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Posted on: October 14, 2018

28th Sunday Year B - THE TRAGEDY OF ALMOST SURRENDERING TO JESUS Mk.10:17-30

Twenty – Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B  - THE TRAGEDY OF “ALMOST” SURRENDERING TO JESUS Mark 10:17-30

I read a story about a 62 year old man named William Hyatt. He was found in the Mojave Desert with his face and his hands buried in the sand seeking water. His car had broken down, and he had walked 22 miles through the Desert until he died. He crawled on his hands and feet the last 2 miles and he died in the sand. Just over the hill a ½ mile was the Saratoga Spring that could have saved him. He was almost there and yet he missed it. What a tragic situation!

The verses we have read here in Mark chapter 10 describe a situation that is even worse. We are told of a man who was on the verge of attaining eternal life and a home in Heaven but he made a choice that cost him eternally. His choice brought about some eternal consequences.

There are countless individuals throughout history and even today (possibly some here right now) who will make the same devastating choice. You have the opportunity for everlasting life and a home in Heaven... but are you willing to forsake the things of this world and trust Jesus as your Savior? If not, you will find yourself in the same situation as this young man. 

Let us look at his story and perhaps learn from his error.

As we examine this man's choice I would like to preach on the thought "Almost!". The first thing that I would like to consider is that:

I. This Man Lived A Remarkable Life - v17  
This young man seemed to have a lot going for him. In fact, he possessed many of the things that others seek to attain in this life. Through the scriptures we are given some insight into the life and character of this man who is often referred to as "The Rich Young Ruler". The first thing that we are told about his remarkable life is that:

A. He Was Young - Matthew's account of this story tells us that this man was young. He had his whole life ahead of him. There are many people who turned to the Lord late in life and would give anything if they could go back and live all of their days for their Savior. This young ruler had the opportunity to spend the rest of his days serving the Lord. Not only are we told that he was young, we also see that:

B. He Was Successful - He Was Wealthy - Here in Mark we see that this young man "had great possessions".

C. He Lived A Moral Life - He boldly proclaimed to Jesus that he kept all of the commandments. Jesus knew all there was to know about this man and if you will notice, Jesus did not rebuke him when he made these statements.

From the outside looking in it seemed that this man had it all, but deep inside he knew that something was missing. People thought he had it all, yet he still longed for more.

You may be in a similar situation. You may not be rich with many possessions but you have what we would call a good life. You have a home, a car, clothes on your back and food on the table. Not only do you possess the necessities of this life, you are one who lives a good moral life. You don't lie, cheat, steal or kill. You treat your neighbor as you want to be treated. Maybe you spend your time doing good deeds and helping others. By all accounts you are what most would call a "good person". The problem is the fact that being good according to man's standards is not good enough.

Let's take it a step further, perhaps you describe yourself a "religious" person. You attend church. You spend time in prayer. Even with all of this, there is something missing in your life. Deep inside there is a longing for something more. This is because religion is not enough, you must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Your works, religious rituals and good deeds are not enough to guarantee you eternal life. 

Not only did This Man Live A Remarkable Life, we also see that:

II. This Man Had A Wonderful Opportunity - v21 
This dignified, respected ruler runs to Jesus. The fact that he is running shows that he sensed the urgency of the situation. As this man humbly bows before Jesus, Mark says "Jesus beholding him, loved him". How much did Jesus love this man? He loved Him enough to offer him an opportunity to receive eternal life. Jesus began to give this man the information that he needed to be saved .Do you realize that is what He is doing for you right now? That is the very reason that Jesus left the glories of Heaven and came to this Earth. 

What a wonderful opportunity we have been given. This young ruler had the opportunity to attain salvation and eternal life... and so do you. This passage tells us of a man who lived a remarkable life, he was a man who had a wonderful opportunity. He almost had it all but in the end he lost, and he lost eternally. This brings us to last thing I would like to see about this man. Notice:

III. This Man Made A Devastating Choice - v22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

After this man inquired as to how to attain eternal life, Jesus told him exactly how it was possible. He told him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, take up his cross and follow Him. Jesus was not saying that this man could purchase eternal life. Jesus is simply addressing the heart of this man’s problem. He loved his money more that he wanted God in his life.

After hearing what Jesus had to say, this rich young ruler had a choice to make. He could let go of the temporal and gain the eternal. He could turn to the Savior and reserve treasures in Heaven. Or hold on to the things of this world and reject the wonderful opportunity to receive eternal life. I must report to you that he made a devastating choice.

