February 16, 2020                                                          Text:  Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

            “How much longer do I have?”  Don’t we all at one time or another take a look at our life expectancy?  As Christians we understand our Lord is in charge of our time but we like to take stock of what is in front of us.

            Some may think this is just a question for a doctor and a terminal patient.  The fact is this – we are all terminal.  We are all day-to-day.  A fellow by the name of Curtis Jones wrote, “Life is our capital and we spend it every.  The question is, what are we getting in return?” 

            Let’s sit down with our Creator.  Let’s have a heart to heart talk with our Great Physician.  Pull up a chair, relax and go ahead…ask the question . . .

“HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE?”

            The Lord God is quite clear in our text when addressing his chosen people and He is still quite clear today as He speaks to us through His Word this morning.  “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”  God’s ways have remained the same since He first created Adam.  If Adam asked this question, “How much longer do I have?” the Lord could have answered, “Forever.”  Once Adam and Eve sinned that question had a limit and ever since the life spans of human beings on earth have been limited.

            Lord, we still aren’t getting to my question, “How much longer do I have?”  Well, let’s look at the two possibilities, “By loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live.” 

            We are not headed toward an earthly promised land like the Israelites would find themselves.  But this Old Testament “promised land” foreshadowed the Heavenly Promised Land won for us through faith in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  We live by walking in the Lord’s ways.  We live because the promise is sure.  We live because Jesus says, “…whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He has not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)  Wow, that’s great news, thanks Doc!

            Not so fast my mortal friend.  There is a warning as you leave the office and continue your earthly ways.  “If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.”  Did I hear you right?  What does this mean?

            Remember the last time you were in here and I warned you about your heartburn and cholesterol?  I told you to stay away from the half-truths and the lies and the filth that you will encounter on a daily basis.  I told you to protect your heart and mind by steering clear of those places and devices that ignore and mock all things Godly.  The devil never rests.  He wants you to think you can do whatever you want.  He wants you to think you will live forever and the time is not short.  He wants you distracted from the precious Word.  He wants you to question your parents and your Pastor and more importantly he wants you to question Me.  Once he has you entangled and apart from the Church, you really don’t have much to live for.  At that point you are on life support.

            Come on doc, you are just scaring me.  That is what the Law does.  It helps you to see the error of your ways.  I want you to turn away from all this bad behavior and follow the eternal plan I set forth before the foundation of the world.

            How does this work, is it painful?  It’s quite simple actually.  “Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days.” 

            The Spirit of God, who breathed life-giving breath into Adam, breathes life-giving breath into us through His Word and Sacrament.  His Word opens our nasal passages and lungs – breathe in life.  His Sacrament feeds our body and soul and eases our anxiety and fears.  Go ahead leap for joy, hop around the office on one foot, you are in great shape – great physical shape because the Lord your God lives in you.

            Let’s get back to that question, one more time.  “How Much Longer Do I Have?”  Haven’t you been paying attention?  You have forever because I the Lord your God have given you eternal life through my Son, Jesus Christ. 

            Now hop up from there and get going – you have a Christian life to live.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.    

February 9, 2020                                                                        Text:  Matthew 5:13-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

            What color of light to do you like?  We have some orange and blue lights in our basement.  I love to sit there with just them on.  What kind of white light do you like?  Do you like soft white or bright white?  Do you prefer fluorescent or incandescent?  Some LED’s look blue.  Some lights can’t even be made any more.

            Aren’t we thankful that our Lord doesn’t run an efficiency test on us?  “You are the light of the world.”  Have you shined lately compared to the energy God is investing in you?  That may take you aback a little bit but today’s lesson is good news because as always it is about Him – Jesus, and not us.  It is our Lord that allows us to be about . . .

“LIGHT LIVING”

            One of God’s first commands when creating our world was, “Let there be light.”  The sun and moon are still doing their jobs, but there is something they can’t do.  When people are going the wrong way we say we hope they see the light.  Only God can provide a way out of the darkness.

            If a room is dark we can flip a switch or open the shades or light a candle or carry a flashlight.  To pierce the darkness of sin and unbelief there is only one solution.  God turning on the light so that we trust in Jesus.  Jesus is the light of the world. 

            Jesus changes us.  In baptism, we are taken out of the kingdom of darkness.  Ephesians 5:8 says, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are the light of the world.  Walk as children of light.”

            Sin loves darkness.  Why do so many cities use light to cut down on crime?  The light can keep some bad behavior from happening.  Jesus had a different plan to drive our darkness.  The world did not receive Jesus.  The powers of darkness in the world were working to snuff out Jesus.  By Good Friday, it looked like they had succeeded.  His lifeless body was laid in a cold, dark tomb.  There were no windows in that tomb.  But in the bright light of Easter, Jesus threw open the door of grave and death.  He has opened wide the doors and windows to our graves as well.  He promises that we will live even though we die.  Our dwelling place will be in the light of His heaven forever.

            Forever may still be a ways off for many of us.  Light living means living now in the light of Jesus.  Light living means living out what we really are:  forgiven children of God.  Our lives are designed to have a tremendous impact on the world.

            As followers of Jesus we do not just believe differently, we live differently.  “You are the light of the world” is both a blessing and a responsibility.  It is easy to complain about the world and indulge in hand-wringing about where we are as a society.  Jesus could have done that during His time.  What He did is that one by one He brought people out of the darkness into the light.  Not just the blind, but the palsied and the sinful and the misguided and those who wanted Him destroyed.  He was that light that they could relate to and He changed lives.  His love and grace and mercy and resurrection shone a great light on the darkness of the world.

            We are the Lord’s instruments.  We have light to give to others because of what Christ has given us.  We talked about this text in my Pastor’s conference this week and one thing we noted is that it doesn’t matter how bright the light it can still make a difference.  We don’t have brilliant insights or miraculous powers but changing our baby’s diaper shines light.  Helping a neighbor shovel a driveway shines light.  Bringing our children to church and having devotions with them shines light.  Holding your temper shines light.  Showing calm in the midst of turmoil shines light.  Forgiving a sister or brother shines light.  Not yelling when we spill something in the kitchen shines light.  Not blaming others or excusing our behavior shines light.

            The light of Christ shines in the life of the ordinary Christian.  The Spirit of God is moving us, and Christ is dwelling in us.  We can be extraordinary husbands and wives and parents, remarkable neighbors and employees, powerful citizens and friends.  Living light can be you and me.

            Light bulbs come in all different kinds, and Christians do, too, but whatever your shape or color, because of Jesus, you are the light of the world and will dwell in eternal light.

            May someone this week, or this day, see the light of Jesus in your Light Living and give thanks to God.

                                                Amen.