At Peace

We find ourselves in the second chapter of Luke, verses eight through fourteen. The scene is a familiar one. Perhaps it is so familiar, the shock has worn off. After centuries of waiting, the Savior of the world has been born. For generations, everyone longed for his arrival, because he would solve all their problems. Everyone assumed he would be born in the palace; after all, he was a king. Everyone was wrong. (You know what they say about assuming.) He was born in a barn or cave. To the world, his parents, Joseph and Mary, were just another poor couple. Aren’t the poor always having children they can’t afford? According to the Gospel of Matthew, they named him Jesus. The name means “to save.”

It was the greatest moment in human history, but the world almost missed it. An announcement had to be made. It was delivered to an unimpressive group of hard-working shepherds, despised by the religious of their world, but obviously valued by God. Our scripture reading tells us, once the announcement was given, the messenger was surrounded by a great company of singing angels. Their sheet music is long gone, but their words remain: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. We call those words Gloria in Excelsis Deo, the first words in the Latin Vulgate translation. We know those words because they are great words, but what do those words mean? How do you interpret that verse? That is not a simple task.

Some believe the angels are speaking about internal peace. One of my favorite Christmas movies is Home Alone. You may know the background. Home Alone was released in 1990. It was made for $18 million and has grossed approximately $354,000,000. It was filmed in Winnetka, Illinois, and stars Macaulay Culkin (born 1980) as Kevin McCallister. You remember the storyline. Eight-year-old Kevin finds himself home alone, because he got lost in the shuffle as his family leaves for their Christmas vacation. At first, he celebrates his independence, but in time he begins to value his family. Near the end of the movie, Kevin begins to regret how he had treated his family. He walks into a church and confesses his feelings to a stranger, who has his own family problems. The stranger, Kevin’s neighbor, a weird old man, has a great line. He says, “You’re in church now. This is the place to come when you are feeling bad about yourself.” It is a secular movie, but it holds a divine truth.

Have you ever gone to church to find some rest? The world is exhausting because the world promotes your failures. During my time in the ministry, I sat alone in my church’s sanctuary many times because I needed some peace. What I really needed was Jesus. Augustine (354–430) once said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” Internal peace is important! How exhausted are you? Internal peace is important, but it is not the right interpretation.

Some believe the angels are speaking of political peace. Did you know, historians from England, Egypt, Germany, and India tell us, since the year 3600 BC, the world has only been free of war 292 years? During that same period, there have been 14,352 wars, killing 3.7 billion people. The amount of property destroyed during those wars would pay for a golden belt large enough to surround the world, 98 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Did you know that since 650 BC, there have been 1,656 arms races, and only 16 have not ended in war. Most countries involved in a war end up in economic collapse. Did you know there are thirty-two wars raging in our world today, taking more than 526,000 who die annually because of violence associated with armed conflict? Our time is not the only one. There has always been a shortage of peace in our world. Political peace is important, but it is not the right interpretation.

Some believe the angels are speaking of social peace. I love baseball. I remember the night Hank Aaron (born 1934) broke Babe Ruth’s home run record on April 8, 1974. Al Downing of the Los Angelos Dodgers allowed the home run. He held that record for thirty-three years. When his 23-year baseball career ended, he was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame and went to work for the Atlanta Braves. In my eyes, Hank Aaron is a somebody.

One night, he was checking into a hotel, but the clerk didn’t recognize him and told him there were no rooms available. The owner of the hotel recognized Hank Aaron and pulled the clerk to the side. He said, “That is Hank Aaron. He is the one who broke Babe Ruth’s home run record. Tell him we will find him a room.” The clerk went back to the counter and said to Hank, “I am sorry, Mr. Aaron. I didn’t recognize you. Of course, we have a room for you. I didn’t know you were a somebody.” I love Hank Aaron’s response. He said, “Everybody is a somebody.” How would our world change if we treated everybody like somebody?

