God? Are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit - our Constant Companion? We listen to and act upon those inner urgings that are of a divine nature. We all get weary of those who profess, "God told me to do this or that," especially when it involves our wallet. But I do believe that God gives to us a wisdom, a guidance or even direction through prayer, his people or his Word. That does not mean that we always are right or never make mistakes.
I remember the account of my wife's Uncle Arthur, who preached well into his eighties and who forgot more Bible than I will ever know. One morning he said to his wife, "Dovie, the Lord has told me to attend the Sardis Revival services this morning." So, they went. After sitting in the empty parking lot for awhile they decided to ask someone why the services had not already begun. "Why, Arthur, the revival isn't until next week," the pastor replied. We have all been there, haven't we? We just knew it was the Lord's will only to find out later it was not. Even the best of us make mistakes as we seek to obey the inner urging. Sometimes we let those mistakes discourage us and even cause us to distrust those inner directives of "the Spirit of God that lives in you" (v. 9). To deny those urgings is an even bigger mistake.
Immediately, we knew we liked each other. I was still wet behind the ears, trying to serve my first church as pastor while a senior at Samford University. He was Methodist, but his wife and three daughters were members of my little church, and he often attended with them, especially on Wednesday night. I was twenty. He was well past retirement age, but there immediately seemed to be a mutual affection. We talked a lot after church. He told me once that he had never made over $1.25 an hour in his life. He had often worked two jobs to rear his daughters and to pay for his wife's three surgeries. He would always flash a big grin as he shook my hand. More than once there would be in his hand a crumpled five--dollar bill. On one particular occasion, that was my gas money to return home.
Everyone in the small community called them Mom and Pop Rollins. So did I. Pop got sick. On Wednesday, before I left for the church which was thirty miles from my home, I called Mom. I told her that I had heard that Pop was sick and that I would try to stop by and see him after church. "Oh, he will love that. You know how much he thinks of you!"
As I left the church that night, I drove past their driveway, thinking about the Greek exam I had the next day and the fifty--mile drive to Samford. I found five different excuses. I did not stop.
The next day when I returned home from school, the telephone was ringing. It was Faye, Pop's daughter. "Gary, we tried to keep Pop from going back to work today but he insisted on going anyway. He fell dead at the gas pump." Harder words have never hit my ears. Sometimes we may err. We may misjudge an inner urging. But I would rather err in doing what I feel I ought to do than not doing what I feel I should do and live a lifetime of regret.
Are we listening to the Holy Spirit? Are we controlled by the Spirit that lives within us?
Alan Paton's short novel, But The Land Is Beautiful, written in 1981, tells the story of a white judge in South Africa. The judge was invited by a black pastor to attend a Maundy Thursday service of worship - a foot--washing service followed by communion. At great political risk, the judge accepted the invitation. During the service, the judge was invited to wash the feet of Martha Forturin, the black woman who had reared his children. He accepted. As he bent over and washed her feet, he remembered how she would lovingly wash the feet of his children and then kiss their feet before putting them to bed. Upon his knees, he then kissed the feet of his maid. All who saw were astonished. Some wept.
The press quickly found out what had happened and publicized it widely, and he lost the judgeship that he probably would have gotten otherwise. Later, the pastor called. "Judge Oliver, please let me apologize for ruining your political career." Judge Oliver replied, "Think nothing of it. Being at your Maundy Thursday service was more important than any old chief judgeship."4 Now, I wonder, "Who told Judge Oliver to say that?"
For my senior year I decided that I wanted to "go out" for the Sardis High School football team. Sardis was a football power, perennial county champions, so good, in fact, that they usually had to play much larger schools because comparable schools were reluctant to schedule them. My father strongly objected to my decision to play football. He had reason. Not only was I small, 140 pounds and without experience, but I also had a health concern which put me at considerable risk. My father even asked the coach not to play me. But I was stubborn. The more my father objected, the more I stubbornly sought to prove him wrong! I would not get hurt. I would show him.
