CHEAP SUNGLASSES
(ALL my sermons use illustration found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture in NIV unless otherwise noted)
This morning the puppets performed a song by Brandon Heath called “Give Me Your Eyes” to have the eyes of Jesus. “Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see, everything that I keep on missing, give me your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted, ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me your heart for the ones forgotten, give me your eyes so I can see.”
I have always wondered what a different world we would live in if everyone had the view of others that Jesus has. Most of us accept that there is far more going on in the world then what we see. The world, the hatred, the confusion, the lies, the pain and suffering has kept us from seeing things the way they really are. OH, to have the eyes of Jesus, to know what God knows, to accept that what really counts is not what we see, but what we don’t see. To have CHEAP SUNGLASSES, that would filter the things we see and allow us to see what God sees.
I think the Apostle Paul was trying to tell us that viewing things differently is the key to having peace in life. This morning I want you to turn to the 4th chapter of the 2nd letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, read with me a short passage and perhaps we can pull some bits of wisdom from God’s inerrant Word to allow us to view things differently.
2 Cor 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
PRAYER
I think there are three things we should look at from this passage this morning. Well the truth is that there are many thing we can gleam from this short passage, but I want to look at three very important things. The first is simply this:
I. DON’T LOSE HEART
I feel this is the problem with why we no longer see things as they really are, many of us have given up. We know that there is evil, hatred, pain and suffering in the world and that is how we automatically see things. We have lost the ability to see things through the eyes of Jesus, because the glare of the world has blinded us. We just need some cheap sunglasses, the cost nothing, they come with the gift of grace given by God to all those willing to accept His Son.
I speak from past experience, I speak as a man that knows what it means to lose heart, and yet so does Paul. Listen to what he says:
2 Cor 11:22-27 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
If anyone had reason to lose heart, it would be Paul, but somehow he had discovered the secret of seeing things in a different light, perhaps he had purchased the sunglasses I speak of. Seeing things through the grace and love of Jesus Christ can give you a complete perspective, Paul had reason to lose heart but he never did.
The story is told of a Sunday class that had been asked the question, “in your time of discouragement, what is your favorite Scripture.” A young man said, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23:1.
A middle age woman said, “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1. Another woman said, “In this world you shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome this world.” John 16:33-35. Then old Mr. John who was 80 years old, with head of white hair and dark black skin, stood up and said with as much strength as he could muster, “and it came to pass” it appears 85 times in the bible. The class started to laugh a little thinking that old Mr. John’s lack of memory was getting the best of him. When the snickering stopped, he said. At 30 I lost my job with six hungry mouths and a wife to feed. I didn’t know how I would make it. At 40 my eldest son was killed overseas in the war. It knocked me down. At 50 my house burned to the ground. Nothing was saved out of the house. At 60 my wife of 40 years got cancer. It slowly ate away at her. We cried together many a night on our knees in prayer. At 65 she died. I still miss her today. The agony I went through in each of these situations was unbelievable. I wondered where was God. But each time I looked in the bible I saw one of those 85 verses that said, “and it came to pass.” I felt that God was telling me, my pain and my circumstances were also going to pass and that God would get me through it.
DON’T LOSE HEART
II. FIX OUR EYES
Paul tells us that we should FIX OUR EYES, start looking, shade out the SEEN, and search for the UNSEEN. We have all had advice like this before, how many times when you are in a very high spot have you heard someone tell you “Don’t look down.” When you are going out for a long pass you will do whatever you can to shade your view so you are not blinded by the sun, and can fix your eyes on the ball. When we are down and depressed we will do something to get our focus shifted from the painful to the future.
This is the same advice, given by another author of a book in the Bible, the writer of Hebrews tells us:
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
How vital and important a lesson to learn, we have a tendency to go in the direction our eyes are fixed on. If our eyes are fixed on the right thing we will go to the right place, and of they are fixed on the wrong place, well we will go in the wrong direction. If we see things through the eyes of Christ, if we afford ourselves cheap sunglasses that allow us to see others with the grace that Christ views us, what a different view of the world we will have.
