The vast majority of human beings
are capable of doing almost anything as long as it is short-term.
The challenge often is being able to do important and necessary
things for the duration of one's life. In our parable in
Luke 18:1-8 we have something that is unusual. Found only in
Luke this parable begins with the author telling us what the
parable means. Jesus was telling His followers that they needed
to have faith for the long hauls of life. They were to develop
and maintain a relationship of conversation with God and to continue
to believe that God would hear and appropriately respond on their
behalf even when it seemed like God was not listening to them.
This morning's sermon is really intended for three groups
of people. The first group includes those who have not yet developed
a meaningful relationship with God. The second group includes
those who have this relationship and are presently finding it
to be relevant and meaningful. The final group consists of those
who at one point in their lives were excited about their relationship
with God but are now discovering that keeping it meaningful is
growing increasingly more difficult. My guess is that nearly
everyone here falls within one of these groups.
I thank God there are people whose faith walk is presently
exciting and meaningful for them. The group for whom this parable
is mainly written is those who for a long time were excited about
God but for a variety of reasons have seen that excitement wane.
It is certainly true that before you can maintain a life of
faith you have to first develop one. There are persons who have
an outstanding relationship with God which is wonderful. Those
who have never had a real life of faith probably are not aware
of what may be missing in their life. Those, however, who once
had it but no longer do, may wonder what happened to cause the
passion to disappear.
In some instances it may have been an event that caused such
hurt or disappointment that the person simply stopped believing.
In some instances it may have been that it was never truly real
in the first place. In a many instances the level of the relationship
may just have slowly faded until one day the person felt like
it was misplaced or gone completely. Some people in this situation
wonder if God moved away from them. Others realize they may have
been the ones doing the moving. Sometimes their relationship
with God is no longer important to them. In other instances they
do not know how to rediscover the relationship. They wonder if
they can have faith as meaningful as it seems to be for some
others.
My sense is that Jesus knew it would be difficult for us to
maintain a vibrant life-long relationship with God. I believe
Jesus attempts to encourage us to work for a lasting and life-giving
relationship with God. One of the ways Jesus suggests doing this
is telling us to never stop asking God for the things we desire.
As long as we continue to ask we continue to believe there is
someone listening who will at some point be willing to respond
on our behalf. If we stop asking it means we no longer believe
that the one being asked, in this case, God, exists any longer
or that the One being asked no longer cares or that what is being
requested is beyond ever being fulfilled. Any of the above can
be dangerous and lead to indifference, depression, loneliness,
frustration; a lack of self worth or even suicidal thoughts.
We have a little dog at home. She is nine years old. We have
never fed her table scraps and for the past few years she has
not been allowed food of any kind except what is put on her dish
four times per day. In spite of these strict restrictions whenever
we eat our dog sits at our feet with her body in the ready position
waiting to pounce on anything that might spill. She looks at
you longingly as if to say, "One piece of that popcorn
in your big bowl is not going to make me ill." The vet
has told us she is not allowed to have anything but her regular
food. Because we love her we comply although I believe my wife
secretly sneaks her food when I am not looking. Otherwise, why
would that dog keep on expecting something from me when I have
never given into her charming looks?
My dog reminds me of the widow in our parable. She just wouldn't
quit asking the judge to give her what was lawfully hers. Finally,
to rid himself of the nuisance and perhaps to discredit his heartless
reputation, the judge gives the widow what she desires. Who knows,
maybe the day will come when I will succumb to my dog's
longing looks.
God promises us through Jeremiah that a day is coming when
a new covenant will be made in which God's Law will be
in our hearts. All will know God and belong to God. Our sin will
not only be forgiven; it will also be forgotten. It will be as
if our separation from God never existed. I think this is the
most exciting promise in all of Scripture and I long for its
fulfillment. But God's timing and our timing are not the
same. It seems like it is taking forever for this promise to
be fulfilled. I'm sure God waits for us in many ways and
I wonder if God's waiting for us is as hard for God as
our waiting for God is hard for us.
It is this long period of waiting that causes some to lose
heart. Jesus instructs us that a discipline of prayer is necessary
to keep our faith alive. There are other disciplines as well
from study to service, from fasting to keeping a journal. There
are also spiritual guides and mentors available. These are all
important tools for the duration of our faith journies.
There is one other thing that can help. Maybe it is the most
important of all the gifts God gives us beyond His Son and Spirit.
I believe this gift is participating in an Acts 2 small group.
I am not talking about any small group with any agenda. I am
talking about being in community with a small number of other
Christians who are according to Acts 2:42, devoting themselves
to the study of Scripture, to fellowship, to sharing meals including
The Lord's Supper, to mutual prayer, service, love and
accountability.
It is nearly impossible to have a lifetime journey of faith
traveling alone. We are to talk with God day and night. Surrounded
by others who love us, encourage us and even admonish us when
necessary, seems to me to be the only way we can survive the
long period of waiting. It is for me one of the primary purposes
of the Church.
Jesus' final question in the parable is haunting. "When
I come will I still find people of faith?" Apart from our
being in community is seems difficult if not impossible to maintain
such faith. Within community and with God's help I believe
it can be achieved. I encourage each of you to do whatever is
necessary to keep your faith vital throughout the journey of
your life. |
