Roots, Ripples and Reference Points
Lessons from the Lake Part III
TCF Sermon
August 13, 2006
Have you ever run a race? Have you ever been in a swimming race? Have you ever played basketball, football or tennis, or baseball or soccer? What’s one thing that helped you know you were going where you were supposed to, when you run or swim? How did you know you’d hit a home run in baseball? How did you know you were done running the race? How did you know you were on the field of play, or the court, or where you were on the field or court?
In a running race, you were on a track of some sort, with clear boundaries, or if it was a cross-country race, there was a trail, or a road marked appropriately, maybe by flags. If you were swimming, the lanes were marked, and maybe separated by lane dividers.
On the basketball court, the sidelines, half court and baselines are marked. On a football field, every five yards is marked, as is the goal line, and the sidelines. On a tennis court, you have the net at center court and the backlines.
All these things are reference points. They all help us to know how we’re doing in some way. Whether we’re still on the field of play, whether we’re going straight, or staying on course, what kind of progress we’re making. The goal line, for example, let’s us know we’ve scored. The basketball baseline lets us know we’re out of bounds. The backline in tennis lets us know if our shot is in or out.
It’s funny how when you begin to think about something, you begin to see that something in many places. If you buy a certain kind of car, you all of a sudden begin to notice that make of car everywhere.
I began thinking about reference points as I was in the midst of preparing part one of this three part message, and I began to see reference points all around me. We don’t usually think of them because they’re so routine.
You saw reference points on the way to church this morning… you drove, didn’t you? What about the dividing lines on the road? They’re important reference points, to keep us traveling in our lane. We also get a sense of how fast we’re going by how fast the lines pass us. Of course, in driving, we also need the mechanical, or electronic reference point of the speedometer to tell us how fast we’re really going.
The first part of this three part message was on roots, way back on July 9. I was at Beaver Lake in Arkansas on 4th of July weekend, the weekend before I preached part one of this message.
One of the things I love to do in the summer when we visit my in-laws’ lake house, is swim laps. I do that four or five times a week when I’m home, but I do it at the club where I workout. When I’m at the lake it’s a lot more enjoyable – look at the picture and you can see why.
I’m usually out fairly early, before any boats or jet skis are on the lake, and the water is often smooth as glass, and it’s very quiet.
I typically swim from the dock straight out, oh, maybe about 75 yards, and then back. That’s a lap.
Now, in the pool at the club, a lap’s easy to gauge. I swim from one end to the other and back. It’s also easy to stay in my lane, because the lanes are marked with lines on the bottom of the pool, and even if I wasn’t looking down through my goggles at the lines, I can see the side of the pool and swim straight, by observing how far I am from the side.
But in the lake, that all changes, as the reference points aren’t as ready and available. In the lake, I can only guess how far I’m going by using a reference point. I watch the little peninsula just a short ways from the boat dock. I guess how fast I’m swimming. I can estimate how straight I’m swimming. That’s all because of reference points.
And since, strange as it may seem, the Lord often directs my sermon themes with sermon titles, it seemed appropriate, since I had these thoughts at the lake that 4th of July weekend, and since it was another “R” word, and I’d already planned two parts to these lessons from the lake for me to make this part three of lessons from the lake.
So, here it is, part 3 of Roots, Ripples and Reference Points, Lessons from the Lake.
Several passages of scripture came to mind as I thought about reference points. Of course, that phrase isn’t in scripture, but as with the message on ripples, we find that this is a theme that’s found often in the Word of God, if you consider the meaning of a reference point, and look for words that convey that idea.
The first passage of scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews 12:1-3.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Four things make me think of reference points in this passage. First, there’s the athletics metaphor, used often in scripture. There’s this race we’re all in as followers of Christ, and the fact that any race requires reference points. This is a race that requires perseverance, that requires us to throw off everything that hinders us, and to throw off sin. This race is marked out for us. That means there are reference points, to tell us how we’re doing, and whether or not we’re advancing in this race.
Here’s one comparison the writer of Hebrews uses that illustrates the idea of reference points:
Just as a runner concentrates on the reference point of the finish line, we should concentrate on Jesus, the goal and objective of our faith. That brings us to the second reference point. The key phrase here is in verse 2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.”
Why? Because Jesus is our reference point. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, remembering that He endured the cross, and that he did it for the joy set before Him, remembering that he scorned the shame of the cross, remembering these things, helps us as a reference point to how we’re doing.
Are we enduring? Do we scorn the shame of the cross? Or are we not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus is our example. He sets the standard for us. He’s our reference point when it comes to running this race. He’s our reference point when it comes to endurance.
Third, Jesus is both the author and the perfecter of our faith. That means He’s the beginning of our faith, the author, and the end of our faith, that is, our faith is completed in Him. He’s the starting line of the race, and the end, or finish line of the race. What’s more, He’s also the supreme witness, the One who has already run the race, and has overcome. He’s our example, and the One who can tell us how it’s done.
Isn’t that a good reference point for us? Think of those who’ve done something we aspire to…aren’t they reference points for us – an encouragement, a goal to seek? Jesus is the ultimate in this regard.
