When the New Wears Off
When the New Wears Off...
Isn’t it funny how fast Christmas comes and goes? We spend weeks, even months, preparing for this annual holiday. The season usually kicks off with Black Friday and the big sale events. It seems though a lot of retailers are moving the start date even earlier, mixing Christmas not only with Thanksgiving but with Halloween, trying to get a jump retail sales. With all the talk about the economy and the consumer index, it is easy to lose the real meaning of Christmas.
And now the day we call Christmas has come and gone. The after Christmas Day sales are all but over. A lot of people are looking at this weekend or New Years day as a good time to take down the tree. After all, the presents have been opened, the wrapping paper disposed of, and the undesirable gifts returned. There are toys that are abandoned or broken, leftovers that need to go and our focus has shifted to the New Year and preparations for New Year’s Day.
In a lot of ways the transition from Christmas, thru New Year’s Day, to the coming year reminds me of buying a new car. You spend a great deal of time shopping the different dealers, taking test drives, doing research on safety ratings, features and options. When the big day finally arrives there is nothing quite like it. You sign the papers, grab the keys and caress the fender as you walk by. This baby is all yours... You slide into the front seat and breathe in the new car smell. Ahh.... for men there is nothing quite like the smell of a new car. I don’t know if women are as affected by it; for them it may be the smell of a new baby, the baby shampoo and lotion, but for many men it is the aroma of new leather, vinyl, rubber. You start the engine and listen to it purr, gunning it a few times to get the full effect. Cruising down the street, you wear a smile like it’s painted on, all the way home. It goes right in the garage and you hide it under a blanket to keep the dust off it. It must be kept spotless, no drinks or food inside this baby. Soon it’s time for the first oil change. “Use the good stuff” you say, nothing is too good for my baby.
Fast forward in time and it is a different story. The new has worn off... tires, brakes, maintenance; all rob you of that “painted on” smile. Which oil to use? What’s the cheapest? And what is with that smell? Lost fries, spilled cappuccino, the teenagers missing sneaker under the back seat, all replacing the aroma of new leather, vinyl and rubber. Your frustration builds as it has broken down again... you kick the tire as you walk by. Man I wish I could get a different one.... Where is the joy that once made you smile?
In the Gospel lesson for today we learn of the “Flight to Egypt”. How fast the world goes from Jesus the Savior to Jesus the hunted, from the King of Palm Sunday to the criminal on the cross. In the Christmas story we hear the Angels say “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.” Shepherds came, wise men traveled from the east, all to worship this babe, the Old Testament prophesy fulfilled. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The babe in the manger, once worshiped by Angels, wise men and shepherds is now on the run for His life. Where is that joy?
Paul in his letter to the people of Galatia addresses this very problem. Paul had brought the people of Galatia the Gospel on his previous journeys. The same Gospel which he summarizes again for them in our epistle reading for today. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
If we continue along farther, however, we read that the Galatians had reverted back to their old ways. Even though the Galatians had received Paul with joy like he was Jesus himself, they were now turning their back on the Gospel and the teachings of Paul. Paul continues in verse 8, “8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.” Pause Once welcome, the Gospel and Paul’s teaching is now being rejected. Paul is now the enemy.
As we come closer to the end of that chapter, we find that their joy is gone. The people of Galatia are caught up in following their old ways of superstition and observing the law. They are following other leaders, leaders who are guiding them away from the Gospel and the truth about Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and all hope in Christ. Once zealous for the Gospel and the teachings of Paul, they are now occupied by other things. The new had worn off the Gospel of Christ; they were looking elsewhere for their salvation.
Paul writes in verse 15, “15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! Pause The Galatians had abandoned the Gospel and the teachings of Paul, and their joy has disappeared.
So, I ask you, is your joy disappearing? Is it wearing off? How do we keep Christmas joy all year long? How do we keep from going back to our old ways, turning to something else for our joy? Paul gives us the answer in the remaining chapters of Galatians. We have continual joy in our freedom in Christ. We no longer have to obey the demands of the law. The Gospel is fully sufficient for salvation. We use that freedom not to sin even more, but to accept His forgiveness when we do sin as we no longer are slaves to sin. Recently, I talked with a young man who was struggling with this very issue. He knew the Bible, quoted scripture, knew that Christ died for his sin, but he was really having a hard time accepting forgiveness. Even though he had turned his life around, he was miserable about some things he had done in the past. He could not let go of them... but God can. God lets go of our sin, in fact He casts them into the very depths of the sea. He throws them as far as the east is from the west. Our sins are wiped from the books by the blood of that baby in the manger. We can have joy that our past is forgotten. We are free.
We have our joy year round by because we have the Holy Spirit in us. When we ignore Him and live a life contrary to the Spirit of God we are in conflict... and conflict steals our happiness. By the power of the cross and resurrection, our desires of the flesh are crucified. Through our baptism into death, we can have fullness of life, brought forth by the Holy Spirit. Matthew Henry in his commentary on Galatians puts it this way, “It is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our Christianity obliges us not only to die unto sin, but to live unto righteousness; not only to oppose the works of the flesh, but to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit too. We can only do this by our dependence on the one who died for us, the one who created us and the one who imparts in us strength and faith.
In Galatians 5, Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit that manifest themselves in us. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. By faith, our old Adam is drowned every day and the desires of our flesh are not gratified. Through that same faith the Spirit works in us so we may manifest the fruits of the Spirit, living a life pleasing to the Lord. Our joy is in that we are a new creation; a creation experiencing the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians with an exhortation to do good to all. “7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Much joy can be found in doing good, by volunteering your time or resources, and by sharing the Good News of Christmas all year long.
I encourage you that, as the newness of Christmas Day 2007 wears off, not to slip into the old ways of years past! By the grace of God, continue in the joy that the first Christmas brought into this world. Don’t park Christmas in the garage, under a blanket, to be taken out 10 or 11 months from now. The joy that we feel at Christmas is ours all year long, even when we don’t feel very happy. We have a Savior!!! He cared enough about us to come to us in a lowly manger so many years ago and comes again today and every day through the Word. As we remember the words of the Angel on that very first Christmas, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people”. We have the Good News. We have what brings us joy... and that joy is ours today, tomorrow, till next Christmas, and forever.
Amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen
Please stand for the Apostles Creed.