THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
POST-IT PADS AND SUPER GLUE
Hope Christian Church
Tamarac, Florida
August 3, 2003
Dr. David L. Haun
All of us know about, and must of us use post-it notes. It is the most famous 3-M product ever produced. Post-it-notes was first developed in 1970 by Dr. Spencer Silver. The problem: the glue was weaker than what 3-M had already. It stuck, but would easily peel off. For about nine years it lay on a shelf, until another employee, Art Fry, found that it was good for marking hymns in his choir hymnal. That accidental discovery began a major market in Post-it-notes, and changed one part of most of our lives.(1)
Super glue, on the other hand, began its journey during WW II. A Dr. Harry Coover was attempting to develop a clear plastic for gunsights. But the product stuck to everything it touched and wasn’t usable. Then, in 1951 Coover tried the product a second time in an attempt to find a "tougher, more heat-resistant acrylate polymer for jet canopies. Again, it stuck together anything it touched. In Viet Nam, MASH units used it for medical sutures. It still is used in this way in Europe. However, its medical formula was expensive, and Research was condjucted to find a less expensive glue. This resulted in a product unfitted for medical work, but perfect for gluing many items, including fingers if you’re careless. (2)
Today, we will examine three Scriptures from the Old Testament that may be spiritual glue for our lives.
Our sermon will cover many years of history, and several generations of family. To begin, let’s touch three generations. The history begins with Abraham, whom God selected to be the father of his people. The generation then moves through Abraham’s son Isaac to the third generation of Esau and Jacob. You recall the Bible story of how Esau gave up his rights of the first born for a bowl of soup, and lost his father’s blessing through Jacob’s trickery.
The history continues. In fear that Esau might kill him for the deception, Jacob flees to Canaan. One night on the way, Jacob has a dream, which includes a ladder stretching from earth to heaven. As a result of this vision, Jacob names the place "Bethel," builds an altar and pledges his faithfulness to God. (Genesis 28:10-22)
I.
Jacob’s situation and his family’s super glue decision
Now, years have pased. Jacob has fathered a family and has heard God’s call to return to the land of his father Isaac. The Bible descibes it:
Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem.
Genesis 35:1-4 New International Version)
Notice and remember these two actions taken in the Scripture. First, the people were urged by Jacob, and agreed to get rid of the foreign gods accumulated through the years. Secondly, these false gods were buried by Jacob under an oak tree at Schechem.
What we see here is that God always loves and calls for His children’s return. And we are always looking.
II.
The post-it faith of Israel and it’s failure
Additional years and generations pass. Israel has served Egypt in slavery. Moses has led them to the borders of Canaan, and Joshua has led them in a successful battle. Following the victory of Jericho, a simple skirmish lies ahead. Spys were sent to search out the little town of Ai.
3 Upon their return they told Joshua, "It’s a small city and it won’t take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it; there’s no point in all of us going there."
4 So approximately three thousand soldiers were sent - and they were soundly defeated. 5 About thirty-six of the Israelis were killed during the attack, and many others died while being chased by the men of Ai as far as the quarries. The Israeli army was paralyzed with fear at this turn of events. 6 Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing and lay prostrate before the Ark of the Lord until evening, with dust on their heads.
7 Joshua cried out to the Lord, "O Jehovah, why have you brought us over the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? Why weren’t we content with what we had? Why didn’t we stay on the other side? 8 O Lord, what am I to do now that Israel has fled from her enemies! 9 For when the Canaanites and the other nearby nations hear about it, they will surround us and attack us and wipe us out. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"
10 But the Lord said to Joshua, "Get up off your face! Israel has sinned and disobeyed my commandment and has taken loot when I said it was not to be taken; and they have not only taken it, they have lied about it and have hidden it among their belongings. 12 That is why the people of Israel are being defeated. That is why your men are running from their enemies-for they are cursed. I will not stay with you any longer unless you completely rid yourselves of this sin
Joshua 7:3-12 (THE LIVING BIBIE)
We can see how the the Sin that separates us from God and results in our defeat can seem so insignificiant.
