“Get Right With God”
Lent 3 March 20, 2006
We are now 3 weeks into the Lenten season —
3 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem — where Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.
As we journey with Jesus and the disciples during this Lenten season, we see the commitment Jesus made to His mission to die for our sins.
It is our prayer that we will also get a new vision for being the people God calls us to be — people who are more committed to Him and to His work in our lives and in the world.
The passages we have before us today are – from the Old Testament – the 10 Commandments as we have them in Exodus 20 – and – from the Gospel of John – the story of how Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.
These passages may not seem to be similar, but as we look at them we might find some similarities – and a call to journey with Jesus and find that the road to commitment leads us to becoming people whose hearts and minds are right with God.
Listen to God’s word.
READ BOTH PASSAGES
Simeon had been a livestock dealer in the temple all his life, and his father before him, and his before him, and his before him — his family had been livestock dealers in the temple for hundreds of years. He always got to the temple early to claim his spot. People looked for him there. They knew him and trusted him. His cattle and sheep always met the requirements specified in the law for sacrifice.
Now he could only watch in dismay as his livestock scattered into the city.
He was ruined.
Why?
How had it happened?
Who was this crazy Galilean, anyway?
It was then that Simeon saw one of the followers of that crazy Galilean — the one they called Thomas — sitting alone, and shaking his head dejectedly. Simeon ran over to him and said:
“Hey — you — don’t you realize what you people have cost me?”
“I know. I know.” said Thomas.
“I’ll send Judas over tomorrow to see if we can cover your losses.”
“What was this all about?” demanded Simeon.
“I don’t know” replied Thomas.
“Something set Him off — I’m not sure what. It’s just that He feels so deeply…”
“Yea, right. That’s obvious,” said Simeon.
“He seemed to think we were committing a crime or something. Doesn’t He know how the temple operates? We provide a service for the people — we sell the animals they need to sacrifice. Without us, no one could sacrifice. And if they couldn’t sacrifice, they couldn’t obey God. It’s as simple as that. So, don’t we deserve to be paid for our services? Isn’t the workman worthy of his wages?”
“Sure you are.” replied Thomas.
“Don’t take it personally. I don’t think it was directed at you.”
“Then what was it all about? Is He an atheist or something? Doesn’t He understand the law — that sacrifice is what God commands?”
“Yes, yes, He knows that. And no, He’s not an atheist. Far from it. If anything, He believes too much.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Thomas pondered this a moment —
“I don’t know. It’s strange. It’s as if He wants people to have a right relationship with God — to live in a right relationship with God — to let the commandments change their lives. Maybe He’s telling us to get right with God.”
“Well — I don’t know — all I know is that He sure turned my life upside down.” Simeon mumbles as he walks off.
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
We are 3 weeks into our season of Lent — that time in the Church year that is meant for thinking about the death of Christ — what it means for us — and what response we make. It is a time for reflection upon our relationship with Christ — our relationship with God. It is a time for us to recommit our lives to God and to Christ — to go in His ways.
It is a time for us to
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Both our Old Testament and Gospel texts for today have that as their theme. They are both calling us to have a right relationship with God and others. They are both calling on us to
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
So — what about our Old Testament text?
How should we view and consider the 10 Commandments?
As laws written in stone by God — who will strike us down if we attempt to break them?
As 10 laws meant to do away with any fun we might have — or think about having — handed down to us by a God who is a killjoy – - continually spouting forth a litany of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”?
As 10 laws that restrict what we do — handed down to us by a God who is only interested in limiting our actions?
Or — as 10 rules to closely follow – - to keep track of our obedience to – - and to take great pride in our ability to follow – - while at the same time looking down on those we do not feel keep the Commandments as well as we think we do?
Both ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent – - as rules that restrict us or rules that cause us great pride when we feel we follow them better than others.
But – - wait a minute.
Are there other options for interpreting the 10 Commandments – - and other options for visualizing God?
Surely there must be.
Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them — and another way to visualize God.
God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery. Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people.
I remember several years ago we took the young people to see the movie “Prince of Egypt” – and they were all in awe of the scene of salvation for the Israelites as God parted the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed into freedom
One of them was so impressed he looked up and announced:
“Now that’s something you don’t see every day!”
Indeed, salvation is not something you see every day.
