Neither Flight Nor Fight But Faith
Text: Luke 21:25-36
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Whether you and I like it or not, there has always been and
always be signs around us. Yes, there will be signs in the universe, in nature,
and amid our lives.
But what is specifically meant by signs?
In our reading from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus does not preach
about signs but simply points out that there will be signs. All of us will see and
experience things in the universe, on the earth, and in our lives that will be
out of control. Storms, eclipses, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, war,
riots, death, and things that defy the laws of nature will come upon us and
make us feel very out of control, very tiny, and very helpless.
Simply stated, Jesus said that there would be signs that create
chaos and hardship. And the world? Well, Jesus said that the world would be
confused and perplexed with these signs. When the signs happen, the world will
not know what to do or which way to turn. The signs will put the world into an
embarrassing and difficult place of uncertainty. But after some time, Jesus
says that the world will move not from confusion to certainty but from
confusion to fear.
Keep in mind that what the actual sign is, is not the point.
The point is that when signs do happen, the world will respond two ways. First,
the world will stop in its tracks and scratch its head. And second, when the
world realizes that it is out of its depths – that the signs are unpredictable
and uncontrollable – well, the world will run for the hills in fainting
fear.
Isn’t that the way that it goes, though? If you think about it,
it is quite typical. These signs happen. Mankind cannot believe what it is
seeing. And then, once mankind begins to realize that these signs are bigger
and more powerful than our little determined wills, then security falls out of
our hearts, and fear sets in. And once fear sets in? Well, with fear, all sorts
of crazy things happen.
Now, as we have heard in our Gospel reading, Jesus tells us
exactly what will happen. He says that our hearts – your innermost being – will
become depressed and heavy. This is not just a feeling of heaviness, but Jesus
says that your innermost being will be heavy with a divided mind, a sense of
being paralyzed, or numbed with pain. It will be like you are trapped and
cannot escape a mind that is racing to all sorts of irrational thoughts while
feeling paralyzed in your heart and perhaps numb in your joints and nerves.
Indeed, when these uncontrollable signs happen, and after the shock has –
perhaps - worn off, hearts become weighed down. People’s innermost being
becomes trapped with frantic disconnected thoughts, crippled emotions, and numbness.
Now, it will not be popular to say this right now, but we need
to admit that we have seen much of this in the last 11 months. I am
certainly not saying this to be self-righteous or cruel. I am not trying to
score any political points either. But rather, the Gospel reading from Luke
fits our present context to a T. The reason why the Gospel reading is so
applicable is that Holy Scripture interprets mankind and understands how it is.
In His teaching, Jesus understands how you, me, and our culture respond to
uncontrollable signs. Remember, friends, that there is nothing new under the
sun. We respond to powerful signs just as everyone else has responded before
us.
And everyone else after us? They will respond the same as well. We are predictable because we are the same. Do not believe the myth that we are somehow more superior - emotionally and mentally - than those who have come before us. Theologically there is no such thing as a sophisticated modern man that is invincible and sturdy amid the uncontrollable signs that we see and experience.
We must also pause and address something else that will not be
popular to talk about. There are some who like to play the Rambo card. You know
what I mean. There are those in our culture that see the signs, and instead of
being burdened with irrational racing thoughts, paralyzed feelings, and
numbness, well… they go the way of pulling themselves up by their bootstraps to
defy the signs. Like a spiritual Rambo or a religious muscle head, they gear up
and say with defiance,
“Signs, I am
your worst nightmare!”
Friends, let me be as blunt as possible. Right now, in our
culture, we have what can only be described as a war between those who are
fighting the signs of 2020 and those who are in flight away from the signs in
2020. Some are running away from the signs, and some are running right at the
signs.
Those who are more cautious with all the signs of 2020 are
pointing fingers at everyone else with a shameful shaking head saying,
“You are
deniers. You are reckless and unloving.”
And those who are more aggressive with the signs of 2020 are
snubbing their noises while looking down on everyone else saying,
“You are
fearful. You are weak and crazy.”
But dear friends, hear me loud and clear. Both of these are
wrong. They are not only wrong, but they are also caught in a vicious cycle of
blame, self-righteousness, and arrogance. And to make things even more damning,
they do not go the way of faith. Lord, have mercy on you, and especially
me!
Jesus, though, tells you and me to be on guard so that our
hearts may not be weighed down with racing thoughts, crippled minds, and numb
feelings, for this is not the way of faith. But instead, Jesus tells us that
when we see and experience these uncontrollable and powerful signs that we
should stand up and raise our heads.
Now, stop right there. Those of you who tend to be spiritual
Rambos – spiritual muscles heads – do not think for a minute that Jesus is
affirming you. When Jesus says to stand up and raise your heads, He is not
telling you and me to raise up in our own strength to fight the signs. When we
see these uncontrollable signs, we are indeed to stand up and kick aside the
racing thoughts and toss aside the paralyzed feelings. We are to stand and raise
our heads but not to fight but to look outside our puny power to Redemption
that draws near. Friends, it is not about fleeing or fighting the signs, but
the signs are meant to drive us to see Christ.
What this means is that there is no division in Christ’s church.
If you are trapped in fear of the uncontrollable signs, stand up and
confidentially lift up your head – Jesus has and will draw near to you. And if
you have fooled yourself into believing that you are a spiritual Rambo, look
away from your small spiritual biceps. Yes, lift up your heads and stand up –
Jesus has and will draw near to you.
And when we all stand and lift our heads together, what we find
is that we – as Christians – are all united. Running away from the signs in
fear is not faith. Running towards the signs with aggression is not faith
as well. But standing together, with lifted chins, gazing up Christ – that is
faith. That is unity. Faith clings to Christ. It does not run to the hills or
to self-sufficiency.
And as we stand in faith together, this faith looks away from
the uncontrollable signs to hope. Yes, we stand together with hope, knowing
that Jesus is coming back again to make all things new. Even if the world comes
completely apart at the seams due to uncontrollable signs, you shall not fear
or fight, for the Lord is with you.
And so, with lifted heads, hear and receive Jesus in His Word
and Sacraments today. That is right; despite of all the sin, calamity, terror,
and fear – stand, hear, and receive Christ who draws near to you in the Word
and Sacraments! Regardless of good times, bad times, sickness, or health - know
that Christ is here for you in His Word and Sacraments! Know that Christ is
coming back to take you home someday to make all things right.
Dear Baptized Saints! Lift up your heads this day! Do not fear
the uncontrollable signs. Do not fight the uncontrollable signs. Rest in Christ
with confidence. Trust in Jesus.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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