The sermons of Rev. Dr. John Luoma and Rev. Laurel Bobb enrich our worship life with clear explanations, penetrating insights and personal challenges.
"Fear Factor"
August 11, 2002
Sermon by Rev. Laurel Bobb
I
could see today’s lessons as being a great script for the T.V. show "Fear
Factor." I imagine that most of you know what that show involves, but for
those of you who don’t I’ll tell you. A group of contestants are given
certain really scary, often gross tasks to perform. If they accomplish
them, they move on to the next round. If they don’t, they go home with
nothing, usually hanging their heads for their failure. The final winner
is given the grand prize of $50,000.
In our Bible stories for today Elijah is being pursued by Ahab and Jezebel’s hordes and Peter invites the challenge to walk on water. If you were in their shoes, would you be up to the challenges, or would you go home a loser?
Let’s look at how our contestants did. Well, Elijah ran away. I guess he deserves to go home without the prize, and Peter, though he started strong, couldn’t finish. He, too, deserves to go home with nothing. Fear really was a factor for them.
Now we come to you and me. What situations have us shaking in our boots? What might cause us to wonder if God really can handle our problems? Can we trust God to take care of us despite our fears? I must admit that on more than one occasion I have not fully trusted God to handle whatever difficulty I was facing at that very moment. I’d bet that the same is true for you, so I guess we deserve to go away empty-handed as well.
But God’s ways are not Hollywood’s, nor are they ours; let’s look at what actually happened to our biblical characters. God came seeking Elijah. He asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Now God did not ask the question because God needed information. He already knew, but he wanted Elijah to admit what he was doing. God gave him instructions, then Elijah encountered things that were much more frightening than Ahab and Jezebel. There was a wind strong enough to split the mountains, followed by an earthquake, but the most potentially dangerous thing was an encounter with the living God. People just didn’t meet God face to face and expect to live. Elijah covered his face with his coat and God spoke to him in person. God asked the same question yet again, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
This time Elijah gave the same reply, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Now that sounds like Elijah had a pretty good reason to flee. How many of you would run in a situation like that? Raise your hands. I probably would, too.
But God had something different in mind. God called on Elijah to step out in faith. The Lord told him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place." Just because he ran away didn’t mean God still didn’t fully intend to use him according to his divine plan.
Now let’s turn to Peter. Peter was the vocal one of the 12 disciples. He often put into words what the others were thinking, but in this case we don’t know if that is what he was doing, or if he was the only one who didn’t believe it was Jesus walking on the water. Apparently all 12 were terrified at first, so what did Jesus say to them? "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Perhaps the other 11 listened and became calm; they were content to sit in the boat and not be afraid just as Jesus had directed, but not Peter. This is what he says, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." What I want to know is what would have happened if it really were a ghost and the ghost told him to come--not that there are such things as ghosts. If there actually were ghosts, Peter’s goose would have been cooked. Perhaps Peter really wanted what Jesus had; he wanted to be in control of nature. Of course Peter was not in control of nature--Jesus was. Peter was not in control of anything at that moment, not even himself. Peter lost sight of who was in control and began to sink; he could have, maybe even should have drowned according to human thought.
But God had something different in mind. Jesus worked with Peter where he was and commanded him to come. At this point Peter displayed his faith--for a little while. When he felt the wind whipping around him, he forgot that evidently Jesus was in command of nature, so he let his fears overtake him. Peter began to sink. That should have been the end of him. It wouldn’t even have caused much of a stir in the community, because probably a good number of sailors were lost at sea. (The Sea of Galilee was especially known for its violent storms that could come up at a moment’s warning). Jesus, however, was not about to let that happen. Peter cried out, and Jesus saved him. Then Jesus asked him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Now we come to us. What was the situation that had you doubting God? Did God bring you through it? Did God ask you what you were doing, or why you were doubting? I remember a time I was very sick and in the hospital. At first I thought God would heal me miraculously, but he didn’t. In fact I was convinced part of the reason I was there was because I had been working too hard for God. To top it all off I thought everyone had forgotten about me. Here I had been faithful in visiting all my parishioners, tending to their needs, and who was there to visit me? Even my family was occupied with other things and couldn’t come very often. I began to understand the saint’s statement that it’s no wonder God has so few friends, if this is how he treats them.
But God had something different in mind. I began to reflect. If I died, I’d be with God and that was good, and if I lived that meant I was there for a purpose. God also showed me I was not alone. The bishop came, and the chaplain came, and my sister’s family came from out of town. I realized that God had not forgotten me, and that God had put me in that hospital so I could be a witness for him. I began to get with God’s program. I told God I wanted to bring him glory in that situation. Today I consider that a very blessed time in my life, for I was able to witness to people with whom I would otherwise have no contact--doctors, nurses, and other patients. What about you? What plans did God have for you?
Let’s get back to our biblical characters. Not only did God have plans for them, he showed them greater grace than they deserved. Elijah did go on to do all those things that God directed him to do. At the end of his earthly life God took him bodily to heaven. That’s grace. What about Peter? He went on to state the great confession of the Church--that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; Jesus gave him a new name and said that on his statement the Church would be built. What an honor! That’s grace.
What about us? Jesus allowed me to participate in telling others the Good News and he still has work for me to do. That’s grace. Jesus has work for you as well. He invites you to participate in the ministry of the Body of Christ here at St. Stephen. Many of you are doing just that, and we thank you today for your service in Christ’s Church. But some of you are holding back. Are you afraid? Just what is your fear factor?
Let me assure you; we don’t get what we deserve. What we deserve is eternal damnation, but what we are given is new life and purpose. Are you still afraid? God is more than able to calm your fears. God has a wonderful plan for your life and ministry. You get the grand prize of eternal life with him--a mansion specifically designed for you, your every need met, an after- life-time of partying with God. What more could you want? All you have to do is tell God you want to be a part of his plan, ask what that plan is, and be willing to follow. He will give you the grace to complete any task that he assigns. He has the power of the universe at his disposal. He conquered death for you and me.
Do you think that the God who would not spare his own Son for the love of you would put you in a situation he didn’t think was best for you, or you couldn’t handle? Jesus was raised and ascended so that you would have the Holy Spirit’s power available to you. Do you think the God who was willing to suffer in your place wouldn’t care about your well-being? Of course God cares for you. If you were the only sinner in the world, Jesus still would have gone to the cross for you.
Today he bids you come and follow. Step out in faith. God rewards even baby steps. Give him your life. Give him your service. On his behalf, and on behalf of everyone who will come to Christ or grow in him, I thank you.
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