May 1, 2001

Submit!

A sermon by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma

Bill Wilson was a drunk. There were only two things he enjoyed: alcohol and atheism. Numerous times his drinking got him institutionalized and admitted to a detoxification program. Finally, he got so depressed and so desperate that this atheist cried out, "If there is a God, let him show himself! I'm ready to do anything-anything!" The words were barely out of his mouth when the light began to shine. The room was filled with a luminous presence, which he says enveloped and penetrated his very being. He felt purged and free. As the light faded away, he was left with the feeling of an abiding presence, an inner peace.

Bill's atheism was so strong that he struggled to dismiss the incident as an hallucination, but his physician assured him that such events do take place. And Christians who were regular visitors to the hospital helped him interpret his experience. His experience of spiritual transformation led to the founding of an organization which has transformed countless others. It is called Alcoholics Anonymous and it had its beginning right here Akron.

Bill Wilson's story is a contemporary version of the story we read in Acts, the story of a man named Saul. To steal a phrase from an action movie of a few years ago, Saul was the original terminator. He hated Christians. He started out with the killing of a Christian named Stephen, and he intended to exterminate every Christian he could get his hands on.

You would think God would have crushed him like a bug for the things he was doing to his followers, but he doesn't. True to his nature, God comes to him in Jesus. In the midst of an incredibly bright light Jesus asks him why he is persecuting him. Paul is blinded and this powerful persecutor of the church has to be led around like a helpless child. After three days he receives his healing at the hands of a man named Ananias, and he is told that he is going to be God's instrument to save countless others.

I think these two stories reveal to us one of the most important pieces of information we can ever learn. We learn who we are. We are people that God loves so much that he will not let go of us. Though we are sinful, we are his precious creation and he means to transform us. God means to make us into the people we are meant to be, and he will not let go of us until he has completed the job.

Well, these are two stories of people outside the church. But conversions often take place inside the church also. The last issue of Alpha News tells the story of a young adult named Gary. Since he was 15, Gary has been involved in heavy drinking and the destructive behavior that goes with it. Seeking to overcome his problem, he got married. He thought that a significant relationship would bring an end to drinking and drugs. He married a woman he describes as a strong believer in God. But eventually the emptiness returned. He found himself seeking out drugs and the people who could connect him with drugs.

Meanwhile, his wife expressed a desire to return to church, and he would attend with her. He says that he went along for the sake of the children as much as anything. It was there he heard about the Alpha course, and he went along at the urging of his wife, although he wondered what he was getting himself in for. It was there that this church-going agnostic heard for the very first time the invitation to commit his life to Jesus Christ. After the first session of Alpha his wife asked him why he was so hyper. Was he using drugs again? He denied it and then went out and did just what he said he was not going to do.

Shortly after he said that he felt an overwhelming hurt over what he had done. It was the lowest he ever felt in his life, and he started to cry. He says that was unusual because he is a pretty hard case. All of a sudden, he found himself having this conversation with God and asking for forgiveness. Suddenly, he felt this powerful embrace and the hurt inside him disappeared. It was like God was pulling all the pain out of his body. Immediately, he went and flushed all the drugs and alcohol down the toilet and resolved never to use drugs or alcohol again. Soon after he shared his story with his wife and pastor.

Since then, he says that he has this enveloping feeling of being loved. His Alpha group has become his support group. Because of his relationship to Jesus Christ, he feels more emotionally and physically fit than ever before.

I share this story with you because I think it is the case that we have more and more people in our pews who are like Gary. They come to church for the sake of their spouse or the sake of their children, but they have never been invited to make a commitment to Christ. I also share it because I think we are all in need of on-going conversion. Christ is committed to us. He is relentless in his love, but we are often lukewarm in our love towards him.

I think our story is reflected in another character in Saul's conversion story. This man's name is Ananias, and his significance is often overlooked. Saul would never have become what he was if Ananias hadn't been willing to take a radical leap of faith and do what Jesus asked. Jesus invites Ananias to be his instrument for the transformation of Saul, and when Ananias lays his hands on Saul he is healed and transformed. But you remember from the story that Ananias is not real eager to do this. He feels that he needs to remind Jesus of who this Saul is. Ananias responds to Jesus, "Let me get this straight. You want me to visit this terminator from Jerusalem and get close enough to touch him?" And Jesus reiterates, "Yes, he is going to be my instrument for the conversion and healing of many."

So, we have already heard who we are: We are people who are incredibly loved and Jesus is relentless in his love. And what do people do who are relentlessly loved? What is our purpose? Our purpose is to share God's transforming love with others. Unfortunately, we are too often like Ananias. We say, "who me?" Rather than committing ourselves, we can think of numerous reasons for holding back.

But there is no choice here. There is to be no excuse making. God is not satisfied with just a portion of our lives. God wants our total commitment, and he wants to see that commitment reflected in everything that we do.

How is it with our lives this morning? Am I one who has made that initial commitment to Christ that is so critical? Or am I like Gary in our story? I am here simply for the sake of someone else, and I haven't opened my life to the love and forgiveness of Jesus. I don't like where I am at, but I don't know what to do.

Or have I made that initial commitment, but I am lukewarm in my faith. I am not growing in my commitment. I am not taking advantage of the opportunities for growth that Jesus and his church offers. I hear about the Alpha course, but I am too busy with other things. I hear about Via de Cristo and its spiritual renewal weekends, but I can't surrender three days out of my life for the sake of Jesus. I make no room for Jesus so that he can enter my life and help me grow. I don't believe that the things Jesus offers are the best for me.

But the truth is that real joy is only found in submitting to Jesus and real joy will never be ours as long as we refuse to submit.

copyright 2001 by Rev. Dr. John K. Luoma

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