A Sure Foundation, a Narrow Door, and A Kingdom that cannot Be Shaken
A Sure Foundation, the Narrow Door & A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken-What does this mean for you and I?” Isaiah 28:14-22;Luke 13:22-30; Hebrews 12:18-19,22-29
I came across this story which helps me remember what I should and forget that which God wants me to forget about “ Discernment”: “ Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. Holmes said: ‘ Watson, look up and tell me what you see.’ Watson said: ‘ I see a fantastic panorama of countless stars.’ Holmes : ‘ And what does that tell you?’ Watson pondered for a moment: ‘ Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically , I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meterologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.’ ‘ Why---What does it tell you, Holmes?’ Holmes was silent for a moment then spoke: ‘ Someone has stolen our tent.’ “
We too sometimes are in a fog and it takes something to make us realize a blinding flash of the obvious. I know we forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget. Today’s readings give us some important things that we should keep in mind as we journey toward the kingdom of God in our own lives and try and have some influence on those around us. Isaiah talks about a “ a sure foundation” 28:16 “ Thus says the LORD GOD: ( quoted in I Peter 2:6) ‘ Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation..’ “ Peter talks about this foundation “ the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This is Christ Jesus. How does this help us?
We have a strong foundation that is sure “ and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” Whatever struggles we are now in and whatever we are facing nothing can stand against the power of Christ in our lives. We need to remember that. And we should forget those failures of the past. They are forgiven and cast into the deepest sea by God. We have the peace of Christ , that which the world cannot give. So we should pray as the prayer in the Church’s Evening Prayer “ Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that by thee , we, being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
In today’s Gospel Luke tells us of a feast that was being held, a big dinner, pot-luck whatever you wish to call it. Luke 13 says there is the narrow door through which we must enter . At one point the door will be shut even though those trying to enter thought they were going in, “ We ate and drank in your presence, ….I tell you, ‘ I do not know where you come from.’ In vs. 24 Jesus says in an athletic word , “ Strive to enter through the narrow door.” It is a word of struggle. That is the Christian life in a nutshell. That is what we have been saying from the Book of Hebrews from the last few weeks. For our faith to be real it must be exercised. It cannot lay dormant in our minds. It is the faith of the cloud of witnesses , the saints who have ran with endurance, patience the race that is set before them looking to Jesus , the founder and perfecter of our faith. It is called perseverance. It is the life of trust “ faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “ There was once an old man who had no family and lived by himself. All his older brothers and sisters and also his only few friends had passed away. He was very sad and lonely. He didn’t know the Good News that God so loved him that He gave His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for his sins, and that by believing in Jesus as his Savior, he would live forever, never sad, and never alone. One day this man became very sick. He really thought he was going to die soon, so he asked his doctor to come to his house. The doctor tried to help him as much as he could, but knew that the old man’s life was going to end soon. The doctor got up from where the man was sitting and walked toward the door. The old man said to the doctor,’ Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what is on the other side.’ Very quietly, the doctor said, ‘ I don’t know.’ The old man said, ‘ You don’t know? You are a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?’ The doctor was holding the handle of the door. From the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on the doctor, tail wagging in happiness. Turning to the old man, the doctor said, ‘ Did you notice my dog? He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened , he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough for me.’ “
Lastly the letter to the Hebrews reminds us we have not come to a blazing fire and darkness and gloom but we have come to “ Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven….” 12:22 The word come is in the perfect tense. This means we have come , past action with continuing results. We have come to Jesus, “ the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood….” He concludes “ therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” 12:28-29 ESV
It does make a difference in our lives right now and forever.
“ O God, who hast sounded in our ears Thy divine and saving oracles: enlighten the souls of us sinners to the full understanding of what has been spoken, that we may be not only hearers of spiritual words, but also doers of good works, following after faith unfeigned, blameless life, and irreproachable conduct, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
I came across this story which helps me remember what I should and forget that which God wants me to forget about “ Discernment”: “ Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. Holmes said: ‘ Watson, look up and tell me what you see.’ Watson said: ‘ I see a fantastic panorama of countless stars.’ Holmes : ‘ And what does that tell you?’ Watson pondered for a moment: ‘ Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically , I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meterologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.’ ‘ Why---What does it tell you, Holmes?’ Holmes was silent for a moment then spoke: ‘ Someone has stolen our tent.’ “
We too sometimes are in a fog and it takes something to make us realize a blinding flash of the obvious. I know we forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget. Today’s readings give us some important things that we should keep in mind as we journey toward the kingdom of God in our own lives and try and have some influence on those around us. Isaiah talks about a “ a sure foundation” 28:16 “ Thus says the LORD GOD: ( quoted in I Peter 2:6) ‘ Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation..’ “ Peter talks about this foundation “ the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This is Christ Jesus. How does this help us?
We have a strong foundation that is sure “ and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” Whatever struggles we are now in and whatever we are facing nothing can stand against the power of Christ in our lives. We need to remember that. And we should forget those failures of the past. They are forgiven and cast into the deepest sea by God. We have the peace of Christ , that which the world cannot give. So we should pray as the prayer in the Church’s Evening Prayer “ Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that by thee , we, being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
In today’s Gospel Luke tells us of a feast that was being held, a big dinner, pot-luck whatever you wish to call it. Luke 13 says there is the narrow door through which we must enter . At one point the door will be shut even though those trying to enter thought they were going in, “ We ate and drank in your presence, ….I tell you, ‘ I do not know where you come from.’ In vs. 24 Jesus says in an athletic word , “ Strive to enter through the narrow door.” It is a word of struggle. That is the Christian life in a nutshell. That is what we have been saying from the Book of Hebrews from the last few weeks. For our faith to be real it must be exercised. It cannot lay dormant in our minds. It is the faith of the cloud of witnesses , the saints who have ran with endurance, patience the race that is set before them looking to Jesus , the founder and perfecter of our faith. It is called perseverance. It is the life of trust “ faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “ There was once an old man who had no family and lived by himself. All his older brothers and sisters and also his only few friends had passed away. He was very sad and lonely. He didn’t know the Good News that God so loved him that He gave His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for his sins, and that by believing in Jesus as his Savior, he would live forever, never sad, and never alone. One day this man became very sick. He really thought he was going to die soon, so he asked his doctor to come to his house. The doctor tried to help him as much as he could, but knew that the old man’s life was going to end soon. The doctor got up from where the man was sitting and walked toward the door. The old man said to the doctor,’ Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what is on the other side.’ Very quietly, the doctor said, ‘ I don’t know.’ The old man said, ‘ You don’t know? You are a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?’ The doctor was holding the handle of the door. From the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on the doctor, tail wagging in happiness. Turning to the old man, the doctor said, ‘ Did you notice my dog? He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened , he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough for me.’ “
Lastly the letter to the Hebrews reminds us we have not come to a blazing fire and darkness and gloom but we have come to “ Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven….” 12:22 The word come is in the perfect tense. This means we have come , past action with continuing results. We have come to Jesus, “ the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood….” He concludes “ therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” 12:28-29 ESV
It does make a difference in our lives right now and forever.
“ O God, who hast sounded in our ears Thy divine and saving oracles: enlighten the souls of us sinners to the full understanding of what has been spoken, that we may be not only hearers of spiritual words, but also doers of good works, following after faith unfeigned, blameless life, and irreproachable conduct, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
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