Archive for June, 2006

All Nature Sings

Blake Heffner June 25th, 2006

“All Nature Sings” June 25, 2006

INTRODUCTION: Psalm 19

“The heavens are telling the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. ” The psalmist goes on to say that the heavens don’t have to speak with words; they don’t even make a sound – yet there is a message proclaimed all around the world! I have always been fascinated by that notion: in the stars and moon at night, and in the sun by day, the Creator of universe is speaking to us. This morning we are going to consider what this message is, particularly with regard to the sun. Listen first to Eugene Peterson’s translation of Psalm 19:

God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

This morning let’s ponder what the sun declares…

1. The Sun Elicits Our Praise – Psalm 19; Psalm 148

The first thing, and most obvious, is that the Bible says the heavenly bodies themselves praise God and should evoke praise within us. Our final hymn this morning will be “All Creatures of Our God and King.” St. Francis of Assisi composed the lyrics as he meditated on Psalm 148:

3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He set them in place for ever and ever!

The sun, with its brilliant light, has always been associated with God’s glory – the glow of God, as one of my theology professors put it. Remember when God decided to impress upon the disciples that Jesus shared his glory – Jesus was transfigured before their eyes and “his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”

This summer, when the sun is high in the sky and it is very hot, think about how the sun reflects God’s glory and majesty. Inspite of the heat, give God praise.

2. The Sun Speaks of God’s Wisdom - Psalm 74; Romans 1

Psalm 74 attests: “The day is yours, and also the night; you established the sun and moon. You set all the boundaries of the earth and made both summer and winter.” The rhythms of day and night, summer and winter, bear witness to God’s wisdom in creation. This testimony prompted Paul to declare that “God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen since the creation of the world” and so, according to Paul, no one should be able to claim there is no God!

3. God’s Awesome Knowledge and Unknowability –

Psalm 139 & Job 37:21

Psalm 139 uses the absence of daylight to describe God’s intimate personal knowledge of us. “ I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans [that is a way of saying: if I could travel as far to the east or the west as possible] even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night– but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.”

Such intimacy, such presence is really beyond words, isn’t it? God is with you and me no matter where we go, no matter how off track we may get – there is always hope, because he is there to guide us and support us!

Turning this around, the sun reminds us how unfathomable God is. Elihu declares this to Job in chapter 37: “How great is God – beyond our understanding! … No one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies. [Likewise] God comes in awesome majesty. The almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power!”

We tell our children, for good reason, that they should never look directly at the sun. Its blazing light speaks to us of God’s awesome majesty and how far beyond our feeble minds the Lord really is.

Well, we’ve begun with some of the more obvious themes. Let’s dive a little deeper.

4. One Day the Sun Went Backwards – Isaiah 38:8

God’s Tremendous Authority and Amazing Grace

Do you remember the story about King Hezekiah? The King was very ill, at the point of death. The Lord sent Isaiah the prophet to tell him to put his house in order because death is coming. Hezekiah turned to the Lord in prayer, reminding him of his faithfulness and devotion as king. He wept bitterly, and his plea touched the heart of God. The Lord told him through Isaiah that he was going to add 15 years to his life. And, as proof of his promise, the Lord would make the sun’s shadow go backwards ten steps! Talk about a dramatic sign.

Friends, you may not see the sun do a u-turn in the sky – but the Lord who heard Hezekiah’s prayers still hears yours, and God is eager to respond to our pleas. In fact, the morning sunrise was for Jeremiah a sign of God’s love: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Every morning at sunrise, thank God for the freshness of the new day, and his steadfast love and mercy.

5. The Care and Providence of God – Psalm 121

Even in the hottest days of summer, the psalmist tells us to think of God as our source of shade and shelter. In Psalm 121 we read: “The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life, over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

This doesn’t suggest we ought to expose ourselves to those dangerous UV rays, without sunblock or proper attire. That would be very foolish. But, when we pitch our umbrella on the beach, or find a shady place to escape the sun, think about the Lord who is our spiritual sunblocker and shelter, the One who is able to keep us from all harm and guard our lives, even when things get hot, both now and forever!

6. God’s Equanimity or Impartiality – Matthew 5:5

Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that both sunshine and rain speak to us about God’s equanimity or impartiality. “Equanimity” just a big word that means God treats everyone equally. He offers the sunshine and the rain to all people, without discrimination - the good, the bad and the indifferent. As God’s people, we also need to offer our love and respect to all people – without partiality.

