Worship for Sunday, April 26, 2020

Since the beginning of the upheaval that we are all experiencing I have been saying that any plan for more than twelve hours from now needs to be penciled in, because it is likely to change. Normally I enter everything on my Outlook calendar. It is typically complete and color-coded by categories – church, work, family, etc. Even activities like Sunday morning worship are faithfully put on the calendar. It really is at the core of how I organize and manage my life. Because of the uncertainty of all that is taking place, I did not complete my calendar during the month of April. Except for the funerals that I officiated; the calendar was blank. I deleted Kayla’s appointment to have her wisdom teeth removed. I sadly deleted Lenten studies and Holy Week events. But toward the middle of last week I decided that I would put my work schedule on the calendar. So, I scheduled each shift remaining in April. A day later I discovered that my schedule at the hospital has been changed yet again. Even as I write this message, I am anticipating yet another schedule change Are you feeling like that? Nothing seems to be written in ink. You can’t rely on anything staying the same. It all seems to be moving and shifting and changing. It can be difficult to get or keep your bearings in times like this. It can be difficult to be intentional when life seems to be changing every twelve hours. The passage before us this morning in 1 John 2 can give us that firm foundation from which we can deal with the rest of what is whirling around. John tells us in this passage that there are things that are temporary and things that are permanent, there are things that are penciled in and there are things that are carved in stone. I believe that knowing what is only temporary gives as much hope is as knowing what is permanent. Let us begin then with the temporary. In verse 8 John tells us that the darkness is passing away. Darkness is associated with chaos and with evil. In the creation story we read: Genesis 1:2 - 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. God’s first act of creation was to push the darkness back and to begin to bring the order that he declared to be good. In the darkness there is disorder, stumbling, blindness, hatred. It is difficult for things to go right when they are done in the dark. Most of us have probably dressed in the dark before. If you have everything laid out already you might be ok, but try blindfolding yourself and then opening the closet door. In the darkness we have chaos. 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds us that our God is not a God of confusion, of chaos, of disorder, but a God of peace. Darkness and the chaos that comes with it are passing way. They are only temporary. The other thing of temporary nature that John mentions is what he refers to as this world. Notice what he says in verses 16-17 - 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires,. The world refers to all that is part of our former, self-focused way of living. It is all that is opposed to God’s plan for our lives. That which appeals to our flesh and to our eyes is only temporary. That which makes us so very proud in this world will one day be gone. The Egyptians filled burial chambers with provisions and possession that the Pharaoh would need in the afterlife. The Vikings loaded the burial ship with everything necessary for the deceased to enter the afterlife. We know these things because when the tombs or graves are opened the provisions and possessions are still there. Even the coins left to pay the ferryman of the river Styx are still there if the body is later exhumed. Nothing that is part of this world lasts into eternity. I think that there is great comfort in knowing that darkness, confusion, chaos is only temporary. As the Psalmist says, Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning. It is liberating to know that I don’t need to gather enough provisions and possessions to last me for eternity or to pay for my passage into the afterlife. All of this is temporary. It too shall pass. Let us now look at what John tells us is permanent. In this passage that which is permanent is summed up in two concepts – light and love. Even as we are told that darkness and this world will pass away, so we are told that light and love have a permanent place in our lives. Darkness and light are not competing concepts. Darkness is the absence of light, so when light comes darkness vanishes. Jesus identified himself as the Light of the World. He came to bring order to us, his new creation, just as light brought order to the chaos of Genesis 1:2. His light illuminates the path for us to follow. It brings peace – wholeness- to the chaos of our lives. That light is connected to the love that is also talked about in this passage. John tells us that he is writing about an old commandment that is also a new commandment. It is an old commandment in that it is what God has always called us to. As Jesus summarized the law with the greatest commandment – love God, love others – he told us that everything else is dependent on understanding and living in that love. We can be confident that the love that God has for us will never end. His love is not swayed by circumstances. His love is not lessened by our disobedience. Just as the father watched and waited for the return of the prodigal son, so our Heavenly Father will watch for us to repent and turn toward home if we move into the darkness of sin. It should give us great hope and comfort to know that God’s love never ends, never dims, never goes away. Even when we move away from it, we can know that it is shining brightly as a beacon to show us the way back into that loving relationship that He so willingly and freely offers to all. The call to live this love is also unchanging. When John talks here about the old/new commandment, it is clear that he is referring back to what Jesus demonstrated in the upper room. After he has washed the feet of the disciples, Jesus gave them the new commandment. John 13:34-35 - 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” He had shown them what love looks like. Then he told them to love the same way. And he said, “This love of others is the evidence of your love for me.” In 1 John we are told that we are fooling ourselves if we say that we are walking in relationship with God and living in hate toward others. By our words and by our actions we will reveal the condition of our hearts. Darkness and light cannot coexist. Love of God and lack of love for others cannot coexist. Loving others is not always easy. It is not something we are likely to perfect and practice perfectly. It is a continual and conscious choice that we make. We should begin every day remembering how much God loves us. It is good to remind ourselves what God’s love for us cost him. We should recall the victory that was won on our behalf and remind ourselves that we have been welcomed into the family of God, that we are indeed forgiven, adopted and made new. That is the love of God at work in our lives. This knowledge leads us to set loving God with our heart and soul and mind, and loving others as the goal of our day. Think of how it will shape your day if you begin by saying, “I know how much God loves me. And I am going to everything I can to demonstrate that love in my words and in my actions.” Think of the impact it would have if you truly believed that your love for God is measured by your love for others. This, I believe, is what John is saying in this passage: 1 John 2:9-11 - 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. It is not an easy thing to do. In fact, in our strength it is impossible. But by God’s grace and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we can fulfill this old/new commandment. God’s love for us never changes. It is carved in stone. We don’t have to wonder about it. It is as sure as the sunrise. God’s call for us to demonstrate that love in our relationships is just as permanent. As we love God, we live that love into the lives of those around us. The methods we use are as varied as the people we encounter, but the motive never changes. Finally, God’s grace that makes it all possible is also sure and certain. We never have to worry about trying to do this in our own strength. His Holy Spirit will always be available to guide and empower us to live in love with God and with others. As this takes place in our lives we will be fulfilling the old/new commandment of Jesus and showing the world that we are his disciples.