Sunday Sermons
Sermon: 12-2-07, Advent 1
Pastor Phil Lee
Title: "Learning to Walk"
Text: Isaiah 2:1-5
Theme: Walking in the light of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent, and the beginning of a new Church year, so Happy New Year!
All of our Scripture texts for today (Isaiah 2; Romans 13; Matthew 24) have an Advent theme. This is a season of waiting, watching hopefully, being prepared, and being faithful, because Christ our Savior has come, and Christ will come again.
Let me share an image with you, and as I do so, I ask you to use your imagination. Some of you here today may have grown up on a farm or lived in farm country, so you’re familiar with farm imagery – the birth of a horse or cow, in particular. Very soon after birth, the young calf or young colt staggers to its feet, with wobbly legs threatening to spread out in four different directions. Then, slowly but surely, the animal gains its balance and strength and it learns to walk; and soon it’s jumping and running. It’s amazing how quickly animals are able to do this! But, for us humans, the process of learning to walk takes a lot longer!
As we begin the season of Advent, we hear Isaiah’s prophetic invitation in today’s OT lesson to “…come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
Point
When Isaiah wrote this message back in the 8th century B.C., the people of Judah were discouraged. Enemies were ready to conquer Judah and many people doubted God’s ability to keep His promise to preserve the dynasty of King David. And in the midst of war and threats of war, Isaiah brought the Israelites a vision of future peace: “Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’…[the people] shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”
And then the prophetic invitation was given: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light o f the LORD!”
Many parents here today have memories of watching a child take his/her first step – wobbly, hesitant, needing assistance – but gradually learning to walk with confidence. That’s an accurate image for what Isaiah is saying.
In this season of Advent, this time when we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ and prepare ourselves for the return of Christ, Isaiah’s prophetic invitation is given to us: “…come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
We’ve got to learn to walk!
Problem
I have played tennis for 35 years, so I was surprised and dismayed several years ago when, in the middle of a fast-paced tennis match with my son, Peter, I lost my balance while running backward and I fell onto the hard tennis court. I landed on my right hip/backside, severely jarring my back. Foolishly, I kept playing. But, when I got home I quickly found out that I wasn’t as young and resilient as I used to be. It took several weeks of enduring serious back pain, a heating pad, and lots of ibuprofen to get me back in shape.
Falling is a common experience for all of us! Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. We want to live life on our own terms. We stubbornly go our own way and get caught up in “works of darkness” (ref. NT lesson – Rom.13) as we descend into thoughts, words, and behaviors that do not honor God. Too often we lift up the sword and pursue war instead of peace. And when we pursue war as our preferred option – whether it’s against another person or another nation, or even against our own selves – we will fall…hard!
Power
One of our own members had major surgery last summer (hip/knee? replacement), and she has been healing rehabilitating for several months. Then, right before Thanksgiving, she lost her balance and fell, breaking the femur bone in her leg. That injury required another surgery, and she is now healing and rehabilitating again! It will be a long and difficult journey for her.
Friends, it’s not “if,” but “when.” When we fall (sin – “works of darkness”), our greatest need is for healing and rehabilitation, and they come in the forms of repentance and forgiveness. We need to come before God, confessing those thoughts, words, and behaviors that do not honor God. We need to turn away from those works of darkness and learn to walk in the light of the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of God’s gracious forgiveness.
In this season of Advent, this time when we anticipate the great celebration of the birth of Christ and prepare ourselves for the return of Christ, Isaiah’s prophetic invitation is given to us who are gathered here today: “…come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
Several years ago I went with a friend into the Desolation Wilderness Area near Lake Tahoe to go on a canoeing, backpacking, and fishing trip. We left Sacramento late in the day, so by the time we got up into the mountains it was dark. But, we were accompanied by light as we canoed up Echo Lake under a beautiful full moon. And then we hiked by lantern light through the wilderness for several hours to our overnight camping place.
The Psalmist reminds us: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” (Ps.89:15 – NIV)
And Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn.8:12)
And then the apostle John reminds us: “…if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1Jn.1:7)
Conclusion
Awhile ago I was walking in our bedroom in the pre-dawn darkness. As I walked toward the bathroom door, I could not see that it was already half-way open. So I walked right into the edge of the door. Ouch! Life, sadly, can be like that.
But Jesus said, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.” (Jn.12:35)
Welcome to Advent. “…come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
| If you would like more information about our Church's Ministries and/or Department-Committees, please contact our Church Office at 206-244-9400.
|
|