Finally, there’s the admonition in verse 3 to “consider Him.” To consider Jesus. To think about His endurance, the opposition He endured from sinful men. That’s our reference point. When we’re tempted to grow weary in this race of the Christian life we run, when we’re tempted to lose heart, we fix our eyes on Jesus. We consider His life, His example. That reference point tells us how we’re doing. It’s a comparison. Jesus our reference point encourages us, motivates us, tells us we’re moving forward in the race, or maybe convicts us that we need to do better.
Reference points can be corrective, right? If you’re running with a football, and you near the sideline, you sure don’t want to run out of bounds if you can help it, unless of course, time’s running out and you need to stop the clock. Either way, you correct your course, to keep from running out of bounds, or to purposely run out of bounds.
If you’re swimming in a pool and you’re bumping into the lane divider, or worse yet, bumping the person in the lane next to you, or looking down at the line at the bottom of the pool and note you’re drifting, you correct your stroke and you straighten up your path.
Now, when I’m at the lake, this is more of a challenge. In the lake, reference points are tougher. When I swim on my back, which I do some of the time, I can either look up or look back. Looking back isn’t enough of a reference point on the half-lap back to the dock because though I can see the other side of the lake, it’s too far away to give me any real help in determining whether or not I’m moving, or how far, or how fast, or how straight.
Looking straight up into the sky is harder still. It seems I’m not moving at all. I need the reference points for two reasons: one – to tell me I’m moving. Now, of course I know I’m moving,
but there’s something psychological about swimming on my back, looking straight up and having this strange sensation that I’m not moving, even though I know that I am. It’s kind of neat for several seconds, an interesting sensation. But I soon find myself wanting to look at something closer to get a reference point to tell me I’m moving. It’s especially difficult when I see buzzards circling over me, because if they think I’m not moving, I’m in trouble.
But that’s another story.
The other reason I need a reference point is to tell me how straight I’m going. My goal, at least on the second part of a lap, is to swim back to the dock. If I don’t swim straight, I’ll end up far away from my destination, maybe halfway down the shoreline. So I usually peek towards my destination and make course corrections, so that I end up where I want to be. Jesus tells us that small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life. That says to me that without a reference point, we’re unable to find, let alone enter, that small gate, or walk that narrow road.
So, think about the spiritual applications of this. We can’t know that we’re traveling in a straight path, on that narrow road, without the Word of God, without fixing our eyes on Jesus. We need that reference point, otherwise we’re just guessing. We can’t even know that we’re moving forward without these spiritual reference points. Often we have to take a look at these reference points, we have to fix our eyes on Jesus, to move forward, and to move straight.
Without these points of reference, without something to compare our lives to, we don’t know what kind of progress we’re making.
Life Application Notes says:
The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep him in sight.
A dictionary definition of reference points gives us more to think about.
reference point - an indicator that orients you generally;
It helps point you in the right direction. A search of a thesaurus for the phrase reference point yields more interesting things to think about.
bench mark benchmark - a surveyor’s mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point
landmark - a mark showing the boundary of a piece of land
criterion, standard, touchstone, measure - a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated; "they set the measure for all subsequent work"
target, mark - a reference point to shoot at; "his arrow hit the mark"
indicator - a signal for attracting attention
buoy - bright-colored; a float attached by rope to the seabed to mark channels in a harbor or underwater hazards
These are all other words and phrases that express the same basic idea. The touchstone is also an interesting thing to look at in relation to this idea of reference points. Metaphorically, a touchstone is defined as a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated;
Literally, a touchstone is a small tablet of dark stone such as fieldstone, or slate used for probing of precious metal alloys. It has a finely grained surface on which soft metals leave a visible trace. By rubbing the metal on a touchstone a small amount of metal would be ground off onto the stone, and form a colored stripe. This is typically compared to a stripe ground from an alloy of known high-quality composition next to the sample (this is called "priming" the stone).
So then, by extension, the metaphorical use of
touchstone means any physical or intellectual measure by which the validity or otherwise of a concept can be tested. So, to use this analogy, Jesus is our touchstone. When we rub up against His Word, His example, His standards, His benchmark, we leave a visible trace. From this, He, and we, can tell how pure we are…how well we’re doing in the things of God.
Thinking of reference points as touchstones gives new meaning to the idea of our faith being like gold or precious silver.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NASB77) 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The touchstone is a reference point that tests our faith, and provides us with opportunities throughout our lives to make those course corrections we talked about. But the reality is that unless we rub up against the touchstone, we don’t leave a mark to be compared to anything, and we never know how we’re doing.
That’s why we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. That’s why we need to, as the writer of Hebrews says, “consider Him.” Looking to Jesus, comparing ourselves to Him, is one of the ways scripture reveals the idea of points of reference.
Let’s take a quick survey of this idea of reference points in scripture – this is a small sample of dozens of verses I found, but I believe it will help us flesh out this idea a little more. Of course, the ultimate reference point is God, and scripture often compares God with anything and everything else.
Our great God is the standard for everything.