There is a certain amount of logic to this interpretation. After all, God sees everybody as a somebody, because God loves everyone. It is God’s desire to have everyone accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, so God can spend eternity with everyone. If you treated everyone as a somebody, how would your relationships change? You know the truth, revenge is never sweet. Violence breeds more violence. Hatred poisons the soul. Resentment, jealousy, bigotry, and prejudices are spiritual viruses that will kill your soul. Hank Aaron was right! Everybody is a somebody. Those interpretations are not all bad. Internal peace is important. Political peace is important. Social peace is important, but those interpretations are not correct.

The angels are speaking about peace with God. It is the kind of peace that satisfies your entire being. The great hymn writer of the Methodist movement, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was at peace with God. He wrote approximately 6,500 hymns. In one of his hymns, he talks about his peace with God. Read the words slowly:

I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade

My griefs expire, my troubles cease;

Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,

Keep me still in perfect peace.

Charles Wesley was at peace with God. This is the question you must answer today: Are you at peace with God? Consider these two stories with me.

Nicholas Ridley (1550-1555) was an English Bishop in London. However, he is remembered for being one of the greatest martyrs in the history of the church. His witness for Christ was unfailing. He died burned at a stake. On the night before his execution, his brother came to visit him in prison. He wanted to add some comfort. Ridley refused the offer. He told his brother to go home, because he wanted to get a good night’s rest, because he was going to meet Jesus the next day. Those who guarded over him said he slept soundly that night.

One of my favorite movies is The Outlaw Josey Wales. It was released in 1976 and stars Clint Eastwood (born 1930) in the title role. He plays the part of a Missouri farmer who joins a Confederate guerrilla unit at the close of the American Civil War. He ends up on the run from the Union soldiers who murdered his family. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters. One of those characters was a young man by the name of Jamie, who got wounded. Wales cares for his wounds and bonds with him as they run. At a certain point Jamie admits, “Josey, I’m afraid to die.” Jamie is not alone. I meet people regularly who are afraid to die because they still question their eternity. This is the question you must answer.

Are you afraid to die? Are you more like Nicholas Ridley, who was at peace with God, or Jamie, who was facing an unknown future? I am not a perfect person, but I sleep well

at night because I am at peace with God. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior years ago. The angels sang those words to the shepherds, but their words are still true today: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Are you at peace with God?

Love is a Verb

We find ourselves in the second chapter of Luke. The story is familiar. The law required every man to return to his hometown to be counted in the national census. That was done for both military and taxation purposes. However, the Jews were excluded from military service. That is why Joseph took Mary, who was with a child, to Bethlehem. When they arrived, the town was crowded. The only place they found to rest was in a barn or cave. Timing is everything. The child came and Mary placed her newborn in a feeding trough, surrounded by animals. They named the little one Jesus, which means “God saves.” The world thought Joseph was Jesus’s biological father, but they were wrong. Jesus’s biological father was God, which made Jesus the son of God. The world would never be the same again. The word of his birth did not grab the headlines. Instead, the news was spread by word of mouth. That takes us to our scripture reading.

According to our text, verses eight through twenty-one, there were shepherds in nearby fields watching the sheep. They were not just working an eight-hour shift. The text says that they were living with the animals. The sheep are a big part of the story. There are two things you need to know about them. First, the sheep were valuable. They were reserved for temple sacrifice, so they had to be flawless. Second, the shepherds did not own the sheep; they were hired to protect the sheep against thieves and predatory animals. This is the only thing you need to know about the shepherds: They were second-class citizens. In their society, they were low on the social ladder. Through the eyes of the religious purists, the shepherds were despised, because they couldn’t follow the letter of the law, so they were dispensable. The sheep, on the other hand, were revered and indispensable. Yet, they were the first to hear about the birth of Jesus.