The season started. In the first football game I ever dressed out, I was in the starting line up against the Altoona Choctaws, the defending IA State Champions. Lined up against me was 6--foot 3--inch, 210--pound Bruce McAfee, who 35 years later was named by The Gadsden Times as the best offensive end ever to play in Etowah County. I was in way over my head!
But no one tried harder. I would prove my father wrong! By the sixth game I was the leading receiver on the team. Then it happened. At homecoming in the second quarter, in a play where I caught a short pass, both bones were snapped in my left arm. It was over. Gene Holcomb, the head coach, who was told not to play me came on to the field, something he did twice in ten years. As they put my arm into a splint, I began to cry. It was not because of the physical pain.
As I came off the field to be taken to the hospital, I came face to face with my father. I stopped. I froze! I braced myself to hear him say the words, "I told you so!"
HE NEVER DID!
"There is no condemnation...."
____________
1. Billy Graham, The Holy Spirit (Waco: Word Books, 1978), p. 81.
2. Gordon MacDonald, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), p. 205.
3. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, A 2nd Helping Of Chicken Soup For The Soul (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc., 1993), p. 30.
4. Preaching, Volume IV, November 4, January--February, 1989 (Jacksonville: Preaching Resources, Inc.), p. 21.
I recently heard an interview of Sidney Poitier conducted by Oprah Winfrey. He related to her that his young life was dominated by a sense of condemnation. When he came to New York City in the fifties, he found many doors closed to him and even felt condemned because of the color of his skin. Condemned by the color of one's skin? All too often it has been tragically true!
You may remember the story of Abbie Hoffman. For many years he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. He became a fugitive from the law. Hoffman was always on the run, looking over his shoulder, fearful that he would be found out or caught, waiting for the axe to fall. Then one day, after all those years, Abbie Hoffman walked into a police station and turned himself over to the authorities. "Why have you done this?" they asked. "I'm just tired," he said. "I am just tired of running and I am tired of feeling guilty."
Can you imagine what it would be like to live your life under the heavy and dark cloud of condemnation? Always looking over the shoulder? Always fearful of being caught? This is a life under condemnation. This is a life waiting for the accusing finger to be pointed, or worse yet, one that sees God as a heavenly bookkeeper and is fearful of when the final accounting will be.
In our text, Paul relates that this dilemma does not have to be. He begins by saying, "Therefore!" Why fore the therefore? What's the therefore there for? The "therefore" in Paul's thought always serves as a bridge over which Paul travels from one thought to another and could be translated "as a result of." In light of his argument in chapters 1 through 7, we "therefore" are freed from condemnation and are set free from the law of sin and death. We are able to cheat the reaper (grim, that is). When we act in faith on the absurd notion that God loves us unconditionally and sincerely seeks to share his very life with us, we are set free from the condemning law of sin and death.
Romans 8 is a celebration! As God's children, freed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, we rejoice in the fact that we no longer live under condemnation but are freed to walk in the Spirit. We are freed to walk under the guidance of our Constant Companion.
Paul states in verse 6, "The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Our lives are characterized by a peacefulness grounded in the fact that our past sins are forgiven. We no longer wallow in self--pity or the regret of long ago failures. All of the past is forgiven and forgotten by God and is removed from us as far as the east is from the west. It's gone, forever! We are freed from its condemnation and are now freed to allow God's Spirit to give us the peace that only he can give.
Does that mean that we no longer struggle with sin? Of course not! In fact, the entire passage talks of our continual struggle with the relationship of "spirit and flesh." Scholars are divided as to what that actually means. Some feel that Paul is discussing the dual nature that lives within us - flesh and spirit, good and bad, light and darkness.