7. There’s Nothing New under the Sun – Eccl. 1-2

The most depressing texts about the sun are found in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2: “There’s nothing new under the sun… Everything done under the sun seems wrong to me… pointless.” Solomon has a point, of course, but we won’t go there this morning.

8. The Sun of Righteousness Brings Healing – Mal. 4:2

We will also not dwell on the fascinating image in Malachi 4:2 where the prophet promises all who revere God’s name, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” [That’s ‘sun’!] I love that image. We’ll have to move on, though, to conclude with three profound messages involving the sun, found in both the Old and New Testaments:

9. Our Possibility of Sharing God’s Glory – Psalm 37:6; Isaiah 58; Matthew 13

First, we are expected to share God’s glory. David wrote in Psalm 37: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him [and] he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Along that same line, Isaiah declared: “If you will share your food with the hungry, provide the poor wanderer with shelter and clothe those who are naked… then your light will break forth like the dawn… The Lord will guide you always and you will be like a well-watered garden.”

Jesus said simply: “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Friends, you understand this is a subject that deserves a whole sermon and then some. But the point is clear: in so far as we reach out to others in Jesus’ name, and share what we have with those who are in need, we will share in Christ’s glory and shine like the sun!

10. The Day of Darkness –The Prophets and Jesus

Secondly, there is a day coming when the sun will cease to shine. I’m not talking about a solar eclipse, or a terribly cloudy day – like today. No! The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel and Joel and Amos and Micah all speak about a day when the sun will grow dark. In Isaiah’s words: “See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (13:9-10).

Many of the prophets foretell this day of wrath, when the sun itself will cease to shine and the earth will be shaken to its very foundations. Jesus echoed these prophecies when he taught about his final return: “The sun will be darkened, and the stars will fall from the sky [before] the Son of Man appears. And all the nations of the earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds, with power and great glory.” Fortunately that dark and inevitable day is not the last word!

11. The Ultimate “Day” of the New Jerusalem

No! Not at all! The Last Word is a glorious one – when the sun won’t be needed any longer; it will be superceded by the glorious presence of God. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of this: “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (60:19).

This theme is taken up triumphantly in the climax of the Revelation to John. It’s the picture of New Jerusalem, which Mike Moninghoff and the Choir sang about so dramatically on Music Sunday: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp… There will be no more night. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 21:22-22:5).

Friends, this is the last word about light and glory. When everything under the sun seems to be wrong, as Solomon said, remember that even the sun will not last forever. There will be a day when the present earth and heaven pass away, and all God’s people will be gathered into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. There everything will be bathed in the light of God’s glory. No more darkness or despair, no more troubles or tears, no more pain or suffering, no more death. When we gather by the river there, we shall see everything – our victorious Lamb and glorious Father, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, absolute justice, complete healing and reconciliation, ecstatic joy and perfect love. What more could we ask?

May the sun speak volumes to you and me this summer! Let us pray.

Lord, in the world around us, grant us glimpses of the world to come.
In the everyday realities of sunshine and moonlight, gentle rain and even thunderstorm,
speak to us of your presence and power, your love and mercy, your will and your ways.
Guard us and guide us in such a way that one day we shall all see you face to face,
and bask in the radiance of your glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Choosing Our Legacy

Blake Heffner June 4th, 2006

“Choosing Our Legacy” Pentecost: June 4, 2006

I Kings 3:3-14 Acts 3:1-10

Recognition of Our Graduating Seniors… This morning we enjoyed a baccalaureate breakfast for eight of our graduating seniors and their families. It was fabulous to hear what their parents had to say about these fine young people, and to learn what their aspirations are. As they turn the page to a new chapter of life this week, it is fitting that we consider the subject of “Choosing Our Legacy.” For the most part, none of us chooses our history, but we can choose our legacy. That is, we have little say about when or where we were born, who our parents are, where we went to school. But we have a lot to say about what we leave behind us.

Back in the sixties, when I was in high school, if you didn’t have time or the desire to read the book or play you were assigned, you could buy a super-condensed version, called “cliff notes.” Do they still have such things today? I am sure that you didn’t go that route - but many do. Anyway, I mention it as a way of introducing this message. This morning we only have time for the “cliff notes” version of this topic - it’s one that we could spend much more time on. But, given what we have, we’ll look at two men who definitely “chose their legacy.” And you may be surprised what their legacies are…

1. Solomon the Boy King

Solomon had everything working for him. He was the golden boy of the kingdom. The son of David, a man after God’s own heart. He was very young when his father was old and promised to make him the next king of Israel. He would have the privilege to build the Temple of Jerusalem, which his father longed to do.