An angel suddenly appeared. Remember, in the Bible, angels are not protectors, they are messengers. The unnamed angelic messenger encourages them to fight back against their natural response of fear. This is going to be a red-letter day in their lives. The announcement they are about to hear will not just be remembered by them and their generation – the announcement will be remembered by the generations to come. You know the announcement: In the town of David, Bethlehem, the long-awaited Messiah has been born. He didn’t enter this world surrounded by the aristocrats of society. He entered this world surrounded by people like us, commoners. The fact that the shepherds received such an announcement was incredible, but what is truly miraculous is what happens next – they were invited to go and see the newborn with their own eyes. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Leaving the valuable sheep unprotected or under-protected, they go to visit the baby. It was really quite a moment, they risked their very lives to see the newborn. No one could question their devotion or love. The shepherds illustrate for us that love is a verb. If you want to discover the person who loves you the most in this world, then find the person who has sacrificed the most for you.

In 2011, Kim Kardashian (born 1980) and Kris Humphries (born 1985) proclaimed their love. Kris was an NBA player. Kim is a reality star, who does things to stay in the headlines. They did not have a simple private ceremony. They proclaimed their love for all the world to see. It was a two-day E-Special called “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding”. Their wedding cost $10 million. Do you remember how long Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ marriage lasted? It lasted 72 days. Many say they used the sacred institution of marriage as a massive publicity stunt. They may be right. Today, Kris Humphries has disappeared. Kim Kardashian married again three years later, but it ended in divorce too. She has had three marriages, each one ending in divorce. She is a young, beautiful, wealthy woman. I am sure she will marry again. I am confident the fourth time is the charm. Can I ask you a question? Do you consider Kim Kardashian a love expert? Or do you consider my friend John a love expert? This is his story:

John and his wife, Mary, have been married for over sixty years. There is nothing flashy about them. They are just good people who have worked hard. Together, they raised a family and dreamed of a carefree retirement. One day John noticed Mary was starting to forget things. At first, it was little things, like the car keys and where she parked at the grocery store. Then, she began to forget bigger things, like where she lives and her grandchildren’s names. One day, she didn’t recognize John. On a very sad day, the family moved her out of the long-time family home to a Memory Care Unit in a local facility. John visits Mary every day, but she doesn’t know him. Did you hear what I said? John visits a woman every day who doesn’t know who he is. Some have asked, why do you visit her daily? I know why. He visits her daily for one reason: John loves Mary. She is the love of his life. Let me ask you the question again. Do you consider Kim Kardashian a love Or do you consider my friend John a love expert? Remember, if you want to discover the person who loves you the most in this world, then find the person who has sacrificed the most for you. The Christian faith is built on this simple concept.

In my last church, there was a teenager by the name of Ricky. He was extremely bright, and he was not afraid to talk. He was not afraid to ask questions. He asked me many questions. Most of his questions were excellent. I did my best to answer them. One day Ricky asked me this question: what is more important, Christmas or Easter? I thought long and hard about that one. In many ways, Christmas and Easter stand side by side. You can’t celebrate one without the other.

Christmas is when we celebrate the incarnation of God. In other words, we are awed by the fact God became one of us. It has been said, it is beyond all human understanding. Everyone knows the scene, and what is more important, everyone loves the scene. For this reason, everyone has a nativity set in their home. There is the baby Jesus surrounded by his parents, Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, and the animals. Everyone loves Christmas because everyone loves the baby Jesus. Believers love Christmas because we understand the true meaning of the holiday. No one can tell me Christmas isn’t important! Yet, no one can tell me Easter isn’t important too.

Easter is equally important. You know the story. The baby Jesus did what all babies do. He grew up, but unlike us, he never committed a single sin. That made him the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. The drama played out during Passover. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a Sunday in front of a big crowd. As the week went on, the crowd got smaller. By Friday, the crowd was gone; there was just a handful of people left. They witnessed a painful scene. With a sinner on his right and a sinner on his left, Jesus was crucified. It was a Roman form of torture and death. They say that Jesus drowned in his own body fluids. It was an ugly death. Yet, on that Sunday morning, the great discovery was made. Miraculously, Jesus came back to life. I have never been able to explain the resurrection because I can’t explain a miracle. Yet, that miracle is the foundation of our faith. Without the resurrection of Jesus there is no hope of eternal life. No one can tell me Easter isn’t important!