Billy Graham tells the story of an Eskimo farmer who went to town every Saturday to the dog fights. He always took his two dogs, one white, the other black, and they would fight each other. People would place bets on the two dogs. Sometimes the white dog would win, sometimes the black dog would win, but the farmer always won. "How do you always win?" they asked. "It is really very simple," he replied. "All week long I feed one and starve the other. The one I feed always wins!"1
I used that story in my daily radio spot called "Gotta Minute?" A young lady called me very irate that I would use a story wherein one had mistreated an animal. I apologized that I had offended her and then asked where she attended church. She replied that she did not. I tried to reply as tenderly as possible that she might be doing to herself spiritually that which she so abhorred in the farmer.
Perhaps Paul is talking about the two sides of our nature that constantly are at war with each other. We cultivate and nourish one side to the neglect of the other, and there is no surprise as to which side is victorious. Or, possibly Paul is talking about something that is much larger in scope. Maybe the apostle is talking about two completely different directions of life - dual directions - one that leads toward sinfulness and the other that leads toward God. One direction is the road of self--centeredness, of "I want what I want more than I want what God wants!" The other direction is accepting God's leadership and guidance in our everyday life. Perhaps Paul is talking about two different ways of conducting our lives, two paths for living, dual directions of destiny.
We do know that Paul is saying that we have a choice, like the farmer or the young woman responding to the radio spot. We can choose to live with an unknown judgment hanging over our head or with a Constant Companion living in our heart. We can live a life alone fearful of the eventual accounting, reaping what we sow, or we can continue with the internal presence begun while on Earth. We are free to share his very life here and forever because our sins were judged on Calvary's cross.
Paul is saying,"There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Paul adds in verses 10--11: "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (KJV). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (KJV). We are now free to live as God's new creation. The past is gone and the future looms brightly ahead. We are to live our lives, reflecting the love, graciousness, forgiveness, and joy that has been given to us.
This new life is one that is lived out in a new community that exists for others. Our new life is nurtured and strengthened in a loving fellowship characterized by concern that translates itself in caring deeds which were inherent in the very life of Jesus. But, is it sometimes true that the loudest voices we often hear from the Christian community can be a little irritating on the ear or even divisive within the fellowship? Is it true that the outside world is turned off by the contentious attitudes within our ranks, the splitting of denominations, and the squabbles over hymn books and worship styles? I do not know if they are or not! But if so, why? Is it because we don't adhere to the proper creed or theology? Is it because we do not align ourselves with the appropriate political position, whatever that is? Is it because we are not in some ways successful? Some Christians are famous, have glamorous, glitzy churches, and seem to be mightily used of God. But as I look at all this in my very limited vision, there continues to be a question gnawing at my heart. That question is, "Where is the love?" We have adequate buildings, trained clergy, somewhat proper political positions, near to appropriate theology, and some measure of success! But where is the love? Where is the life that reflects the vibrancy and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ? I only may be pointing a finger at my own inadequacy, but still I am urged to ask, "Where is the love and the spirit of Jesus in all of this?"
In his book, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion, Gordon MacDonald quotes the wonderful preacher Calvin Miller. Miller writes of an antique wooden dynamite box in his home. The box was made in the nineteenth century and was carefully constructed to withstand shock as its explosive contents were transported from the manufacturer to a place of use. On the lid were large, red and black letters which read, "DANGER DYNAMITE!" "But the last time I saw it," Miller wrote, "it was filled with common paraphernalia that could be found in any workroom."2 What irony! Fashioned by skilled hands with the finest of materials for such a noble purpose and filled with "common paraphernalia." Created by the loving hands of One who died on the cross to house his marvelous Good News of grace for the purpose of sharing his love with the entire world and too often filled with the common paraphernalia of littleness, self--centered pettiness, and arrogance that "only we are right" - such sometimes is the fellowship of the church. Very possibly Paul is saying that it is the responsibility of each of us to strive continually to see that our lives, individually and corporately, are governed by the side of our nature that loves and cares for others, reflects the life of Christ, and exists for those not yet of our midst.
