FOLLOWING JESUS INTO THE UNKNOWN - The Journey Begins
January 14, 2018
Hebrews 11:6 (p. 843)
Introduction:
When he was 88, the Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes found himself on a train. The conductor called for tickets, but Justice Holmes couldn’t find his ticket and seemed terribly upset. He searched his pockets, looked through his wallet, and even on the floor all around his seat, but with no success. The conductor was sympathetic. “Don’t worry Mr. Holmes…The Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust you when you reach your destination you’ll probably find the ticket and you can mail it to us.”
The Conductors kindness did not put Holmes at ease. He said, “My dear man, my problem is not where is my ticket, my concern is where am I going.”
Unfortunately, we are all too often like this in our spiritual life…Jesus purchases our ticket to heaven…we get on the train and then after a while we forget where we’re going. Hebrews 11:6 says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Our test tells us “without faith it is impossible to please God.” So we’d better take seriously how important faith is to every aspect of this journey we call Christianity…It begins with faith…“We are saved by God’s grace THROUGH FAITH.” (Eph. 2:9). It is made step by step with faith, and even our ultimate destination is one of faith.
Impossible is a word we toss around while trying to solve a math problem, or do a Rubik’s Cube. But, impossible doesn’t mean hard or difficult…It means it absolutely cannot happen. It cannot be accomplished.
So please understand…if you want to be a follower of Christ, it absolutely cannot be accomplished without faith.
How does God’s Word describe this essential ingredient? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
If you get on the train and then forget where you’re going, welcome to a journey full of stress, worry and anxiety.
If you remember where your final destination is…and who is waiting for you there…even the short, in between stops, in Test Town are bearable.
It’s no wonder we read these words about Abraham…
HEBREWS 11:8-10 (p. 844)
When called…He went…for “he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.”
That’s faith…If God calls you…whether it’s for salvation or to a specific ministry you and I have to make a choice…Do I go, or not…It takes faith to begin this journey and trust God that the destination is what He promised…Two powerful words are at play here…Risk and Reward…and
I. FAITH IS A RISKY BUSINESS
[I love the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis…and in one of my favorite sections Mr. Beaver has just told the children that Aslan ( A Lion who represents Jesus) is on His way to Narnia…They ask if He is safe…and Mr. Beaver says, “No, He is not safe…but He is good and He is King.”]
I need to tell you by my understanding of God’s Word and 40 years of following Christ…Jesus, the Lion of Judah, isn’t safe, following Him isn’t comfortable, it’s hard and painful at times…but He is always good.
Our text tells us “Anyone who comes to God must believe He exists.”
And maybe you think…“Well…yeah…Duh!!!”
But before we pass over this too quickly…Let me state the obvious. God is Spirit…He’s invisible…And Jesus is no longer here on earth with us in a physical body…So, I cannot see Him.
And, whether we like it or not its stuff we can see that appeals to us…I like watching UK play on my big screen TV. I like my car (like Kari’s better), my house, my food.
I can see these things…touch them…taste them…I know they’re real…when I hold money in my hand I feel a sense of power. It brings me what I want…real stuff.
Jesus knew that as well…He tells Thomas after physically touching His wounds… “Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Not seeing and still believing in the very essence of FAITH.
Faith comes by hearing God’s Word…not seeing…He calls you and I through the message of the gospel…and when that happens we must choose obedience or rejection…on one side is a God we cannot see promising us eternal life through His Son…and on the other is Satan, the god of this world showing us stuff we can see with our own eyes.
Faith is risky because it chooses to walk through the small gate and down a narrow road when almost everyone else picks the super highway.
Jesus said, “If you want to follow me as a disciple you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me.”
That’s risky stuff…just ask the 17 year old guy who choses an invisible God over his buddies, or the 16 year old girl who choses to be faithful to Jesus instead of giving into the pressure of her boyfriend…or the 87 year old whose buried his wife…but continues to minister to others, even when it’s painful and others have retired.
They remember these words: “So we fix our eyes on what is unseen because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18).
Why would anyone take the risk of faith? Because…
II. FAITH IS REWARDED BY GOD
“GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.”
Faith is not a vicious cycle…but it is a cycle…You choose God in faith and He proves Himself worthy of that choice. You step toward God and He rewards you with His presence.
People want to know…“What is God’s will for my life?” And usually when they ask that question it involves a specific issue…should I marry this person? Should I take this job? Should I do this ministry?”
And my response is…“God’s will is for you to earnestly seek Him!” His presence brings peace…even in the midst of a storm…or if you’re confuse…He reveals Himself and His truth through His word He knows the desires of your heart, but He also knows the desires of your heart, but He also knows what is best for you to receive…and when you should receive it
God’s will for you is to trust Him.
When it comes to specifics…the supreme question isn’t your happiness…The supreme question is…does this help me be more like Jesus and does it make me a more effective servant in God’s Kingdom.
So many times we say to God in our hearts…“This is what I’m going to do God…bless it!!!” And He shakes His head and says, “If you ask me for wisdom I’ll give it to you without reproach (James) If you wait on me I’ll know your strength.” (Isaiah 40)
Both those require a crucifixion of self and a choice to please God by faith and an earnest desire to seek Him.
When we choose faith we become certain of God’s leading and presence in our lives and we begin to see His plan through spirit filled eyes.
It’s why Paul told the Thessalonians to “Pray continually, be joyful always, and to give thanks to God in all circumstances.” (1 Thess. 5:18)
The Christian life is a journey…and it’s not a straight and easy line from point A to point B.
It’s a crazy, awesome, trial filled, abundant journey through the enemies territory…Peter says “We are to live our lives here on earth like strangers passing through.”
Our salvation has a beginning…a new birth in Christ, it is then lived out in faith, but our salvation also has an ending destination.
There are 2 great rewards of living by faith…First of all, God’s living presence in our lives during the journey…His Spirit lives in us as we live in Him…It’s a pledge given by God promising the second reward…Heaven!!! Our inheritance through Christ…our promised Home.
One of the rewards is given to help us get there…The other reward is the motivation to never quit…It’s the finish line…And Jesus waits for us there, as well as those we love that have gone on in Christ. There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.
As Christians we are just campers here on earth until we get home.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-10 (p. 805)
Sherlock Holmes and Watson were camping one night. In the middle of the night Sherlock Holmes awoke and looked up at the stars. He asked, “Watson, what do you see.” Woken from his sleep Watson looked up and said “stars.” Yes, but what do these stars tell you. Watson said “Cosmologically they tell me that we are part of a large universe that we are one of billions and billions of planets. Theologically they tell me that we have a great God who made all of it. Meteorologically they tell me that the sky is clear and we will have good weather tomorrow…Temporally they tell me that it is the middle of the night and we should be sleeping! Sherlock, what do they tell you.” “Well,” he replied, “they tell me that someone has stolen our tent.”
God’s protection…His covering, is our tent…we’re just camping out here on earth until we get home…and receive a “house, not made with human hands, but an eternal one in heaven.”
And you cannot get there without faith…It’s impossible! Let’s pray.
