- I need to start with a word that I use quite a bit in sermons: context.
- It is essential that we don’t pull passages out of their original context and try to make them mean something that the original author didn’t intend. Further, we need to look at what comes before and after to see if that informs what is being said in our passage.
- In this case, it is what comes before it that strongly informs what is shared in our passage for this evening. Our last sermon was the parable of the four soils. As you hopefully remember, the passage brings out the idea that the normal Christian life is to be an abundantly fruitful one. Our lives, to take the last few words of v. 15, are intended to “produce a crop.”
- That leads directly into our passage for this evening. There are a number of ways to approach it but I’m going to divide it up into four consequences. What are some of the consequences in our lives of producing a crop? Obviously one from last week is the most obvious and important one: we live a fruitful life. Tonight’s passage builds on that to give us more understanding.
- A second initial point: this is what happens when we obey the teaching of Christ, not just claim an empty “belief” in Jesus.
- As we obey His teaching, it brings incredible changes in and through us. This is something we learn in John 15 - that we are the branches to Jesus’ vine and that a good connection to Him with naturally bring abundant fruitfulness. We obey, which leads us to abiding in Christ, which leads us to abounding in fruitfulness.
- But all this presumes that we are actively following the teaching of Christ.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF PRODUCING A CROP:
1. When our lives produce a crop, we become God’s shining lights.
- Luke 8:16a.
- The importance of context shows up immediately.
- Jesus begins this passage with a general truth about home lighting. No one lights a light and then hides it away. The whole point of lighting a light is to bring illumination to that room.
- Now, the point is not that Jesus is trying to help us with home decorating. This comes immediately after the parable of the four soils. He has just taught on the abundant fruitfulness that following Him brings.
- The point He is making is clear: when we follow the teaching of Christ, our lives become lights in the dark world around us.
- And that's not an unimportant aside - it’s why you light a light! God is trying to light the darkened world that we live in and the way He is doing it is through the fruitful lives of Christians.
- This presumes change in our lives.
- It’s not that we just claim a belief in Jesus but that we live lives that increasingly reflect the life of Jesus.
2. When our lives produce a crop, others can see God’s light in our lives.
- Luke 8:16b.
- The second half of v. 16 explicitly makes the point of the purpose of the light: so that others can see.
- This statement counteracts a lie that is prevalent in American Christianity today. That lie is that being a Christian just means saying you believe in Jesus and any life change is an unexpected bonus. No - Jesus intended Christians’ lives to be a living billboard to the power of Jesus in their lives.
- This is, to be blunt, one of the major reasons for the weak state of the American church today. We think that outreach events or slickly-produced worship services are going to attract people to Jesus. That is possible, but the original plan is that people would be attracted to Jesus by looking at the lives of His followers.
- We do, of course, need to be careful that we don’t do our works only for others to see. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 brings out that truth.
- There are two extremes we want to avoid. On the one hand, doing our religious work exclusively for people to see. On the other, acting like our “belief” requires no religious work, no fruit.
- Instead, we want to live for God, naturally producing fruit, and know that the difference in our lives will impact the lives of those around us.
3. When our lives produce a crop, we are ready for the revealing judgment to come.
- Luke 8:17.
- Now let’s move on to v. 17. What are we to make of this and how does it connect to v. 16?
- What are we told here? We are told that nothing will be hidden and everything will be brought out into the open. What’s that about? It’s about Final Judgment.
- At Final Judgment, many things that have been hidden will be brought out into the open.
- This is true for Christians and non-Christians. Both face a judgment to come. The Christian judgment is for rewards, but it is a judgment nonetheless.
- Let’s focus on Christians’ judgment, since we are talking about Christians’ lives. What are some examples of a problem with something hidden?
- Say, for example, a pastor has a sterling reputation publicly. Everyone would presume that his life is at the foot of the cross. Behind the scenes, though, he is verbally abusive toward his wife and kids. Maybe that never gets revealed in this life . . . but it will at Final Judgment for rewards. That pastor might have thought, “As long as I keep this out of the public eye, I’m ok.” He was wrong. Why? Because everything hidden will be disclosed.
- Another example. Maybe there is someone who leads a men’s group at his church. People think that he’s a great leader. But he secretly is addicted to porn. He is careful that no one finds out and feels that his “sin management” is a decent way to handle his problem. But he’s wrong because there is nothing that won’t be brought out into the open.
- With that in mind, let me state directly the point Jesus is making here.