Psalms 86:8 (NIV) 8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
Psalms 89:6 (NIV) 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
Leviticus 11:45 (NIV) 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
God’s wisdom is the ultimate standard for all wisdom, too.
Proverbs 3:15 (NIV) 15 She (wisdom) is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Standards of behavior in scripture are reference points. We also see in scripture phrases like “just as,” comparing one set of circumstances to another, or sometimes we see the words “just as,” followed closely by “so also.”
For example, God gives us a reference point for forgiveness in these passages:
Ephesians 4:32 (NASB77) 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you
Colossians 3:12-13 (NASB77) 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
We also see the phrase “how much more,” a statement that’s clearly providing a reference point to help us understand God’s love and care for us.
Matthew 7:11 (NASB77) 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Luke 12:24 (NASB77) 24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!
Hebrews 9:14 (NASB77) 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The standard for mercy is also set as a reference point in scripture:
Luke 6:36 (NIV) 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
So is the standard for love.
1 John 4:11 (NIV) 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
What we can expect in this life, as followers of Christ, is laid out for us as a reference point, again with Jesus as our model:
John 15:18-21 (NIV) 18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ’No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
Romans 15:1-4 (NIV) 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
So, there’s much scripture that makes it clear that God the Father, and the Word made flesh, God the Son, Jesus Christ, are the primary reference points we should look to. But it’s also clear that people can be reference points, too. This can be good or bad. The very idea that people can be reference points is implicit in statements like:
“He’s someone I really look up to.”
“Compared to him, I’m not a very good preacher.”
“I want to be just like him.”
Or do you remember the ad campaign using Michael Jordan, and the campaign catchphrase, “I want to be like Mike.”
Or how about the reverse - negative reference points.
“I never want to be like so and so.”
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to imitate him in 1 Corinthians 4:16. Now, the challenge for us with that passage is that Paul was saying that he and the other apostles were hungry and thirsty and brutally treated and homeless. He said they were the scum of the earth and the refuse of the world. That’s not usually something we think of imitating. But he ended that by urging the Corinthians to imitate him.
There’s a place for imitating Godly believers.
Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 (NIV) 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
So we see here how Paul and his fellow travelers set an example, or became a godly point of reference for the Thessalonians, and as a result, the Thessalonians became a model, or point of reference, for believers elsewhere.
Of course, none of us can claim we have it all together, but there may be some people we can use as a reference point, in a good way, for specific character traits.
So, I can say I aspire to be like Bruce Clutter, who just exudes integrity in every area of his life. I’d like to be like Karl Eason or Dave or Debbie Mason, when it comes to having a servant’s heart. I’d like to be like Debbie Manchester, with the sweetness and gentleness of spirit she exhibits. I could name many other people here this morning, and I’d better stop for fear of leaving someone out and hurting someone’s feelings. But it’s true.
There are things about many of you, including many I didn’t mention, that I can use as a reference point in my growth as a Christ-follower, to tell me how I’m doing, whether I’m moving straight, or making progress.
Unfortunately, we have to recognize that because reference points are all around us, in things and in people, we have to make choices. The reality is, we can ignore Godly reference points in people and things, and make poor choices, in where, and in whom we find our standards.
If you choose Paris Hilton as a reference point, you might think you’re doing pretty well in spiritual things, and not so good in terms of wealth. She might be a good reference point to see how wealthy you are in material things, but she would be a poor reference point in seeing how wealthy you are in spiritual things.
There’s truth to the old adage that we live up to the standards of those around us. If our standards are low, we aim low, and we get what we aim for. As a believer, if you choose reference points poorly, you’re in danger of not moving, or moving in a crooked path, or going the wrong direction altogether.
Back to my original reference point, for this sermon on reference points, that is - swimming laps at the lake. One of the reasons swimming at the lake is more of a challenge is that I do have reference points, but they’re farther away. Rather than the line at the bottom of the pool, or the side of the pool, I have to use a peninsula a hundred yards away, or the shoreline on the other side of the lake, to tell whether or not I’m swimming a straight line.
If we come away with anything this morning, it’s that we need to choose our points of reference wisely, and keep good reference points close to us.
Psalms 119:105 (NIV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Isn’t it interesting that the reference points in this verse are close. My feet. My path. Why is God’s Word not a lamp to our horizon, and a light for the highway ten miles down the road?
It’s because this is how we live our lives as followers of Jesus, step by step, on the path, towards the sure and certain hope of the coming of our Savior.
So, Jesus, the Living Word, is a lamp to our feet, and a light for our paths. And since, as our primary text this morning tells us, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, we also must keep Him close.
It’s hard for the Lord to be the reference point in our lives when we don’t keep Him close. If we keep Him distant, other reference points, including those which may not be good reference points, can cloud or block our vision of Him, making it difficult for us to see Jesus as our reference point, and making it difficult for Him to light our path…making it difficult for Him too provide us the reference points we need to enter the small gate, to navigate the narrow road.
This morning, let’s determine to fix our eyes on Jesus, to consider Him, to look to Him, Jesus, our standard, our model, our benchmark, our touchstone, our reference point.
