Can You Believe That God's Word is
People are desperately looking for God. We are looking for God, waiting for him to act. Where do we find him? Look at Romans 10:8b-13! Can You Believe That God's Word is nearer than you think? Can You Believe That God's Word is farther than you know? Look there. Listen to his Word. And it's power will change your life. February 25, 2007.
Reggie Millikin couldn’t believe he was being escorted out of the airport in handcuffs. He had traveled for years with his job and had no criminal record (not even a parking ticket). All he did was joke with the person next to him in the security line that he could use a bomb to make the process move along more quickly. Two minutes later they grabbed him.
Kristy didn’t believe that she’d ever feel close to her husband again, but as she lay in bed tears streamed down her face. Messengers of the joy that she felt because he had said, “I’m sorry.” She reached for his hand and held on tightly with new hope.
First Christian High School wouldn’t have believed they’d be dealing with race tensions among a group of Christian staff and students in suburban America. Until four students of different color sat in the principal’s office discussing who used the “n” word and why.
Words are not just symbols appearing on the computer screen before you click “send” and make them disappear into cyberspace. Words do not just puff into the air like your breath on a cold day and then dissipate as if they’d never been spoken. Words are powerful! They can explode like bombs. They can heal like tears. They can rip apart like racism. If you’re like me you’re surprised sometimes when your words have such a powerful effect. Because you have used those same words under different circumstances, in different places, with different people with little or no effect at all. The word “bomb” gets you handcuffs at the airport but a long pass down field at a football game. The words “I’m sorry” spoken by a politician who regrets getting caught mean almost nothing to a hurting wife compared to those same words spoken by her husband.
And then there’s God’s Word. We hear it so often that it easily becomes background noise like commercials on TV. We come to worship or go to chapel and hear the same phrases, sing the same songs, and say “Amen” without even realizing it. The season of Lent replays the same Bible stories as last year and the year before and the year before that. And the words become stale. No pizzazz. No punch. No power. Would you be willing to consider that it’s not the words that have become stale but the appetite? Would you be surprised if you discovered something about God’s Word today, and something more about yourself? Can You Believe That God’s Word is nearer than you think? Can You Believe That God’s Word is farther than you know?
nearer than you think?
When you return to your weekly routine tomorrow what will you be thinking about God’s Word? Where will you be thinking God’s Word is? At Wisconsin Lutheran High School students will gather for first hour and in home room eager to catch up with friends (not as eager to crank out school work) and they’ll be thinking that they’ll find God’s Word in chapel that day like every day. Others of you will go back to work and in some daydreaming down time think about the sermon and musical message from Sunday, glad for the wonderful worship we enjoy at Grace, anticipating the special midweek Lenten service on Wednesday. Others of you will tend to household duties and put them aside for a moment to read the Bible or lead a family devotion. That’s where we typically think God’s Word is: chapel, religion classes, worship services, personal Bible reading and devotions. And it’s there of course. But not only there. Unfortunately, such limited thinking leads to a bad behavior called “compartmentalized Christianity” - acting like Christians only when we think the basis for our Christian faith, God’s Word, is present.
For example, a student feels very comfortable and natural acting respectfully toward a classmate during chapel but later in the rowdy bleachers during the basketball game it’s a different story. Because she thinks God’s Word isn’t at a basketball game. A business professional makes morally sound ethical decisions in matters related to other Christian family members or friends but in the high pressure world of company expectations and competition among peers it’s a different story. Because the person thinks God’s Word isn’t at the work place. When we compartmentalize God’s Word and put it in it’s own little churchy corner or schedule it only for limited time slots on our planner we’re not just limiting God’s Word. We’re compartmentalizing and limiting God! Like the rich young man whom Jesus told to sell his possessions and give to the poor wanted Jesus to be the Lord of everything and anything in his life except his money. Like the Israelites standing knee deep in the Red Sea or Jordan River complaining, “Why isn’t God here?” Can You Believe That God’s Word is nearer than you think?
Where, then, is God’s Word? Where is God’s announcement that he has forever forgotten every one of your mistakes through the blood-bought forgiveness of Jesus? Where is God’s cheer for you that he strengthens you to do his will and when you do it will turn out better? Where is God’s message of hope for hurting relationships? Where is God’s statement that you are his child and he will never lose you, let you down, or leave you alone? Nearer than you think. “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” Brittney Spears can’t escape the press, constantly, continuously following wherever she goes. You can’t escape God’s Word. It is part of you. It is in your heart constantly pumping its saving life and forgiveness into everything you do. It is in your mouth continuously proclaiming your saving faith into everything you say. God’s Word is nearer than you think because “you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” You believe that Jesus is Lord and Ruler of galaxies and nations and your mouth. He graciously owns you so that you gladly speak well of him. You believe that God raised Jesus from the dead just as miraculously as he resuscitated your heart to a new life that cannot be controlled by sin, death, or the power of the devil. You believe it and “you will be saved.” Then behave like it and don’t compartmentalize God and his Word but confess them in every area of your life.
farther than you know?
Jesus himself believed that and behaved like it in today’s gospel. In the desert, far away from any synagogue or Old Testament scroll, Jesus defeated Satan by the “word of faith” he was proclaiming, that is, the word that conveys the basis for our faith which is all the commands and promises of God. That word was near Jesus, in his heart and mouth. And it didn’t fail him. In the desert. Against the devil himself. Can You Believe That God’s Word is farther than you know? God’s Word makes its way into farther places, to more foreign people, for more frightful sinners, against more furious enemies than we ever know. We sometimes become so familiar with God’s Word that we consider it a friendly companion that belongs only to us like a little pet. But it’s God’s Word! It originates with God and operates according to God’s widest mercy for all sinners and God’s highest power against all enemies.
We can’t know or comprehend how powerful God’s Word really is, but we can believe it. Since God describes his Word as dynamite we believe it can blast apart the hardest sinful pride or prejudice. Since God describes his Word as fire we believe it can kindle the flame of faith in any skeptical sinner. Since God describes his Word as a sword we believe it fights off the strongest temptation. Since God describes his Word as water we believe it sustains life eternally. How far will God’s Word really go? “’Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame’ ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
God’s Word goes beyond the doors of church and the morals of Christians to “anyone” and “everyone.” God’s Word goes to the Israelites, the Ninevites, Jews and Gentiles. God’s Word goes to the prodigal son, the tax collector, the prostitute and thief. God’s Word “richly blesses all who call on him,” whomever we might be, wherever we might live, whatever we have done.
People are desperately looking for God. We are looking for God, waiting for him to act. Where do we find him? He’s nearer than you think. He’s farther than you know. Look there. Listen to his Word. And it’s power will change your life. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on February 25, 2007
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