For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message or Homily. Today's assigned readings are: Acts 17:22-34; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22 and John 14:15-21.
In a "Peanuts" strip, ... Charlie Brown and Lucy were discussing ... theology.
Lucy said, ... "On the great cruise ship of life, ... some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the bow.
And some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the stern.
Where do you put your deck chair, ... Charlie Brown?"
Charlie replied, "Lucy, ... I can't even get my deck chair unfolded." (Long Pause)
Beloved ... We are all passengers ... on the ... "great cruise ship ... of life".
We may be moving from the stern ... where we strain our eyes ... over the trackless ocean ... for some sign of ... where we have already been.
To the bow ... where we try to peer ... into the empty distance ahead ... in hope of discovering ... where ... we are going.
And while we do this ... we are searching... we are looking for ... something more.
We are looking for something or someone ... to answer the age-old question: ... "What's it all about?"
What is life all about?
And Weather we realize it or not ... we are truly looking for ... searching for ...God.
Yet like Charlie Brown, .... Many have not opened their deck chair ... many have never fully addressed the question... What's it all about.
They do not know where to place their faith.
They do not even know ... how to get the "deck chairs open."
Paul addressed these same circumstances in Athens in at the Areopagus (Air-E-op-O-lis) ... in the year 50 AD.
This great city of Athens ... was overflowing with people ... who were quote ... "Very Religious".
Discussing philosophies ... and studying religions ... from all points ... of the then known ... world.
In the city, ... there was even a temple dedicated to ... "an unknown god."
They were searching ... but it seems never committing ... and in essence ... "dragging their unopened deck chairs ... from one place to another."
Paul was moved by what he saw ... in this great city of Athens.
He was moved ... by the heaviness ... and emptiness that it brought these people ... in spite of ... all their attempts to be ...... "religious."
They were a... soul-starved people ... "dragging their unopened deck chairs behind them."
Well ... God opened the door for Paul ... and Paul responded.
And he walked through the door ... opened by God ... and shared the Good News of Christ Jesus ... with the people of Athens.
And beloved ... our society is not much different than that in Athens.
Recent research indicates ... that our North American culture today ... compares more closely with that of Paul's time ... than at any other time in history.
And Paul's timeless message ... speaks to us ... in America ... as well.
Paul opens his message with these words: BIBLE "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are ... in every way....... 23 For as I went through the city ... and looked carefully at the objects ... of your worship, ... I found among them an altar ... with the inscription, ... 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, ... this I proclaim to you. END (Acts 17:22-23)
Paul started where the people were... in their spiritual journey.
He used Greek poetry ... and idols ... as points of contact ... with them.
Although the people of Athens ... were constantly seeking after new ideas ... and new truths, ... it was very shallow ... and superficial ... often with no real fixed beliefs.
The Athenians ... were not sure they had all the possibilities covered.
So ... They set up the altar of worship ... to the Unknown god ... just in case ... they missed one.
Even though they did not understand ... they tried to cover the bases. (Pause)
The story is told ... about an Army sergeant ... who was caught near a beach ... by German artillery ... and managed to protect himself ... by moving to the water's edge.
While improving his position with a trench shovel, ... he came upon an ornate crucifix ... the kind that prosperous Italians often hung ... on their bedroom walls.
Two hours later ... in the midst of still another German artillery barrage, ... A United States Chaplain ... rolled into the water beside him.
A moment after that ... a German 88 shell landed ...just ten yards ... up the beach.
The Master Sergeant ... held up the muddy crucifix that he had been clutching for dear life since discovering it.
And turned to the startled chaplain and said, ... "My God, Sir, am I glad to see you!
How do you make this thing work!
The problem with a superficial religion ... one that has no commitment ... is that you will never know ... how to make it work.
This is very evident in our culture ... as it was in Paul's day.
People would rather not consider ... where they actually stand before God.
Maybe you are also like that.
You have never really committed your life ... to the Lordship of Jesus.
You have allowed him to be your Savior ... but have not allowed him ... to be Lord of your life.
If your faith is superficial ... it probably will not deeply effect ... how you live ... it will not impact you ... or those around you.
It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God.
Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause)
W. C. Fields was sitting in bed one morning with a drink in one hand ... and a Bible ... in the other.
His friend Douglas Fairbanks ... stopped by to see him.
He said, "Bill, .... I didn't know you were such a religious man."
W.C. replied, "I'm not. I'm not.
I'm just looking ... for a loophole." (Pause)
People whose religion is shallow ... often think that they will get by ... through finding ... some loophole.
The spirit that God placed in all human beings ... is crying out ... for a relationship ... with the creator.
Yet our flesh ... is in battle with our spirit ... and if our commitment is superficial ... we will far too often give in.
We fall short ... we yield to the flesh.
We do not know how many of the people in Athens ...were serious ... in their search for the truth ...that day.
For when we yield to the truth in Christ Jesus ... we are a new creation ... and we yield ... to the truth.
We are transformed by the truth ... and we live in it.