Perhaps we don’t see others as Christ sees them because we don’t understand grace, we don’t understand what Jesus did for us. I have trouble explaining grace to others, it is the most wonderful gift we could possibly have, and it is one that will truly change the way we view others if we understand it completely.
A Religion Professor named Dr. Christianson taught a required survey of Christianity course at small college. Every freshman was required to take the course regardless of his or her major. Although he tried hard to communicate the gospel, students viewed the class as nothing more than a waste of time.
One particular year Dr. Christianson had a student named Steve. Steve was the Center for the college football team and also a strong Christian who intended on going to Seminary. One day Dr. Christianson had an idea and he asked Steve to stay after class. "How many push-ups can you do?" He asked. Steve said, "I do 200 every night." The professor asked Steve if he could do 300. "I have never done 300 before" Steve said, "but I think I can do it." "Good," the professor said, and he proceeded to tell his plan to Steve.
Friday came and Steve got to class early. Dr. Christianson came in with a large box of fluffy, cream filled doughnuts. The class was excited, it was Friday the last class of the day, and they could start their weekend early. Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the row and asked, "Cynthia would you like a donut?" "Yes," she said. Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure." Steve jumped down out of his desk and counted off ten push-ups. Dr. Christianson laid the donut on Cynthia’s desk. Joe was next. He asked Joe the same question and Joe said "yes." Steve did 10 more pushups and the professor laid the doughnut on Joe’s desk. And so it went all the way down the first row and half way down the second until it came to Scott. He was a basketball player and friendly to female companionship. Scott replied to the professor’s question by saying, "I want the doughnut if I can do my own push-ups." Dr. Christianson said, "No Steve has to do the pushups." Then Scott said, "Well I don’t want one if I can’t do my own." Dr. Christian turned around and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scoot can have a donut he doesn’t want." Scott said, "Hey! I said I didn’t want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts, Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it." And he put the donut on Scott’s desk.
Steve had begun to slow down a little and sweat had begun to form on his cheeks. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "NO!" Then Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?" Steve did ten-Jenny got a doughnut.
By now a sense of uneasiness had filled the room. The students were all beginning to say "no." There were uneaten donuts on every desk. Steve was now putting forth a lot of extra effort to get the pushups done for each doughnut. A small pool of sweat was on the floor, his face was red, and you could see the sweat soaking through his shirt.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, the most vocal unbeliever in class, to watch to make sure Steve did the full ten. Dr. Christianson started down the forth row. Students from other classes had come in and were sitting along the side of the room watching on. When the professor saw them he counted and saw that there were now 34 people in the room. He was worried about Steve, "Could he do that many push-ups?" Jason, a recent transfer student, didn’t know what was going on and came in to see. The class yelled, "Go away! Don’t come in!" Steve picked up his head and said, "Let him come in." Jason was asked and he said "yes." "Steve will you do ten push-ups so Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great struggle. Jason, confused, was handed a donut and he sat down. Dr. Christianson then finished the fourth row and began on the visitors. Steve’s arms were shaking uncontrollably with each push up. By this time sweat was pouring off of his face and arms. The very last two students were cheerleaders. "Linda, do you want a donut?" Linda cried and said, "No thank you." Professor turned to Steve, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. The last girl was Susan. "Susan would you like a donut?" Susan was full of tears and did not answer. "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" Susan asked, "Dr. Christianson why can’t I help him?" Dr. Christianson had tears in his eyes also and replied, "I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party I looked at the grade book and found that Steve was the only person with a perfect grade. All of you had failed a test, skipped class, or turned in inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."
Steve slowly got up off the floor; he had done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him as he started to get up. Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done good and faithful servant", said the professor, "not all sermons are preached in words class." Turning the students the professor said, "My wish is that you may fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God did not spare His only Son but gave him up for all of us. Whether or not we accept His gift is our choice. The price has been paid. Wouldn’t you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?
