Sermon: Becoming an Eternal Example
Scripture: Matthew 21: 1-11
Good morning. This is a day the Lord hath made, let us be glad and rejoice in it…Amen?…Amen.
Well, what have you been thinking about this week? I’m sure we all have had to deal with trying to make our incomes stretch to meet the rising cost of fuel. And, I’m sure that each of us has had to deal with various problems that have come up each day…problems with broken machinery…problems with kids…problems with our health…concerns about taxes. Each day seems to bring us something to think about and demand our time and energy.
But, I am guessing, you probably didn’t give too much thought about what kind of an example you were…what kind of an example you were for others…what kind of an example you were for your church…what kind of an example you were for God and His Son, Jesus Christ. And, I’m betting, you probably didn’t give much thought to how the example of others has influenced you and your thinking either.
Well, I would like to start this morning by telling you two completely different stories. They show how two men became examples.
Story number 1…
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie’s skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn’t give his son; he couldn’t pass on a good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer; at the greatest price he would ever pay.
Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:
The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop,
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time.
For the clock may soon be still.
Story number 2…
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold, a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding their way toward the American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn’t reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber’s blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy’s first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His hometown would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So the next time you find yourself at O’Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch’s memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It’s located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO, WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O’Hare was Easy Eddie’s son.
Becoming an example…sometimes we do it without thinking; an example for bad or for good. But as a Christian, we should become examples because we are thinking. Becoming an example for Christ, through our Christ-likeness should be a conscious choice that we make upon accepting Christ into our hearts.
Jesus calls us to think…He came 2000 years ago asking the people of that time to think and accept what he was telling them…The Truth. He was asking them to think and act accordingly…to pray and to study the scriptures
He has asked us to ‘love, not hate’…’give, not take’…’help, not hinder’; Ideas that flew in the face of the thinking of that time. You see, people at the time of Jesus, didn’t understand that life could be eternal. They believed that all there could be was this life, from birth to death. At death, you entered ‘Sheol’…a dark and mysterious place of non-existence where you waited for resurrection and judgment. And so, men lived for themselves, not for others.
I’ve heard it said that most people will have three occasions that will bring them close to the Lord during their lives…when they’re hatched…when they’re matched…when they’re dispatched. This isn’t much time to catch on fire with commitment to the Lord…it’s not much time to learn how to become an eternal example.
The indifference and incomprehension of man to consider his own heart and soul was a main concern for Jesus while he was here with us. Man’s lack of regard to even contemplate his own eternal future reveals itself. We see it today in men who grasp for all that this life offers. These men exemplify for others only how to get ahead in this world. They become poor examples of living life for any eternal existence…poor examples of how to live life eternally.
Some people are deeply disturbed when they see evil people living without a care. Does a bad life always make you unhappy? The life of the wicked sometimes looks pretty enviable. Only in the light of eternity is godly living always more rewarding
That’s what Jesus tried to tell us…when He said in:
John 16: 33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
The Apostle Paul understood…He told us:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (Rom 2:7-8)
I titled my sermon today, “Becoming an Eternal Example”. And as I was thinking about this, it occurred to me that each one of us is like a pebble thrown into a pond of still water. The ripples from the pebble spread out to affect the whole pond and to eventually reach the edge of the water…our lives do the same thing. The affect of our lives over time spread out and affect others and eventually, I believe, reach an eternal destination.
My Dad used to say to me, “Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open and you might learn something.” He was right. There is truth in the old adage, “Seeing is Believing”, because we humans are so visually oriented. We are strongly influenced by the examples of what we see…sometimes to the point of then trying to imitate what we see.
The Reebok shoe company had to cancel one of their ads on television because teenagers were, after seeing the ad, trying to imitate it. The ad showed an athlete jumping over an oncoming car. Because some teenagers in Kentucky were trying to actually do the computer-generated stunt for real, one teenager ended up with a broken leg and ankle.
We are wired for sight…each one of our eyes has over one million cells, constantly processing visual input and sending signals to the brain. The majority of our connection to this world is visual. And because of this we look at the examples around us and then determine how we are to act.
Especially in the formative years of ones life, learning from the examples that are present is a very strong influence. Mother and child…child and sibling…teenager and his peers…adult and society. All through our lives we are constantly seeing examples that touch us…that touch those around us. I’ve read that an individual in today’s world will receive more information in one day than our grandparents received in one year.
The constant bombardment of these influences demand that we be anchored…it demands that we know what is true and what is false…it demands that we think. We must be able to tell the difference between what is true and what is false.
Today begins our celebration of Holy Week…the remembrance of the last week of Jesus’ life. As we look this week at the last week in Jesus life…Holy Week…we can see the essence of what Jesus came for…why God became human…why Jesus was 100% human and 100% Deity. We must realize this week that God gave us His only Son, so that we would know, by Jesus example, what was and is the Truth, now and forever.
During the last week of Jesus life, and knowing that his impending death was at hand, he tried to reinforce and review all that he had been teaching in the last three years of his ministry. What did he say and do for his disciples…what kind of examples did he give them, so they would be able to discern truth from lies and false living.
Let’s look at a few of these vital examples that Jesus gave to his Disciples during this last week of his ministry:
Humility –
The first step to victory over this world is humility. Humility is a personal quality of being free from arrogance and pride and having an accurate estimate of one’s own worth.
Obedience –
Our Lord asks us over and over again, to follow Him…to be obedient. Obedience comes from a heart that trusts God. Obedience secures God’s blessing for the true believer.
Fulfillment –
The one thing that Jesus told his Disciples was that he would fulfill his promises…his promise to be with them always…his promise to send the Comforter…his promise to come back for them and take them to the place he had prepared for them.
Destiny –
Throughout this last week of Jesus life and ministry, He was showing us ‘The Way’…the Christian’s destiny. He exemplified how to…Stay faithful…stand firm…continually pray and abide in the Lord.
This next week, as you think about how you might become an eternal example, think about Jesus, the Messiah…Jesus, the Teacher…Jesus, the Comforter…Jesus, Our crucified King! Think about how He has become an eternal example!
I want to finish this morning by reading a parable Christ told in His last week. Sit and meditate on what Christ is saying to you today.
Matt 25:31-46.
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Jesus is telling us today, that it does matter what kind of examples we are…it does matter what we do and what we say…it does matter that we keep our hearts pure…that we love and not hate…that we give and not take…that we help and not hinder.
Jesus says that we matter…we matter eternally!
Pray…Read the Word of God…Abide in Him…Abide in Him today…and forever! Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 21: 1-11
211As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
`See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ "
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