Filled with sorrow this man walked away from Jesus. He ALMOST had a personal relationship with Jesus. He ALMOST had riches that would last for eternity. He ALMOST attained peace, joy and fulfillment that this world could not provide. He was ALMOST saved! He ALMOST received that eternal life that he desired. He was ALMOST delivered from his sins. He was ALMOST rescued from Hell. He ALMOST gained a home in Heaven.

Sadly, this man chose to keep his material goods and reject the Savior. Jesus did not turn this man away, this man turned away from Jesus! He Lived A Remarkable Life, he Had A Wonderful Opportunity but He Made A Devastating Choice. And the choice he made will impact him throughout eternity.

Many others have made the same devastating choice. Will you learn from this man's error, will you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus? Or will you allow the things of this life to hinder your from attaining salvation through Christ? 

What a tragic situation, but the good news is... it can be avoided if you will turn to Jesus while there is time. Let me urge you... do not delay! This could be your last opportunity to be saved!

D.L. Moody, by his own admission, made a mistake on Oct. 8, 1871.It was a mistake he determined never to repeat. He had been preaching in the city of Chicago. That particular night drew his largest audience yet. His message was 'What will you do then with Jesus who is called the Christ?'. By the end of the service, he was tired. He concluded his message, and once again presented the true Gospel with a concluding statement; 'NOW I GIVE YOU A WEEK TO THINK THAT OVER … AND WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AGAIN, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.' A soloist began to sing. But before the final note, the music was drowned out by clanging bells and wailing sirens screaming through the streets. The Great Chicago fire was blazing. In the ashen aftermath, hundreds were dead and over a hundred thousand were homeless. Without a doubt, some who heard Moody's message had died in the fire. He reflected remorsefully that he would have given his right arm before he would ever give an audience another week to think over the message of the Gospel.

If you will do that... you will not have to spend eternity saying ...ALMOST!

Posted on: October 5, 2018

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - THE CRIPPLING EFFECT OF ENVY

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B – THE CRIPPLING EFFECTS OF ENVY James 3:16

Introduction 
o    One of  the principal causes of evil and sin is the dangerous feeling called envy. Envy left unchecked, becomes a primary instigator and propagator of every other evil thought and action imaginable. 
o    It is no wonder that James attributes the cause of fights and quarrels among his readers to envy. 

Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Envy: 
"a feeling of antagonism towards someone because of some good which he is enjoying but which one does not have oneself || a coveting for oneself of the good which someone else is enjoying…"

In other words…ENVY is saying… "I like what you’ve got, I don’t like the fact that you have it, and I want it"!!! How many of you have ever had this feeling? It is the emotion of a child who throws a temper tantrum when his/her sibling has something they want. It is the emotion of a woman when she sees someone in the clothing store trying on clothes three sizes smaller than her size - clothes that don’t even come in her size. It is the emotion of a man when after a fruitless daylong attempt at catching "the big one" a boat pulls in to shore with a 7 yr old kid holding a 10lb Rainbow. 
•    For some us this feeling is fleeting - it is an emotion that we feel for only an instant - but for others it is a feeling that sticks in our heart - that irritates us and grinds away at us. 

Folks, envy is crippling. How does envy cripple us?

1.    ENVY CRIPPLES OUR ABILITY TO EXAMINE OURSELVES.

The Story of Cain and Abel Gen.4

When God accepted the offering given to him by Abel and rejected the offering given by Cain it made Cain very angry. Envy began to stew and broil in Cain’s heart. The Lord warned Cain of this brooding emotion. Instead of heeding God’s warning and examining himself Cain let his envy consume him until he killed Abel, "I like what you’ve got, I don’t like the fact that you have it, and I want it"

Envy cripples our ability to examine ourselves.

There are those that envy the perfect family in the midst of the breakdown of their own family. "Get off your tail end and examine yourself --- what are you doing in your own family!!!"


2.    ENVY CRIPPLES OUR SECURITY...ENVY CRIPPLES OUR TRUST IN GOD.

Joseph and his brothers. Genesis 37:11 - His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

One of the saddest thing that happens to a person is when their envy leads them to feel insecure. With envy you start taking things into your own hands instead of letting God take control of things.  

3.    ENVY CRIPPLES OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

Not only did envy cripple the security of Joseph’s brothers but it also crippled their relationship. Not only was there strain placed on the relationship between Joseph and his brothers but also among the brothers themselves as they would have to live with their actions for the rest of their lives. And not only among the brothers themselves but on their relationship with their father, Jacob. This burden was only broken by Joseph’s willingness to forgive many years later.

Envying others leads to a bitterness in our talk, an abruptness in our actions, back-biting, gossiping, slander. Envy can take you from being a close friend to being a bitter enemy. It can break up families, tear apart churches and ruin communities.