DON’T LOSE HEART
FIX OUR EYES &
III. THE UNSEEN IS FOREVER
Perhaps this is the hardest thing to see for all of us, what we cannot see is forever. This takes faith as it is defined in the Bible, Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Being certain of that which we cannot see, is faith, by definition. Perhaps if we could see that this life is just a stepping stone to forever we would live our lives a lot differently. Perhaps if we understood the way we treat life, the way we treat others, the views we hold and the opinions we express have an impact on forever and that alone should make us change the way we see life. Jesus told us
Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What is it we put value on here and now, that will have an impact on forever. Our time, money and resources should be used to effect forever, not just today. We may not be able to see forever, But God has made it perfectly clear that what we do or don’t do today has an impact on our forever.
Steve McQueen was a top billing actor who lead a life as tough as the ones he portrayed on the screen. Success filled his life until alcohol and a failed marriage left him empty. In his despair he attended a crusade led by one of Billy Graham’s associates. McQueen made a profession of faith and requested an opportunity to speak with Billy Graham. A connecting flight in Los Angeles allowed Dr. Graham to spend a couple of hours with Mr. McQueen in the actor’s limousine. Dr Graham shared numerous scriptures in his quest to give spiritual hope and assurance. Steve McQueen struggled with the thought of God giving eternal life to a man who had such a checkered past.
In Titus 1:2, however, he found a promise that spoke to him - "the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" He requested something to write down the verse, but Billy Graham gave McQueen his Bible instead. Later, Steve McQueen died in Mexico while seeking experimental treatment for his terminal cancer. He passed into eternity with his Bible opened to Titus 1 and his finger resting on verse 2. Regardless of our past, we have the assurance of our eternal salvation because of God’s Word.
It may be unseen but it is a promise of our God, who cannot lie. Eternal life is for those who accept that the unseen is forever. It is for those who are willing to believe in the inerrant Word of God, confess before others that Jesus is Lord and that we need Him in our lives to be our Lord and Savior. To those that Believe, confess, and repent of the way they are living today and are baptized into a relationship with Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the great gift of the Holt Spirit.
We need cheap sunglasses, in fact they are free. Seeing things through the eyes of Jesus is something any of us can do, if we are willing to see Him. Life is fast, the world a distraction, and hatred the tool of the devil. Don’t let Satan get you to lose heart, to give up, to stop learning and seeing Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Keep your eyes fixed, on the goal, on the end of the race and the crown of life which Jesus readily offers to those who follow Him.
You may ask, how can I see Him? I say you can see Him with your heart. There is a little story in the Bible I want to end with this morning, one many of you are probably familiar with and one that says so much about how easy it is to miss life because we are not seeing what is in front of us. It is in the Gospel of Luke, it is a story of two disciples of Jesus who are walking the road to Emmaus discussing the things that had happened to their Jesus. They were talking about Jesus when the Bible tells us, Jesus joined them. The Bible says they were kept from recognizing them. Now I invite you to read the entire story for yourself, it is in Luke 24:13-32, but this morning I just want you to see something important. These two professed that they knew Jesus and yet they did not recognize Him, they explained everything that had happened to Jesus, BUT, still they did not know who He was until:
Luke 24:30-32 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Maybe God gave us this little story because He wants us to know that life is not just about what you think you see right in front of you. Sometimes you can see with the eyes of your heart. Sometimes, maybe more times than we would like to admit, our hearts are telling us what we really need to do and we are not listening, because what we are seeing is different then what we are feeling. I would like to believe that there are many here today that know exactly what I am speaking of. The Holy Spirit of God speaking to your heart that there is much more to life than what we see. The unseen, faith, is a huge part of what God wants us to see. Folks, I am here inviting you to keep your focus, don’t lose heart and believe in the things we hope for. Believe with all your heart that God sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to the world to save the world. You too can have eternal life through Jesus. You can see life a whole new way if you will accept Him as Lord of your life.
INVITATION