It is not commonplace.
So — what do the Israelites do in response to their freedom?
They had been freed by God – but now what?
Should their freedom by the very special occurrence of God’s salvation change how they live?
Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God?
Certainly.
The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God acting in a way that is so marvelous and out – of – the – ordinary was to be the deciding factor in how they lived. They were to live differently from others — because God had blessed them with their freedom.
But – - how were they to live differently?
At Mt. Sinai they found out.
In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live.
They had been freed from slavery by their freeing – - life-giving God — and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God.
But — because God had freed them – - they were also to live in a special relationship with others — honoring their parents — refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lying and coveting — or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others.
The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments – - but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as it freed them to live in a right relationship with God — to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect.
The 10 Commandments are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others.
They are commandments to
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
They are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others — and that even show us how to do that. They are commandments that show us how to put God first in our lives — and because God is first in our lives, we live in ways that respect and honor God — ways that do not try to manipulate God or take His Holy Name lightly — ways that take time for God and that take time to worship and remember Him.
They are also commandments for a special relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting.
They are commandments for special and right relationships with God and others.
They are commandments to:
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
It is as if they are saying:
GET RIGHT RIGHT WITH GOD!
DO IT NOW!
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Jesus said the same things — and as He walked through the temple that day He seemed to be incensed at the fact that the people were putting more emphasis on the law and the sacrifice than they were on their own personal relationship with God.
As He turned the tables over and drove the money changers out — it is as if He were saying that this was not right — that living in God’s ways — letting God make a difference in your life — letting the ways of God make a difference in how you lived your life — was the only right way to live.
It’s as if He were saying:
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
DO IT NOW!
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
That’s still the message.
That was God’s message to the people of Israel in the 10 Commandments and so many other times in the Old Testament — as well as Jesus’ message throughout His ministry.
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
DO IT NOW!
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
That’s still God’s message to us today.
That’s still God’s message to you today.
That’s still Jesus’ message to us.
That’s still Jesus’ message to you.
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
DO IT NOW!
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
The season of Lent compels us to look at our own relationship with Christ — how we are living our lives — and how Christ has called us to live our lives.
So — how about it?
Are you “right with God?”
Are you living your life in a right relationship with God?
Are the things of God — the things the 10 Commandments speak of — vital and important for your life?
Like the Israelites freed from slavery in Egypt in a powerful action by God — an action you indeed don’t see every day — you have been freed from slavery to sin through the death of Christ on the cross - – another gloriously powerful action — another action you certainly don’t see and experience every day — but this gloriously powerful action must change your life.
You must live in new ways.
You must live in a new and right relationship with God and others.
Do you?
Do you?
Do you live a life that shows an undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
Not only must you live in a right relationship with God — but also it is also necessary to live in a right relationship with others.
Do you?
Do you?
Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?
Think about it.
Think about your relationship with God and others.
If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”
Will Willimon — former Chaplain at Duke University and Dean of Duke Chapel – now a Bishop in the Methodist Church – tells of a dream he once had that he was walking up to the beautiful Duke Chapel and heard quite a commotion. When he got closer he observed that the beautiful $200 each hymn books – the $2,000 Pulpit Bible — the hand embroidered paraments and the immense Communion Table was all laying outside the chapel – all broken and crumpled.
As he rushed to see what was going on, he saw Jesus leave the chapel in a fit of anger – proclaiming that people were more important than things – and the chapel had needed to be cleaned out to make more room for Him.
How would Jesus judge us as a Church?
Would He say that we had our priorities in the right places – or that we needed to do some “cleaning” to make more room for Him?
How would Jesus judge you as a Christian?
Would He say you had your priorities in the right places – or that you needed some “cleaning” to make room for Him?
Would Jesus’ message to us be that we were “right” with Him – that our relationships with Him and others were what they should be?
Would Jesus’ message to you be that you are “right” with Him – that your relationships with Him and others were what they should be?
Do you live in a right relationship with God – a relationship based on an undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?
Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that puts honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?
Think about it.
Think about your relationship with God and others.
If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”
As we go through this season of Lent – and journey with Jesus towards greater commitment to Him – one thing we must remember is:
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
DO IT NOW!
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
GET RIGHT WITH GOD!
AMEN
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