Freed from the condemnation of sin, we are not only free to live our lives in a community that exists for others, we are liberated to exercise a certain wisdom that is a by--product of our walk in the Spirit. Paul states, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (v. 11 NIV). Here Paul is speaking about a life that is alive because of righteousness. He speaks of a life that is in right relationship with God. A by--product of such a life lived in obedience to the Spirit is a certain kind of wisdom. This way of wisdom is discernible by those who are sensitive to it and can or cannot be gained through experience or education. It is not a wisdom that we earn or deserve. This kind of wisdom is born of God and is his gift to us as we live in relationship to him and to his community.
Wisdom! My paternal grandfather was a bi--vocational preacher and pastor for over forty years. I stood in the room as my father talked to his father as my grandfather lay on the bed in which he would die two days later. "Papa," my father said. "I am so frustrated. I am trying to get the state highway department to pave the service road in front of my house, but they are just giving me the run--a--round." In a soft but firm voice, my grandpa replied, "Well, son, did it ever occur to you that you might not always get everything you want?" Wisdom! Some people are wise in the Lord. When my back is against the wall, I seek out those who are wise in the Lord to pray for me or to give me counsel.
When I felt that God was calling me into the ministry, I sought counsel from my Uncle Hosea, a pastor for over forty years. "Are you going to continue your education?" he asked. "Yes, sir!" I replied. "I hope to transfer to Samford University in the fall and study religion before entering seminary." "That's good, son," he said. "Go to Samford. It's a good school. I went there. Learn all you can about biology, archeology, and zoology. But more than anything, Gary, learn all you can about kneeology. Learn everything you can about getting down on your knees and hearing God's voice through prayer." Wisdom! With the ability to gain an abundance of information at break--neck speed today, we may be lacking the wisdom to use our knowledge wisely. Wisdom!
There is a tale told of a very wise old woman traveling alone who was joined by another traveler. As they talked around the camp fire, he noticed in her knapsack a very precious stone. He thought to himself that this old woman had no idea what the stone was worth. He decided to trick her out of it. "May I see the stone?" he asked. She nodded. "This is just a stone. Do you mind if I have it?" he asked. "You may," she replied.
He left with the feeling that his future was now secure since he had tricked the old woman. Three days later the old woman was joined by the very same traveler. "I will gladly give back your precious stone, if you will give to me what it was that allowed you to give me the stone in the first place." 3 Wisdom!
Are our lives characterized by a wisdom born of our daily walk and relationship to God? Are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit - our Constant Companion? We listen to and act upon those inner urgings that are of a divine nature. We all get weary of those who profess, "God told me to do this or that," especially when it involves our wallet. But I do believe that God gives to us a wisdom, a guidance or even direction through prayer, his people or his Word. That does not mean that we always are right or never make mistakes.
I remember the account of my wife's Uncle Arthur, who preached well into his eighties and who forgot more Bible than I will ever know. One morning he said to his wife, "Dovie, the Lord has told me to attend the Sardis Revival services this morning." So, they went. After sitting in the empty parking lot for awhile they decided to ask someone why the services had not already begun. "Why, Arthur, the revival isn't until next week," the pastor replied. We have all been there, haven't we? We just knew it was the Lord's will only to find out later it was not. Even the best of us make mistakes as we seek to obey the inner urging. Sometimes we let those mistakes discourage us and even cause us to distrust those inner directives of "the Spirit of God that lives in you" (v. 9). To deny those urgings is an even bigger mistake.
Immediately, we knew we liked each other. I was still wet behind the ears, trying to serve my first church as pastor while a senior at Samford University. He was Methodist, but his wife and three daughters were members of my little church, and he often attended with them, especially on Wednesday night. I was twenty. He was well past retirement age, but there immediately seemed to be a mutual affection. We talked a lot after church. He told me once that he had never made over $1.25 an hour in his life. He had often worked two jobs to rear his daughters and to pay for his wife's three surgeries. He would always flash a big grin as he shook my hand. More than once there would be in his hand a crumpled five--dollar bill. On one particular occasion, that was my gas money to return home.
