Seek Him Early
Easter CHCC: April 8, 2007
Mark 11
INTRODUCTION:
How many of you were here at 7:30 for the Sunrise Service? Did you leap out of bed at 6:00 this morning, full of energy and excitement? I don’t know about you, but I have to set an alarm and drag myself out of bed most mornings. The only people I know of who are able to jump out of bed as soon as the sun appears are a couple of 3-year-olds (but then my grandchildren are amazing in every way…)
The account of Jesus’ Resurrection starts with 3 women getting up Early on a Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome traveling before daybreak from Bethany through Jerusalem, headed toward the tomb where Jesus had been buried. They were burdened down with spices and ointments --- and with unbearable sorrow.
I doubt they had much sleep the night before. The terrible events of Friday had left them in shock, weighed down with grief and despair. I’m amazed that we choose to call it Good Friday. The only thing “good” about it was the Character of the Man who died.
He willingly endured the mockery of a Trial that lasted all Thursday night and half the day Friday. After terrible beatings, he carried the cross --- or "stapes" of the cross --- weighing more than a hundred pounds.
After He was nailed to that instrument of torture, he hung for several hours, gasping and struggling for each breath. When he could manage to gasp out a few words, they were words of comfort and forgiveness. Then, with his last breath he gave the triumphant cry, "It is finished!"
The 3 women who were up so Early that Sunday morning wondered aloud, “Who will roll the heavy stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” It’s possible that at the very moment they were asking that question … an earthquake was shaking that huge bolder loose. The Roman guards were falling to the ground as if struck by Lightening. And the One they had come to prepare for burial was Rising from the dead.
All 4 Gospels start the Resurrection account by emphasizing the early hour. Matthew says, After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week… Mark says, Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise … Luke says, On the first day of the week, very early in the morning … John says, Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark …
Because these women got up so Early in the morning to seek Jesus, they were the first to see the Risen Lord. I think we can learn something from their example.
1. Seek Him Early in the Morning … Psalm 5:3
In Psalm 5:3, David says, "In the morning, 0 Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
There’s something refreshing about the early morning hour. Once we are fully awake, it seems our senses are sharper. The world feels fresh and new. And it’s so amazingly QUIET. Scientists hypothesize that if we could travel back 2000 years, one thing that would shock us the most is the SILENCE. Think about it. All the constant background noise of our modern world: television, radios, trains, busses, cars, airplanes, and people talking on cell phones everywhere you go … none of these would have existed back then.
Getting up early is probably our best chance to experience some old-fashioned peace and quiet. The noises of the day have not yet taken over. There’s hardly any traffic, and we haven’t turned on all our electronic noise-makers yet. But the main point is not just getting up early. There’s an old saying, “The early bird gets the worm.” Well, if that’s the ONLY reason you’re getting up early, a worm may be all you get!!
Listen to this quote from an article in Time Magazine called RACING THROUGH LIFE: My life is hectic! I’m running all day, meetings, phone calls, paperwork, and appointments. I push myself to the limit, fall into bed exhausted, and get up early the next morning to do it all again. My output is tremendous; I’m getting a lot done. But I get this feeling inside sometimes, “So what? What are you doing that really counts?” I have to admit, I don’t know. Time Magazine in 1997
The point is not JUST getting up early. The point is to SEEK HIM early. Author Janette Oke put it this way: A quiet morning with a loving God puts the events of the upcoming day into proper perspective.
Jesus often used those early morning hours to connect with God… Mark 1:35-36 says that Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed. This wasn’t unusual for Jesus. It was a regular early morning routine.
2. Seek Him Early in Life … Ecclesiastes 12:1
Another way we can Seek Him Early is to Seek Him Early in Life. Solomon gave that kind of advice in his conclusion to Ecclesiastes: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no Pleasure in them." Ecclesiastes 12:1
It’s true that you can’t be too old to turn to God. But the statistics tell why it’s so important to seek Him early.
§ I’ve read that 19 out of 20 who become Christians do so before they reach the age of 25.
§ After 25 only 1 in 10,000 will become a Christian.
§ And after the age of 65, only 1 in 500,000 turns to Christ. It’s obvious that the older we get, the less likely we are to Seek Jesus.
Maybe that’s why Luke 18:16-17 says that Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
You will look far and wide before you find a child who is not drawn toward God by their very nature. They have not yet been contaminated by the world they live in. I’ve never met a child who did not have an instinctive interest in learning about the God who created this fascinating world. If you will bring a child to Church, they will soak up the Gospel like a thirsty plant. If you wait until they are older, it may be too late.
The Barna Research Group put out some interesting findings about the effect of Early years on a person’s lifelong behaviors. The research showed 4 critical outcomes.
1. First, a person’s fundamental perspective on truth, integrity, meaning, justice, morality, and ethics is formed before age 9.
2. Second, most religious beliefs of any kind are irrevocably formed by the pre-teens.
3. Third, a lifelong response to the personal value of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is usually made before a person reaches age 18.
