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"That's Me, Lord!"
I’d like to begin today with a pleasant thought or pleasing
anecdote about how life is so good right now, but I just
can’t … well not after reading the Gospel for today. Instead
the Gospel lesson slams into us like a freight train.
Jesus commands us to not be anxious about our life, what
we eat, our bodies, or what we put on. Yeah…simple as that.
“No offense, Lord, but I came to church intentionally leaving
my anxieties at home, and now You have to go and bring them up!”
Jesus says that life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing, but those are really important too. After all, there’s
so much to worry about in life.
“Jesus, in Your Word You tell me not to worry about what I
eat? But Lord, I still need to survive, don’t I? Why shouldn’t
I try to improve my quality of life? It’s so hard to keep
from dwelling on my desires. Will I enjoy what I do to my
body or will I just despise myself later? How can I keep
from being anxious when I’m felling all this guilt?”
“And You say not to worry about what I put on? But it’s
only natural for me to be concerned about what I own. This
is more than just my clothes, Lord, this is my security. Sure,
You say that You clothe the flowers and the plants and the
earth, and there is a lot of beauty in nature, but that is
only some comfort. I know that things in nature end and
nothing here lasts forever. You Yourself say that all
things in nature come to an end. And I’m not supposed
to get anxious about that?”
“And You tell me not to be anxious about my body? But Lord,
this is me. I constantly dwell on what I look like, my weight,
how others see me, how I see myself, how I want to see
myself, if others will look down on me. My body is who I
am. If I could only stop worrying about these things…
but I just can’t.”
“And Jesus, You tell me not to be anxious about my life,
but how can’t I be? There are so many expectations on me,
pressures from those close to me, things out of control,
others’ demands on my life. Will I do with my life what I
want or will I just go through life drifting and bouncing
off the rocks as I go? Will I master my own destiny? You
say that I can’t add an hour to my life by worrying. I
don’t know if I can, but it can’t hurt to try, can it? You
say that the birds of the heavens get what they need to
live, but I’ve seen how they live. You say we mean ore
to You than these birds, but that’s still only a small
comfort right now. They have no chose in what happens
to them. Lord, the ravens can’t control how they live
their lives. How they die, how can I not be anxious
about these things? I have choices, right? I can do
better than the birds, can’t I?”
And with these words of Jesus and my prayers to God, I’m
actually more anxious than when I began. The words of
Jesus cut me to the heart. God wants us not to anxious
because He says He will take care of us. We’re not to
chase after the things of the world as the nations do.
But if Jesus makes this throwing off my worries seem
like something so important, why is it so difficult
for us to do? He says “Which of you by being anxious
can add a single hour to his life? But I know the hours
and hours I’ve wasted trying to dream up ways to squeeze
just a little more enjoyment, pleasure or fulfillment
out of life. Jesus says that the nations, the pagans,
those who do not know you as a merciful, kind, loving
heavenly Father …those people worry about these things
in life.
“But Lord, I still have to live in this world. I’m so
much like all those people. It’s so hard, I’m so
uncomfortable when I’m not anxious about life. I can’t
help myself.”
Instead Jesus says to seek first His kingdom and these
things will be added to you.
“But I can’t let go of my anxieties. I can’t seek you. I
can’t let go. I can’t believe that you’ll take care of me
when I need it.”
And to this Jesus says “Oh you of little faith.”
“Yes Lord, that’s me. I admit it…I am the one of little
faith. I’m only human. I’m so weak. Lord, I get anxious
about so much and life gets so out of control. I feel so
little. I get anxious because I feel so scared. Scared of
messing up, scared of failure, scared of the unknown,
scared of…..death.”
And that’s just it, isn’t it. What if all these fears, worries
and anxieties really stem from one source? And what if there
was a way to destroy the source and keep it from wreaking its
havoc on our lives? And what if that solution didn’t necessarily
change the immediate circumstances you’re facing, but opened a
new way for you to cope with them until the circumstances
change or endure them with an unbelievable confidence that
makes other people stop and scratch their heads and wonder
about you. At this we stare into the face of our anxieties
and see that they all stem from our deep seeded fear of
death. No matter how we slice it, death comes. And I tell
you, that unless Jesus comes back first, no matter how hard
we try, each life here and now will eventually come to an end.
But to this, when we realize our fear of mortality and quiver
at the stark, despairing reality of the anxieties of life,
Jesus says “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And even more so,
this kingdom of God is both here and now and an eternal
kingdom. An eternal kingdom? Where moths and rust don’t
destroy or thieves break down our doors and steal our toys?
Yes! This is the answer to both our prayers and our fears.
This blessed assurance comes in Christ. And though we die,
by the power of Christ’s victory over death on the Cross
we will one day be raised with Him when the Lord calls.
Jesus says “Fear not, little flock.” How appropriate it is
that we have a statue of Jesus as the Good Shepherd right
here in the sanctuary. Or Jesus as a shepherd in the stained
glass window behind you. We are like scared, dumb livestock,
unprepared for life and anxious about the looming specter of
death. But Jesus comes to us here, in our insecurities and
our doubts about His provision in life and says “Fear not”
and tells us that the Father is pleased to give us an
eternal kingdom.
Though it may not feel like it, and we are anxious about the
unknowns of death, here Jesus states a timeless truth about
God. What we humans on our own could never discern about God
is revealed to us in Christ, the Good Shepherd. Though we
don’t know what God will put in our lives, we know for
certain through the Holy Spirit and from the mouth of Christ
Himself. Christ through the Cross blew the power of death
has been blown apart. “Christ is Risen!” We will not always
feel it, we will grow anxious and fear the power of death,
but here the words of Christ ring true: the Father desires
to give us an eternal place in His kingdom, and has provided
a place for us in Christ. Christ is Risen… and because of
Him we will one day be raised too.
And now Jesus’ words about not being anxious and giving of
our possessions have deeper meanings. In our possessions
and anxieties we surround ourselves with the lie that we
can somehow avoid that daunting prospect of death. But
through te words of Christ we are assured that the Father
desires to give His people His eternal home. And through
Christ we rest assured that the power of our anxieties
and fears are blown away, and we are the Lord’s forever,
not because we always feel it, but because Jesus said
so and made it so for us on the Cross.
Jesus finishes this section in stating “For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.” This whole section began
with Jesus’ words about anxiety cutting us to the heart. And
Jesus does, He grabs our hearts and convicts you and me. Then
He gives us a priceless eternal treasure of eternal life in
heaven, and because of Him we now don’t fear the power of
death because our lives are forever wrapped up with the
death and resurrection of Jesus, despite our fears and
anxieties.
“Lord, You have given us so much. When we grow anxious of life
and afraid of death, remind us that you have promised us the
hope of Your salvation in this life and the promise of everlasting
life in the next through Your Son. Amen.”
And now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
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