Everyone in the small community called them Mom and Pop Rollins. So did I. Pop got sick. On Wednesday, before I left for the church which was thirty miles from my home, I called Mom. I told her that I had heard that Pop was sick and that I would try to stop by and see him after church. "Oh, he will love that. You know how much he thinks of you!"
As I left the church that night, I drove past their driveway, thinking about the Greek exam I had the next day and the fifty--mile drive to Samford. I found five different excuses. I did not stop.
The next day when I returned home from school, the telephone was ringing. It was Faye, Pop's daughter. "Gary, we tried to keep Pop from going back to work today but he insisted on going anyway. He fell dead at the gas pump." Harder words have never hit my ears. Sometimes we may err. We may misjudge an inner urging. But I would rather err in doing what I feel I ought to do than not doing what I feel I should do and live a lifetime of regret.
Are we listening to the Holy Spirit? Are we controlled by the Spirit that lives within us?
Alan Paton's short novel, But The Land Is Beautiful, written in 1981, tells the story of a white judge in South Africa. The judge was invited by a black pastor to attend a Maundy Thursday service of worship - a foot--washing service followed by communion. At great political risk, the judge accepted the invitation. During the service, the judge was invited to wash the feet of Martha Forturin, the black woman who had reared his children. He accepted. As he bent over and washed her feet, he remembered how she would lovingly wash the feet of his children and then kiss their feet before putting them to bed. Upon his knees, he then kissed the feet of his maid. All who saw were astonished. Some wept.
The press quickly found out what had happened and publicized it widely, and he lost the judgeship that he probably would have gotten otherwise. Later, the pastor called. "Judge Oliver, please let me apologize for ruining your political career." Judge Oliver replied, "Think nothing of it. Being at your Maundy Thursday service was more important than any old chief judgeship."4 Now, I wonder, "Who told Judge Oliver to say that?"
For my senior year I decided that I wanted to "go out" for the Sardis High School football team. Sardis was a football power, perennial county champions, so good, in fact, that they usually had to play much larger schools because comparable schools were reluctant to schedule them. My father strongly objected to my decision to play football. He had reason. Not only was I small, 140 pounds and without experience, but I also had a health concern which put me at considerable risk. My father even asked the coach not to play me. But I was stubborn. The more my father objected, the more I stubbornly sought to prove him wrong! I would not get hurt. I would show him.
The season started. In the first football game I ever dressed out, I was in the starting line up against the Altoona Choctaws, the defending IA State Champions. Lined up against me was 6--foot 3--inch, 210--pound Bruce McAfee, who 35 years later was named by The Gadsden Times as the best offensive end ever to play in Etowah County. I was in way over my head!
But no one tried harder. I would prove my father wrong! By the sixth game I was the leading receiver on the team. Then it happened. At homecoming in the second quarter, in a play where I caught a short pass, both bones were snapped in my left arm. It was over. Gene Holcomb, the head coach, who was told not to play me came on to the field, something he did twice in ten years. As they put my arm into a splint, I began to cry. It was not because of the physical pain.
As I came off the field to be taken to the hospital, I came face to face with my father. I stopped. I froze! I braced myself to hear him say the words, "I told you so!"
HE NEVER DID!
"There is no condemnation...."
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1. Billy Graham, The Holy Spirit (Waco: Word Books, 1978), p. 81.
2. Gordon MacDonald, Restoring Your Spiritual Passion (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), p. 205.
3. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, A 2nd Helping Of Chicken Soup For The Soul (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc., 1993), p. 30.
4. Preaching, Volume IV, November 4, January--February, 1989 (Jacksonville: Preaching Resources, Inc.), p. 21.