So, God appeared Solomon when he is worshiping at Gibeon. He is still a young man, still ‘wet behind the ears.’ “Ask for whatever you want me to give you!” says the Lord. What an opportunity! What would you ask for? Better than a genie appearing from a bottle, this is the Lord God - Creator of the universe - inviting Solomon to ask for anything he wants.

Don’t you wonder what went through his head? Think of all the possibilities. Wealth, Power, Fame, Women! Solomon already had the likelihood of all those things. But, he humbled himself and asked for something that would bless his people: a discerning heart to govern, the wisdom to judge between right and wrong. Solomon had chosen his legacy; he wanted to be a wise and discerning king.

You know from our scripture lesson that God was so pleased that he decided to give Solomon much, much more. Along with a discerning heart, the Lord added riches and honor - so that in his lifetime no one else would be as wealthy or famous. And, if he would walk in God’s ways - as David did - Solomon would enjoy long life. There you have it. A young man given the chance to choose his legacy!

How do you think he make out? Solomon did indeed become rich and famous. As they say, he became a legend in his own time. The stories of his wisdom were celebrated far and wide. The Queen of Sheba came just to talk to him and ask him questions. Solomon even wrote parts of at least three books of the Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon).

So, what do you think was Solomon’s legacy? Up or down? If you chose down, you are right. You see Solomon was essentially a “sophomore.” Do you know what that word means? It comes from two Greek roots, meaning “wise fool.” A sophomore - or second year student usually knows just enough to sound foolish! Well, unfortunately, Solomon was the pre-eminent “sophomore.” He had some 700 wives and 300 concubines (or mistresses). Some of us would wonder how wise was that? The clue to Solomon’s fate and his legacy is found in chapter 11. “King Solomon loved many foreign women… They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon held fast to them in love and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.”

The sad bottom-line is that by the end of his reign, there were altars all around Israel to many pagan gods and goddesses. Solomon for all his wisdom gave in to his wives on this vital issue. Toleration led him eventually to idolatry. He paid a dear price! His legacy: he is the last king of a united Israel. In the very next generation, there was a civil war resulting in a divided kingdom.

Solomon was wise, yet foolish in one critical area: he compromised his devotion and obedience to God. As a young man he chose his legacy well, but his later choices undermined that legacy. And, though he was rich and famous, he is responsible for his kingdom’s fall. Learn from this man: every choice we make is significant to our legacy. Every time we abuse our bodies or compromise our values we take steps away from the living God, and we jeopardize our future. The choices lie before us every day. Of course, God is quick to forgive for our misdoings when we turn to him in repentance. But, Solomon did not repent like his father David. He got himself so deep into paganism there was no turning back and his sorry legacy was sealed.

2. Peter the Fisherman Turned Apostle

By contrast, look at Peter - the fisherman turned apostle. He wasn’t the sharpest tack on the bulletin board. He had a knack for saying something brilliant one minute and something “crazy” the next. Peter wasn’t very wealthy either. When Jesus met him, he was a hard-working fisherman. After Pentecost, he told the crippled beggar: “Silver and gold I do not have!”

But, of course, Peter had something many others didn’t. He had never been to college, but on the day of Pentecost he preached a powerful sermon - and three thousand were converted to Christ. He was certainly no doctor, but after Pentecost, Peter told that beggar: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he did! Peter began with nothing, and left as his legacy a Church that is still preaching the good news and healing those who are sick and ministering to those who are hungry.

Blake, get to the point of this whole excursion into two ancient lives. OK, here it is. Pentecost is the event when ordinary folks like you and me were filled with the Spirit of the living God. It is what Jesus was referring to when he said: “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing and even greater things - because I am going to the Father” (Jn. 14:12). Now that’s a legacy.

Solomon started with a bang, but ended with a whimper. Peter started with nothing, and ended with everything. Unlike Solomon, Peter confessed his failures to the Lord and he was forgiven. So what will we choose for our legacy? Jesus promised that we can all be like Peter - a common earthen vessel who was filled with the power of God. Isn’t that an exciting prospect? And it doesn’t matter how old you are, or how rich you are, or how well educated you may be - it only takes a heart ready to receive Jesus Christ, a mind open to the possibility of doing “even greater things” than we can imagine, because the Holy Spirit is at work within us.

Friends, we can choose our legacy today - personally and corporately - right here at this Table. Come, seeking to be filled not just with bread and juice, but with the present and power of Jesus Christ himself. He is our host, and he offers his life to each of us. Come and be filled!!