Greek proverb: As rust corrupts iron, so envy corrupts man.

But not only does envy cripple the relationship you have with others but envy also cripples the relationship you have with God. I’ll be speaking more on this a little bit further on.


4.    ENVY CRIPPLES OUR ABILITY TO ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE.

Haman. Esther 5:11-13: Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. "And that’s not all," Haman added. "I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate."

Dwight L. Moody once told the fable of an eagle who was envious of another that could fly better than he could. One day the bird saw a sportsman with a bow and arrow and said to him, "I wish you would bring down that eagle up there." The man said he would if he had some feathers for his arrow. So the jealous eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but it didn’t quite reach the rival bird because he was flying too high. The first eagle pulled out another feather, then another – until he had lost so many that he himself couldn’t fly. The archer took advantage of the situation, turned around, and killed the helpless bird.

Envy not only cripples our ability to enjoy what we have but also to be thankful for what we have. How many of us have ever said, "If only I had…"**** Yet, in saying this we forget that the living standards we are privileged to enjoy in this country are considered luxurious to someone living in countries like Rwanda, China, Ethiopia.

5.    ENVY CRIPPLES OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
1 Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

The implication made in this passage is that if you don’t rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind, you will not grow spiritually.

Posted on: October 5, 2018

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND HOMILY

THANKSGIVING: A Time to REMEMBER Deut. 8:2,4-11

This for many maybe a difficult year to celebrate Thanksgiving. Most years, at this time, the harvest is in, the bins full, or even piles of grain on the ground. Many dread the family thanksgiving meal this year as it will be a reminder of a very difficult year; a sick child/grandchild needing a major surgery, a spouse struggling with a life threatening illness, a family whose bread winner lost their job, or one going through a very bad divorce. Thanksgiving, in most years, is a time we find it easy to be joyful, to sit back take a long breath and enjoy the fruits of our year’s work. This might not be the case for some this year.

As difficult as this year’s thanksgiving maybe, one passage to turn to in the scriptures as we celebrate yet another thanksgiving is the book of Deuteronomy 8:2,4-11:
Remember how for these forty years the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, he fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone* that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. The clothing did not fall from you in tatters, nor did your feet swell these forty years. 
Therefore, keep the commandments of the LORD, your God, by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the LORD, your God, is bringing you into a good country, a land with streams of water, with springs and fountains welling up in the hills and valleys, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, of olive trees and of honey, a land where you will always have bread and where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones contain iron and in whose hills you can mine copper.But when you have eaten and are satisfied, you must bless the LORD, your God, for the good land he has given you. Be careful not to forget the LORD, your God, by failing to keep his commandments and ordinances and statutes which I enjoin on you today.

These are words spoken to a people who had wandered for 40 years in the wilderness and lacked nothing. God had fed them and given them water all those years. God who had made sure that their shoes and clothes did not wear out.

The people of Israel are told to remember because they often forgot. They often had a short view that led them to complain, to accuse God of abandoning them. A short view that made them think that they were responsible for the good things that happened to them. A short view that the writer of Deuteronomy knew would lead them to think that the good of the Promised Land was their doing. So, the people of Israel are told to remember. “Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness.”

The people of Israel are reminded of God’s long view. A long view that chose them as his own, a long view that saw this group of wandering peasants protected from famine in the days of Joseph, protected from the genocide of the pharaohs and led into the Promised Land. The long view of God followed the ups and downs of his people through generations of prophets and gave us Jesus as the saviour of the world. The long view of God that was faithful to God’s promises even though there were difficult times along the way.

The short view of history for some  this thanksgiving is not very pleasant. Some have lost their jobs, some their marriage as we see in today’s Gospel where Jesus talks about divorce, others health concerns. farms. Many have had sleepless nights. The text from Deuteronomy comes to us today to remind us to remember. To remember God’s long view, God’s promises that are faithful in the ups and downs of life. To remember that there have been many more good years than bad years and that all we have is a gift from God. Our inability to control some of the happenings in our lives is a reminder that God is the one who is God and not I. Remember the God who remembers you. Remember the God who has every hair on your head numbered. Remember the God who clothes each one of us more beautifully than the lilies of the field. Remember that all we have and are comes from God who does not forget.

The short view of life can lead us away from abundance, away from thanksgiving for what we have. 
It is the long view of God that reminds us that. This year will have its share of joys and sorrows, pain and pleasure. People close to us will suffer, people will get sick and die, we may not have a good crop next year but we do know that no matter what happens, God will be with us, God will remain faithful. Thanks be to God.

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