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“Three Questions About the
Kingdom”
- Luke 18:1-8 |
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Last year, both fall and winter, a few of
our Bread of Life folks joined me in a study of the book of the Bible sometimes
called “The Revelation to John.” The letter contains one man’s vision of what
the end of time will be like. The book of Revelation was really in the
spotlight eight years ago as the clock ticked off the hours and days toward the
coming of a new millennium. Remember all the television shows, the magazine,
and newspaper articles? When the clocks on our computers kicked over to 2000,
they were all going to crash – and that would usher in a pandemonium like the
world had never seen. No food in the grocery stores – no money in the banks –
no working computers or computer-driven technology. Do you remember? A small minority of Christian writers and broadcasters took that projection of chaos and linked it to the “eschaton,” the end times discussed in the New Testament – especially in Revelation. It’s now 2007. And here we are. We’re still here, aren’t we? The fear is only a distant memory. Most Christians (and maybe some of us) have been waiting nearly 1975 years for Jesus’ second coming. In our waiting and wondering, we are not all that different from our brothers and sisters of the early Church. We ask ourselves questions that are similar to the ones that were being asked, whispered, and debated, in that post-resurrection era. By the time the gospel of Luke was written, most of Jesus’ disciples were old and feeble – or dead. A couple of generations of Christians had already been converted – lived – and died. Those brave Christian men and women had been praying, “thy kingdom come…” but with the passage of time, their hearts weren’t in it anymore. And to make matters worse, the followers of Jesus’ way were being persecuted by local thugs, Jewish leaders, and Roman magistrates. What they needed was reassurance and some higher meaning attached to their suffering. In the first century – after the death of Jesus – in the midst of a difficult life made harder because of their belief in Jesus Christ – inquiring minds wanted to know: “When will God’s Kingdom come?” “How long do we have to continue to pray?” And, in the end, “Will God find faith among us?” As Christians continue (even today) to ask these questions, I am reminded of a scene that I’ve seen a number of times. I’m sure that you’ve seen it, too. As I have walked across a mall parking lot, untangled an empty shopping cart in one of those corrals, or stood in the checkout line of a store, I have observed parents making a futile attempt to bribe a child into having good behavior. It goes something like this. “If you are a good boy (or girl) in the store, I have a wonderful surprise for you – but now, you’ve got to behave while we are inside.” I realize that no one here would have ever done this (right?) – but please, just go along with me for the sake of the illustration. The little boy (or girl) is often well mannered for three or four minutes (if the parent is lucky) before stage two begins. “Daddy - - Mommy - - What’s the surprise?” – “I can’t tell you, or it won’t be a surprise.” (Of course we all know that this is really a deceptive ploy, and the parent probably doesn’t, as of yet, have the surprise – or hasn’t decided what the surprise will be) – “I want my surprise now.” – “You can’t have it now. I told you. If you’re a good boy, you’ll get the surprise later.” – “But I want it now.” – “No, you’ll have to wait ’till we get home.” – “But I don’t want to wait ’till later. I want it now.” – “I’ve already told you … you can’t have the surprise until we get home.” - - “Oh. - - - Mommy, I want to go home. - - I want to go home NOW!” And, of course, as the shopping progresses up and down each aisle, the volume of both parent and child increases. Both are pushing a little harder, until the child is clearly behaving exactly like what the promise was intended to prevent. When do I get the surprise? Why can’t I have it now? Haven’t I behaved myself long enough to get the reward? – The questions implied in our children’s behavior are not all that different from those asked by the first century Christians. When will God’s kingdom come? How long must we pray before God hears our plea FOR JUSTICE? Will God find faith among us? Luke, in response to the despair of the first century Church, included one of Jesus’ parables in his gospel. There once was a disgusting judge. Corrupt and insensitive, he probably got his job through a back room political deal. What hope did a poor widow have before a scoundrel like him? The question for her was, “When do I get justice?” The widow was not completely helpless. She possessed one effective weapon in her defense. She was persistent. She had stamina. She could pester the judge unmercifully! How long would she be willing to bother him to receive what was rightfully hers? She could drive him crazy with constant whining. She could leave messages on his answering machine, picket the front of his house, follow him to stores and restaurants, and give the man no peace. Finally, the judge (smart man that he was) realized that this persistent widow was never going way until he acted. He didn’t care at all about God – he didn’t care at all about people – but he rendered a fair decision just to get this woman off his back. And if someone as uncaring as that judge will respond justly, how much more will God do for the beloved Church? Even though I’ve been to seminary – even though I have been a life-long Christian and grew up in a minister’s family – I still cannot possibly tell you when the kingdom of God will come. Jesus’ parable doesn’t tell us when he will come again; but rather, it tells us how we ought to live as we wait for the kingdom to come. How long shall we continue to pray until God will hear our pleas for help? The parable teaches us that we are to pray as persistently as the widow who petitioned the reluctant judge. “Pray always,” Jesus said. “Cry to God day and night.” I don’t think that Jesus was suggesting that we whine and throw a temper tantrum like a little child in a store – but – we can be diligent – we can be confident – we can make prayer a part of every waking thought and every sleeping dream. And whenever God decides for the kingdom to be fulfilled, will WE be a part of the chosen who are claimed? Will God find faith among us? Constant and persistent prayer is faith-inspired prayer. You may pray once in a while – or for a little while – but you cannot – AND WILL NOT – pray persistently to God if you do not have even a small amount of faith that the prayers will be answered. Do you remember what I’ve said in sermons the last few weeks? That a tiny – seemingly insignificant seed of faith is enough faith for God! This morning, I ask you to not worry about when the kingdom of God will come. Instead, I challenge you to live your life as if it is already here. Do not ask yourself how long you must pray to receive an answer. Instead, I encourage you to make your life a life of prayer. Do not worry about whether or not God is going to claim you. Instead, live your life as one whom God has already claimed through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Three questions. Three answers. Let us pray: O Ageless God, you have created a family of worriers. We worry about the future. We worry about the present. Too often, our insecurities cause us to live in the comfort of the past. You have come to us in this hour of music and prayer – of scripture and sermon – of offerings and gifts. Reassure us now, that just as your Holy Spirit dwells in us, we already live in your triumphal kingdom. For we pray it in Jesus’ name. Amen. |