Jesus shared this glorious promise ... "then you will know the truth and the truth will what ... the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Paul stood before the people of Athens and proclaimed, "You are very religious." (Acts 17:22)
They were religious ... They were religiously discussing ... various religions.
Yet it did not move them to faith ... it was superficial.
It was a religion ... a faith ... that did not answer the Question ... What's it all about.
It did not lead to a relationship ... with the creator ...it did not lead to eternal life.
They were just moving their deck chairs from one end of the ship to the other.
It was much like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic... as the ship slides ... into the deep.
So Paul shared the truth of this God ... that was Unknown them.
The God who made this world ... and everything in it.
Hear God's Word ... BIBLE "(God) does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things." END (Acts 17:23-24)
We cannot appease God with our own works of righteousness.
Beloved ... We All have falling short of the glory of God.
Yet ... God reached down. ........ And was made known to us ... in the person of Jesus Christ.
And God placed a spirit within us .... by which we receive God's Transmission ...... to us.
He has placed within us ... the capacity to respond to Him.
The Scriptures are clear BIBLE "His spirit witnesses with our spirit" END (Romans 8:16)
Yet to the majority of the Athenians, ... this was the height of folly.
In fact, ... Dr. Luke goes on to state BIBLE "When they (the Athenians) heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." END (Acts 17:32)
So how do people fell about the resurrection today?
For many it is the same thing.
They walk away, ... "Resurrection ... no one can be raised from the dead ... that is just a fairy tale."
Yet Beloved ... We are told Over 500 people were eyewitnesses of the resurrection Jesus ... yet so many ... allow their eyes ... to be blinded ... to the truth.
God's doing everything he can to redeem His creation.
God's deepest desire is to connect with His creation.
Sadly, ... Most people's problem ... is not discovering God.
It is deciding if they even want to ... discover Him.
If they ever want ... to know him.
They are not willing to even open their deck chair.
I am convinced, ... that the bulk of humanity is listening to their flesh ... just doing their own thing ... unconcerned about eternity.
Yet ... Be assured that God will be Found .... by those who sincerely seek him.
Jesus died for all ......and is available to all .... who search ...with all their heart.
For God so loved ... the World.... That he gave his only begotten son.
Christianity is extremely inclusive ... Jesus loves everyone ... and died for the sins ... of the world.
The only thing exclusive about Christianity ... is that God provided ... a single Savior ....... And he did not hide this truth from His creation.
His name is Jesus.
If you seek you will find.
If you ask ... it will be given unto you.
If you knock ... the door will be open unto you.
God is within reach, ... and he can be found ... by those who seek Him.
Yet many directly or indirectly ... have told God ...they do not want ... or need Him.
And when they stand before God, ...... He will simply honor ... their decision.
There is nothing unfair ... about that.
Beloved ...... When you stand before God, ......the subject will not be about the people who have never heard ....... or about people who never sought ...... it will be about ....... you.
What did you do ... with what was given ... to you?
The Scriptures are clear ...to believe is life ...... while to deny the truth ...brings death.
He is fair.
A question is often asked: ...How Could Jesus Be the Only Way to God?
We as Americans value broad-mindedness.
We live in a culture of tolerance ......and we tend to think ......that we should never be confrontational ......toward those ...who sincerely believe differently.
Beloved...The issue is ... truth ... not sincerity.
Truth operates independent of feelings and desires.
The way to God is not a matter of opinion ... but a matter of fact ...... only Jesus ... died for sin.
He was Raised from the Dead......And hundreds upon hundreds ... upon hundreds of people... saw the risen Lord.
It is not a matter of opinion....it is a matter of Truth.
Now some would say that is narrow.
Yet Beloved ... Truth by definition ... is narrow.
Jesus did not just claim to know the way to God.
He said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
I am convinced that Jesus said that ... out of great compassion... for mankind.
His heart hemorrhaged for humanity. (Pause)
Beloved ... we have so many distractions in our life.
We have so many rolls to play... so many tasks to complete.
We have so many balls in the air ... with what seems to be ... so little time ... each day.
And each item ... each relationship seems so important ... and they are.
Yet far too often ... we set down the ball ... that is our time ... with Jesus ... with the one ... we call our Lord.
Our flesh finds ... that this is the easiest ball to drop.
Yet it is that time of quietness ... that time of stillness with our Lord ... that strengthens us ... enriches us ... transforms us.
O' Beloved ... We cannot ... we must not yield to the flesh.
The Lord says, ... "Be still and know that I am God".
Beloved ... Do not have a superficially faith ... open your deck chair ... and rest ... allow time ... to be in the presence ... of your God.
And when you do ... all of your tasks ... all of your relationships will be seen ... will be seen in a new glorious light.
For you will see them ... through the eyes of Jesus your Savior and your Lord.
Amen and Amen!!
The first portion of this Message is based off a Sermon by Marilyn Murphree Titled "Unfolding Deck Chairs" and I commend it to you.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings In Christ Jeff
