Sermon for December 18th (God's Wisdom)

Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his only son, the son he had been promised, the son he had waited for for 100 years, the son who was supposed to bring about descendents as numerous as the stars and as countless as the grains of sand on a seashore.  Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac his son, his only son, the son he loved.

                Mary was told that she was going to become pregnant.  She was still going to be a virgin and she was still only Joseph’s fiance, but she would have a baby and was to name him Jesus.

                Abraham was called to take a risk—a leap of faith.  He was called to step up to what would probably end up being the greatest challenge of his life.  Mary had to trust in God against all odds.  Not to rest under the shadow of his almighty wings, but to stand firm in her faithfulness and integrity while the storms were about to rage against her.  Sometimes you and I get a little confused about what kind of God we’ve got.  We so often talk about God being loving, protecting and comforting and God is, but God can also be radical, wild and challenging. 

                “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

                God’s wisdom is not for the faint of heart.  In fact, God’s plans are not always pleasant.  When God asks you to do something, it may not only seem hard, but stupid.  I mean, let’s be honest, sometimes God calls you to do things that seem downright stupid in the eyes of other people.  Imbecilic.  Dumb.  Hey, Abraham, go kill your son—kill your only chance to have descendents!  Abraham must have at least entertained the idea that God was crazy.  God had just promised him a bazillion children and now he was telling him to kill the only chance he had at those children.  Wasn’t God shooting himself in the foot?

                God called Mary, a virgin, to have a baby.  Why her?  Why then?  Why when she was engaged to be married?  God chose this awkward family situation as the setting for the birth of Jesus.  But didn’t he know what that would look like?  The Savior of the world born out of wedlock?  I mean, let’s admit it, if you or I had been running things, we would have chosen differently. 

There will be times in your life when God calls you to do something that is uncomfortable, unreasonable and maybe even unwise, at least according to your opinions.  You might think you know better.  But, I promise you, you will only find satisfaction by following God’s will for your life.  You will only find comfort in trusting God’s way and following Him.  Just like Mary.  You will only find success in choosing God’s wisdom over your own ideas.  Just like Abraham.

Throughout history, it is often the ideas that go against the grain, against the wisdom of the world, that end up being the most successful.  For instance, in football, if you are sending your running back up the gut, usually it makes the most sense to send your linemen as blockers in the direction that back is running.  If the play is going right, send the blockers right of course  But, the truth is that sometimes running a counter play is more effective.  You send your blockers left making the defense THINK you are going left and end up running right, against the grain and getting a big gain.  God’s wisdom often runs counter to what we expect. 

A certain ruler asked Jesus, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  Jesus replied, “You know the commandments; Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”   All these I have kept since I was a boy, he said.  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “But you still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”  When the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Unlike Abraham, or Mary, we never hear about this man again.  He made his choice and he chose what made the most sense.  He had wealth, youth and power!  Why throw it all away and follow Jesus?  He would have lost so much!  I believe that by NOT following, he lost much more.

Imagine what Jesus’ followers gained in their lifetimes by following their Lord and Savior?  Can you imagine being there when Jesus gave sight to the blind, when he walked on water or when he broke bread at the last supper?  Can you imagine the sense of purpose you would have had when Jesus gave you authority to cast out demons and preach that the kingdom of God had come near?   Can you imagine the joy you would have had at his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the expected Messiah riding in on a donkey?  The sick-to-your-stomach heartache you would have had at his crucifixion and the “I’m going wet my pants this is so awesome” experience you would have had when he showed up alive in the upper room three days later!  That rich ruler got to keep his lifestyle, but he lost a lifetime of adventure, meaning and purpose.  Who are you more like?  Abraham?  Mary?  Or the ruler?

I believe that every day as believers in Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to follow Him.  Sometimes we are called to acts of greatness and sometimes to acts of the greatest humility.  But count on this: there will be times, when His call just doesn’t make sense.  You will be asked for too much time, too much energy, to take too great a stand, to spend too much money, to wait far too long or to risk way too much.  And you will have a choice.  If you follow your own wisdom, you might live a peaceful and uneventful life.  And if you follow God’s wisdom, well your life may definitely get more complicated just like Abraham and just like Mary. 

Jesus promised, “Those who seek to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for me and for the sake of the gospel will find it.”  You could choose to protect your life and hope to save it from all the fearful things that might steal your comfort away.  But Jesus promises that you will truly only live, in this life and the next, by following Him—by dying with Him.  Abraham risked his future by following God’s wisdom.  Mary risked her reputation by accepting God’s call.  Abraham became the father of many nations.  Mary became the mother of God.  As you prepare to celebrate Christmas this Advent,  get ready—God’s wisdom might just change your life too.  In fact, I hope it does.  Get ready to answer His call and trust in his wisdom.  Amen.