You’ve heard the brief poem:
"For the lack of a nail, a shoe was lost.
For the lack of a shoe, a horse was lost.
For the lack of a horse, a rider was lost.
For the lack of a rider, a battle was lost.
For the lack of a batle, a war was lost.
For the lack of a war, a nation was lost.
And all was lost for the lack of a nail." (3)
When one follows God, one loses something valuable. Adam missed the knowledge of good and evil, and unable to accept the value, ate the fruit. Achan was denied the wealth he wanted; stole forbidden treasures, and lost both his innocence and his life.
16 So, early the next morning, Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was indicated. 17 Then he brought the clans of Judah, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of that clan were brought before the Lord and the family of Zabdi was indicated. 18 Zabdi’s family was brought man by man, and his grandson Achan was found to be the guilty one.
19 Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the God of Israel and make your confession. Tell me what you have done."
20 Achan replied, "I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. 21 For I saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, and some silver worth $200, and a bar of gold worth $500. I wanted them so much that I took them, and they are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest." Josh 7:16-21 (THE LIVING BIBLE)
What did Achan steal? Later in the Scripture, it is indicated that Soloman purchased a horse for about the same value of Silver, and David purchased the land for the altar in what became the temple mount for the value of the Gold.
So, in a sense, Achan stole enough to purchase an automobile and land for a home. What insignifcant items to obtain at the loss of one’s soul....
III.
The urge of Joshua for super glue living
More years have passed. We have arrived near the time of Joshua’s death. Much has changed in the land and the nation. For a final time, Joshua calls the nation together for God’s final urge. The book of Joshua descibes it in its last chapter:
24:1 Then Joshua summoned all the people of Israel to him at Shechem, along with their leaders-the elders, officers, and judges. So they came and presented themselves before God.
2 Then Joshua addressed them as follows: "The Lord God of Israel says, ’Your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived east of the Euphrates River; and they worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from that land across the river and led him into the land of Canaan and gave him many descendants through Isaac, his son.
...14 "So revere Jehovah and serve him in sincerity and truth. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Worship the Lord alone. 15 But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:1-15 (The Living Bible)
Wait a minute. Look up there at verse 14. "Put away the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River." Can you see what’s wrong with this picture?
Back in Genesis (we read it earlier today) the people buried their idols under that oak tree in Schechem. Now, they are told at Shechem - the same place - to get rid of the idols they had way back there in Genesis.
What happened? Let me guess what may have occurred.
It’s the days of Genesis. Jacob has called for faithfulness. The people have given him their idols, which he has buried beneath that oak tree at Schechem. Have you got that picture in your mind. The idols are buried. The people are crying, "Praise God! We’re faithful!"
Night comes and everyone goes to bed. The camp grows silent. All of a sudden, over in the back corner of the camp, a tent flap quietly opens, and a man tiptoes out. Carefully he moves through the camp to the oak tree. Silently he digs down and pulls out his idol. Hiding it in his bedclothes and filling the hole, he tiptoes back to his tent. All night, over and over, the scene replays, until all the idols are back home, and all the promises forgotten. You know what? Jacob probably never knew the buried idols were gone, and didn’t realize the sin didn’t disappear.
We all have to learn the lesson of consistant pure lives. It’s hard, but somehow God keeps calling us to stop digging up all those old sins we bury on Sunday morning and dig up Friday night. That’s the truth Joshua recognized - each one must finally choose.
IV.
The decision each of us face today
21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. Joshua 24:21-27 (NIV)
The day has arrived. Today, God calls us to "stick" ourselves in faithfulness to our heavenly vision. Let’s each one be so sure that the "glue" we use is super glue.
Let us pray.
FOOTNOTES
(1) www.3m.com/us/office/postit/learn
(2) www.urbanlegends.com/products/superglue.html
(3) Unknown