It has been several years since Ricky asked me that excellent question, which is more important, Christmas or Easter? They are separate events. Both are important and both are major events in God’s plan of salvation for the world. I still don’t know how to answer that question. However, I do know this: If you want to discover the person who loves you the most in this world, then look for the person who has sacrificed the most for you. The shepherds were willing to sacrifice it all just to see the newborn Jesus. How can you question their love? If you want to discover the depth of God’s love, go to the cross. It is not pretty, but it is revealing. American evangelist David Wilkerson (1931-2011) once said, “Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.”

It’s A Secret

History tells us Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) was a polar explorer. Once while on a South Pole expedition, he left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, “It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!” They replied, “We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, ‘The boss may come today.'” If you can understand that simple story, then you can understand this simple blog.

Did you know there are approximately 211 million websites on the second coming of Christ? I haven’t looked at each one, but they cover a wide range of opinions. Few topics are more controversial then the second coming of Christ. If you don’t believe me then bring it up among your friends. Generally, people divide themselves into three groups. Which one of these groups do you belong?

The first group believes Christ will never return. They are the same group that dismisses the resurrection of Jesus. They dismiss the second coming because they believe it is nothing more than an old wives’ tale. In their opinion, it resonates with an uneducated portion of our society, but it has nothing to offer to our sophisticated educated world. It is like the stories of the Paul Bunyan or the Tooth Fairy. It is just a tale to be told. Do you know of anyone who dismisses the second coming of Christ?

The second group believes Christ has already returned. These people are found in the academic world. For them, the second coming has to do with having a clear understanding of the trinity. Remember, God is father, son, and Holy Spirit. They believe Christ returned during that great day of Pentecost in the form of the Holy Spirit. You remember the story. The Holy Spirit swept through the world without warning. The believers and the non-believers were divided. The believers were touched by the divine power and were united with God. They formed this new organization called the church and began to spread the Good News. The non-believers, on the other hand, remained untouched. Do you know of anyone who believes the second coming has already occurred?

The third group is still waiting for Jesus to come. Regularly, they study the signs of the end that are scattered throughout the Bible. Some believe there are as many as 26 different signs of the end. For them, every current event signals our demise. Every war, famine or earthquake is a sign of the apocalypse. The problem is our world is filled with so many wars, famines, and earthquakes. It is like trying to read a street sign through a thick fog. There is something there, but you can’t make it out. Can anyone read the signs? People have been trying to make out the signs for a long time.

In the nineteenth century there was a Baptist evangelist by the name of William Miller (1782-1849). He studied the signs and believed that Jesus would return on April 3, 1843. All over the Northeast, half million of his followers called Adventists, waited for that day. Journalists had a field day. Reportedly some disciples were on mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in union with their departed loved ones. Some high society ladies clustered together outside of Philadelphia to avoid entering God’s holy kingdom amid the common herd. You know what happened. April 3, 1843, came and went. Jesus didn’t return and time moved forward. What do you believe about the second coming of Christ? I believe someday Jesus will return. However, I don’t worry about the signs. I just trust Jesus.

We find ourselves in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, verses 36-44. The topic is the second coming of Christ. I would encourage you to put all your opinions aside and just listen to Jesus. The Master said his second coming is the greatest secret in the history of the world. Verse 36 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” If there is one verse that everyone should memorize about the second coming it is that one. Only God knows when Jesus will return. Hollywood does not know when Jesus will return. The History Channel does not know when Jesus will return. That strange person in your life, who is always looking for signs of the end, does not know when Jesus will return. The Bible says nothing about the Mayan calendar or Rasputin (1869-1916). However, the Bible does say the second coming is a secret. The Bible does say Jesus will come without warning.

In this blog, I want to talk about the secret. This great secret is the ultimate challenge because it means you must always be prepared. If Jesus returns today, are you ready, or do you have some work to do? Do you need some self-improvement? Are there things you would still like to do? Are there things you would still like to accomplish? Are all your relationships healthy? Is your relationship with God healthy? Are you ready to die? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? I would encourage you to fix these things now. After all, Jesus could return at any time.