4. Finally, the research revealed that most adult church leaders attended church regularly when they were children.
George Barna concluded: “What you believe by the time you are 13 is what you will die believing.” (Barna Online 11/17/03)
I’ve heard so many testimonies from people who went to church as children --- then came BACK to the Lord years later because of that EARLY influence. So think about the children YOU can influence… whether it’s your own children or grandchildren … friends of your children … or children in your neighborhood.
(Encourage volunteers to teach CHCC children’s classes, nursery, etc. Talk about possible Apartment Ministry in the near future … Selah)
I know a lot of our teens and young adults are with Dallas in the Youth Service … but there are some of you in here … So, if you are 30 years old or younger, raise you hand. ------ For most people these are the most important years in this respect … these are the years when your life’s course is set. Between the ages of 16 to 30, most people make life-long decisions about who they will marry, what career they will pursue, where they will live, and HOW they will live
Let me encourage you to do whatever it takes to Seek God’s guidance NOW, while you’re in these Early Years. Of course, I can tell you’re already doing that because you got up early today and came to Church … So far so good! But I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that seeking God requires day to day determination. The Culture around you is not headed that direction. Seeking God in your Early Years requires tough choices --- some lonely times --- real sacrifices --- and a lot of patience.
I’ve observed that the only thing harder than doing things God’s way is NOT doing things God’s way. In the short-run it’s hard to obey God … especially when it seems like no one else is making the effort. But in the LONG run the ones who do things God’s way avoid all kinds of pain and regret … and they end up with a life filled with purpose and joy.
3. Seek Him Early on … Matthew 6:33
The last point I want to make is that we need to Seek God Early On … that is, in the first stages of everything. Not after circumstances have piled up to the point where we’re desperate. It’s sad when anyone relegates Jesus Christ to a box labeled “For emergencies only.”
I’ve heard the statement, “There are no atheists in a foxhole.” It’s true that a man who ignored God all his life will probably call out to Him when he’s facing enemy fire. But how much better to be like the World War II General I read about. Lt. General Sir William Dobbie was Governor General of Malta during the Second World War – at a time when the defense of Malta was at its darkest hour.
The Italian forces had overwhelming superiority, both in numbers and firepower. In fact, Historians still cannot understand why Malta was able to hold out against the Italians. The answer to that might lie in General Dobbie’s first “Special Order of the Day.” Here is what he wrote when he took command in Malta: "The decision of His Majesty’s Government to fight until our enemies are defeated will have been heard with the greatest satisfaction by all ranks of the garrison of Malta. It may be that hard times lie ahead of us, but however hard they may be, I know that the courage and determination of all ranks will not falter and that with God’s help we will maintain the security of this fortress. I therefore call upon all officers and other ranks humbly to seek God’s help and then, in reliance upon Him, to do their duty unflinchingly. (A Very Present Help – Sir William Dobbie p. 11-12).
These are the words of a man who had learned to Seek God early on. He did not wait until the day of Battle. His FIRST official act was to seek God’s help.
The same principle applies in the little battles of every-day life. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. The success or failure of anything we attempt hinges on whether we act on our own … or whether we seek God’s help.
I think this principle applies to EVERY enterprise of life … whether big or small. Whether you’re deciding who to marry or deciding what kind of car to buy. Whether you’re deciding on a career or deciding on a movie see on Friday night.
Seek God early on … for every decision –
§ Decisions at home and at work or school
§ Decisions about buying and selling or investing
§ Decisions for how to raise your kids or how to take care of aging parents
§ Medical decisions and Spiritual decisions and Practical day-to-day decisions
Develop the habit of Seeking for God’s guidance Early On … in every task and every decision of life.
I like this quote from John Maxwell’s book called The Winning Attitude. He writes: For every possible predicament of man, there is a corresponding grace of God. In other words: For every particular human need there is a particular supernatural resource. For every definite problem there is a definite answer. For every hurt there is a cure. For every weakness there is a strength. For every confusion there is guidance. John C. Maxwell, The Winning Attitude, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1999, c1993.
Look at John 15:5 where Jesus told His disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Apart from Christ, we accomplish NOTHING of eternal value. But WITH Him, we can do EVERYTHING … according to God’s will for our lives.
CONCLUSION:
If you have never done so before, I urge you to journey along with the two Marys and Salome. Look with them into the empty tomb. Listen to the words of the Angel, "You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here! He is risen!”
The three women who went our to Seek Jesus early on that Sunday morning got so much more than they had ever dreamed or imagined. The same holds true for you and for me. If we will Seek Him Early we will be amazed at what we find.
This morning, I’m urging all of you to Seek Him Early. It’s not still Early in the Morning (lunch time is coming in an hour or so…). For some of us, it’s nowhere NEAR Early in Life. But for all of us, THIS moment --- right NOW --- is as Early as it’s going to get! You won’t find an Earlier opportunity to Seek Him than right now.
You have a choice to make on this Resurrection Sunday morning. Will you seek Him Early? Will you Seek Him NOW?