- When we live with a passion to actually follow Jesus, we don’t accommodate our sins. We try to purge them as much as we can. That's wise for several reasons. One, sin is poisonous to our souls. Two, this helps us follow Jesus more closely. Third, and this is the one that v. 17 points us toward, is that it’s wise in light of the fact that everything we do behind closed doors is going to be brought into the light. So handle it quickly in light of that reality. It’s smart to handle your sin that way when you know that it’s all going to be revealed someday.
- So the point here is that when you live for Jesus you are not living a life of hypocrisy. You are handling your sin quickly and effectively. This leaves you in a much better position regarding Final Judgment, for several reasons. The one that's important here is that we don’t have a bunch of hidden sin awaiting revelation in Final Judgment.
Following Jesus is a smart and prudent way to be ready for Final Judgment.
- This is another consequence of producing a crop: we are ready for Final Judgment.
4. When our lives produce a crop, we live eager to hear God’s voice.
- Luke 8:18.
- This verse is initially a little more difficult to connect to the “crop” saying. Additionally, it’s a statement that sounds unfair and is therefore a challenge to some people to grasp.
- Let’s take all these in turn.
- First, it begins with “Therefore.” This ties what is being said here to what comes before, so we know that this is connected vv. 16-17. I’ll explain exactly how in a moment.
- Second, what does the statement itself mean?
- Let’s handle the second half first. What is he talking about? He is talking about fruit. This means that the one who is pursuing Christ and has some fruit will be given more fruit. In other words, they will continue to grow in fruitfulness as they grow in Christlikeness. God wants us to be fruitful and He is eager to see us grow into greater crops. The more we go in that direction, the more we will see expanding fruitfulness.
- On the other hand, the one who is not following Christ but is running after things of self or the world is not producing much of a crop at all. That will diminish as they continue in that direction.
- So the extent to which we are following Christ directly impacts our increasing or decreasing fruitfulness.
- That leads us back to the first half of the verse, warning us to pay attention to how we listen. What does that mean?
- It is speaking of the teaching of Christ. How do we listen to those words? Do we hear what He says, carefully parse whether we are living that way, consider how we can better incorporate that teaching into our life, and then actively obey?
- Or do we hear it and dismiss it? Or do we hear it and say it’s not practical? Or do we hear it and not take it seriously? Or do we not even really hear it at all?
- Jesus tells us to be careful how we listen. Are we listening with a view to obey?
- Once again looking at the “Therefore,” how does this truth connect to vv. 16-17?
- Verse 16 speaks of being a light and that light helping others. That doesn’t happen unless we are following Christ and seeing His fruitfulness in our lives. We need to be listening well so that we can see greater fruitfulness in order to be that light.
- Verse 17 speaks of nothing that is hidden remaining that way. We need to listen well and obey His teaching so that we are ready for Final Judgment. Doing that will push us away from hypocrisy and help us to live authentic lives.
- So all of this ties together: obedience to the teaching of Christ leads to abundant fruitfulness (v. 15), to being a light (v. 16a), to drawing others to Christ by the different nature of our lives (v. 16b), to get us ready for Final Judgment (v. 17), and to see ever increasing fruitfulness (v. 18).
- Let me comment just for a moment on all this going back to the point in your sermon outline.
- Many people don’t want to hear God’s voice. It derails their existing plans. It pushes them in directions they don’t want to go. It is not the path of least resistance.
- Or they presume that God hates them. Or is out to destroy them. Or just wants to judge them.
- What we are talking about here is a radically different approach to God’s voice than all those. It presumes that God wants what is best for our lives. It presumes that God wants to work through our lives. It presumes that God wants our lives to make a difference.
- Rather than running from God’s voice or ignoring it, it is something we want to joyfully embrace. It's a wonderful thing to have that kind of connection to your Maker.
A CLOSING THOUGHT: This is incredibly encouraging for anyone wanting to live a life of consequence.
- We’ve been talking about the consequences of obeying. I want to close by making a little play on words and not talk about those “consequences” but a life of “consequence.”
- I think most of us want to leave a mark in our time here. We want to live a life of consequence, impacting people.
Everything that we’ve talked about last week and tonight should be greatly encouraging to us in that direction. There are wonderful things that happen when we follow Jesus and those things lead us to fruitful, meaningful lives.
- If you want to live a life of consequence, I can think of no better path than following Jesus.
- That should lead us to redouble our efforts to follow Him. Are you fully and faithfully obeying Him? Are you giving Him second best? Are you set on cruise control, just doing what you’ve always done?
- Let’s eagerly embrace these opportunities that Jesus is pointing us to here.