Years ago, I watched the History Channel’s series, The Men Who Built America. In the series they examined the lives of John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), Henry Ford (1863-1947), and J. P. Morgan (1837-1913). Each story was fascinating, but it was Henry Ford’s life that really caught my attention. Did you know Henry Ford was born on a farm outside of Detroit? It was his father’s dream for Henry to take over the farm, but he had different ideas. At the age of 16, Henry left the farm and began as a machinist apprentice. Then he went to work for the Edison Illuminating Company. In time, he was their chief engineer. The whole time he was working he was saving his money so he could pursue his real dream, developing a car the common man could afford. He and a partner founded the Ford Motor Company with this in mind. When he introduced the assembly line to his plant, his dream became a reality. The Model T became an instant success. Did you know half of all cars on American roads in 1918 were made by Ford? I think his story is fascinating on many levels. However, what I admire most about Ford is that his dream became a reality. Have all your dreams reached reality?

If Jesus were to return today, what regrets do you have personally? What dreams do you still have that haunt you daily? The return of Christ signals the end. It means the end of my personal aspirations. What do you still want to do with your life? What books would you still like to read? What places do you still want to travel? What hobbies do you still want to explore? What causes do you still want to aid? What people do you still want to meet? The second coming of Christ signals the end! However, he still hasn’t come so you still have time to live out your personal dreams.

One of my favorite Christmas movies is Frank Capra’s (1897-1991) It’s a Wonderful Life. If you are like me then you have seen it countless times. You know the storyline. George Bailey is a young man with dreams. He wants to see the world, but his responsibilities keep getting in the way. He is trapped in his hometown of Bedford Falls and shackled to the family business, the Bailey Building and Loan. He is living a disillusioned life when matters get worse. The bank examiner comes to town and discovers the business is short $8000! You must factor inflation into the story! That would be like losing $123,000 today. George looks everywhere for the money, but he can’t find it. Then the unexpected happens. The people, who George had known and helped for years, step forward and give him the needed funds. He wasn’t the richest man in town because he had money. He was the richest man in town because of his relationships.

If Jesus would return today, what regrets do you have socially? Is there anyone in your life you have spoken to in years? Is there anyone in your life who doesn’t deserve a second chance? Is there anyone in your life you hate? Is there anyone in your life you don’t trust? George Bailey was guilty of not believing in the people in his life. How guilty are you of selling the people in your life short? What joys are you withholding from yourself because you have cut someone out of our life? The second coming of Christ signals the end! However, he hasn’t come yet, so you still have time improve your relationships.

According to a 2011 Ipsos Research Institute study, 51% of the world’s population believes in the existence of God. They surveyed 18,000 people from 23 different countries. I don’t know if that fact makes me feel better or worse. That is one of those facts that really doesn’t matter. Believing is the existence of God is not enough. Even Satan believes in the existence of God, and he is not going to heaven. Believing in the historical Jesus doesn’t really matter. The only thing that really matters is that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you have accepted Jesus, then you go to heaven. If you haven’t accepted Jesus, then you go to hell. If Jesus would return today, what regrets do you have spiritually? In other words, do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? The second coming of Christ signals the end! However, he hasn’t come yet so you still have time to accept Jesus. You still have time to grab that ticket that leads to eternal life.

At the height of World War II, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonheoffer (1906-1945) was imprisoned for taking a stand against Adolph Hitler (1889-1945). Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonheoffer, “Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing.” Bonheoffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished.” It is not just the story of Dietrich Bonheoffer, it is our story as well.

Someday Christ will return! The question that has haunted the ages is, “When?” It is the greatest secret in the history of the world. Only God knows the answer. The angels in heaven do not know the answer. The Son does not know the answer. The entertainment world does not know the answer. Pastors and evangelists do not know the answer. Only God knows the answer. However, we do know the second coming of Christ signals the end. However, he has not come yet so you still have time to make some improvements. You still have time to live out your personal dreams. You still have time to fix those broken relationships. You still have time to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.”