Many in our country have been glued to the television to watch history as Americans bring home gold in swimming, gymnastics and many other sports. The competitors ready for the race when they hear a whistle blow. Then “on your mark” for the competitor’s to set themselves and summon their focus for the race to come. Finally GO! as a tone starts the race. And then gold!!!
In Luke 12:32 and following, Jesus strings together phrases, many of which have found their way onto our walls in cross-stitch, photos and paintings and onto our facebook pages and vehicle bumpers as well. “Have no fear little flock,” “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also,” and my personal favorite, “Jesus is coming…look busy!” (a paraphrase of vs. 36).
Jesus is preparing us for the race of a lifetime, a race filled with promise, focus and running! When we hear the words “fear not” that is bible-speak for God is about to do a new thing! And God is inviting God’s creations that would be us, to partner and do it in a unique way. God shares God’s heart and let us know that God has our back to be mentor, provider, encourager and champion.
God has made us ready for this race of a lifetime. Jesus tells us that God invites us rather than commands us with the promise that “it is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” It is this promise that frees us to accept or not and in accepting we will have everything we need to win the race and that gold medal. Because God gives we can give and care and serve with wild abandon.
A command, on the other hand, is coercive and invokes fear: do it or else. Fear is a liar and a cheat. It makes us do crazy stuff, limits our vision, clouds our thinking that there is no future and no hope.
With fear out of the way and love and hope backing us up, we can get set for the race. Where we put our treasure that where our heart ends up. What happens when you purchase a car? Suddenly everyone on the road has the same car! Because we have invested in that particular car (put our heart into it) then we see that car and only that car.
Giving our hearts away to the least, the lost, the lonely and the left behind transforms us. The homeless are now our homeless, the hungry are now our hungry. They are our treasure, our hearts. Where are our hearts for ministry? What are our passions?
It’s “GO-time!” Jesus tells us “be dressed for action and have our lamps lit.” Stay in your work clothes because this is not “jammie time.” The time for service is NOW. Ok, shameless plug number three for our congregation reading this fall, Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship by Rev. Michael W. Foss. “Call to Christ-like living, serving in and beyond the congregation” is the fourth mark. In the book of James we are told, “faith without works is dead.” Jesus never stopped giving. Neither should we. It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.”
I would be remiss if I didn’t unpack “the kingdom” and the “second coming.” When it comes to kingdoms we think of castles, crowns, thrones and streets paved with gold and place where you have to qualify in order to get in. That is NOT the kingdom of heaven. God’s kingdom is NOW, here on earth though not fully realized. We are to actively, deliberately, and intentionally create and hold space for the least, the last, the lonely and the left behind so that all can experience God’s love through us. We do that by recognizing, listening, advocating for those whom society has deemed less than.
As for the “Second Coming”, know that Jesus was, is and is to come. Jesus IS!! Jesus is NOW. Jesus is HERE! Quoting from Rev. Rolf Jacobson of Luther Seminary: “Any time that Paul or the Gospels talk about Jesus’ return, the motive is NOT to scare or try to freak you out into a certain kind of behavior. Rather it is a call to action because your life matters, your time here matters, and the work you do here matters. It is not a call to hang out on the top of the mountain and scan the horizon.
“Therefore, get busy, not to prove yourself worthy, but to participate in the work of the kingdom, the call to Christ like living, serving in and beyond the church [mark of discipleship] and live it out NOW. “
It is God’s pleasure to have us around not to shun, shame or condemn. God created us. God loves us. God LIKES us! God’s heart so much desires to be in relationship with us.
So have no fear little flock, God is loose in the world and God is doing new things! Ready, set…GO!