Sermon prepared for
by Gregory S. Kaurin, associate pastor
contemporary services,
Text: Psalms 90:1-5
Sermon:
Why Christians Can Deal with Change
Better’n Anybody Else
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You
need to know, when you look at this sermon title, that you don’t have to like change, especially if it’s an
upsetting or a sad change. My title and
message is not “Why Christians Like Change.”
It’s why we can deal with it.
Some
people say they do like change. I kind
of like plot twists and new stuff now and then—but honestly, I like it within a
certain context, or sameness. I kind of
like knowing what to expect.
We
depend on some sameness. Imagine that
you get into the car to go somewhere, but all the roads and directions change every
time, and all the rules for driving change…how long would we be driving? I’m exaggerating, but change, whether it’s
good or bad is stressful. And a lot of change
is too hard for one person to handle…alone.
God doesn’t let us get more than we can handle…with help. We can handle it with some help. But we don’t have to like it.
Life
throws some curves at you, and you don’t have to smile when something comes
along and hits you in the stomach, or takes away someone you love. Cry when it’s sad, laugh if it’s funny,
scream if it’s scary, or shout when you’re mad.
In fact, I believe we are called to be in the moment with our minds and
hearts and our emotions.
There’s
a story Jesus tells about people when they get to heaven, and the Son of God
thanks them for the food, water and clothing.
The people ask, “Lord when did we give you a drink, or food, or
clothing?”
He
answers, “Truly whenever you did it for someone else in need, in my name, you
did for me.”
We
could extend it out—imagine him saying, “I was sad, and you gave me a hug. I went away and your heart missed me. I was in a rut, and you told me a funny
joke. I was excited, giddy, talkative,
and you joined in with me. Whenever you
did it for someone in need, you did it for me.”
God
gave us emotions for a reason…use them to express your feelings, your love,
your loss, fears—most of all, your love.
We need that to make it through. We
need each other. This is what God gave
us to help us through the curves and changes: each other. And it’s why we know that others need us,
outside the church. They need what you
get here: a closer relationship with God, through each other.
So,
I hope I’ve made my point; you don’t have to enjoy change. But you can deal with it, maybe better than
most anybody else, because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. You have seen the mountain in your life.
It’s
like
I
have seen the mountain, and I have felt Christ’s presence. I have looked back and seen how he’s worked in
my life even when I didn’t know it at the time, and I’ve seen him in other people’s
lives, and your lives. I’ve seen this
enough to believe that he’s here and working now. Even if we can’t see where he’s taking us—I’m
betting it’ll be okay. Sometimes, I’m
sure.
Bishop
Rob Hofstad is the Lutheran ELCA bishop in southwestern
We
say we’re in God’s hands, that he will remain faithful, that he will continue
to provide us with what we need. We
belong to God, and he is forever. We are
in the best hands, and he won’t drop us.
“Nothing in all creation,” we read in the Bible, “can separate us from
the love of God in Jesus Christ.” Do we
believe the words we say, or not?
I
do. Most of the time, I do. I’ve seen the
Peace
is not something that glazes over our eyes and plasters some fakey smile on our
faces, as if we’re hearing Barney the Purple Dinosaur singing over and over in
our heads, “I love you. You love
me. We’re a happy family…” It’s more real than that. It’s more permanent than feelings or even what
some call their chi. Christians don’t
need furniture arranged in there houses in the fung shue practice to achieve
peace.
Peace
is not an emotion, or feeling, or a carefully balanced arrangement. It simply knows that God is, and that he is
for you. Peace is trusting God’s
faithfulness to us, to you.
Peace
lets us enjoy the people that come into our lives, and it helps us let go and
heal when we have to, because we know the ultimate is secure. We will see them again. Our relationships with loved ones may get
interrupted, but they last forever.
Even
hardships, tragedies, threats—they do not have a hold on the things that are
most important. —Our relationship with
God through Jesus Christ, it’s for eternity.
We have something in common with God.
Because of our salvation, and his claim on us, we’ve got eternity to
work with, too. …Even if this next moment of change kills me, I have eternity
to recover.
And
God is leading us. We have to make
decisions, of course. We could even make
a few bad ones. And yet his forgiveness
will keep pulling life out from death; we will learn and grow.
And
to touch it all off…I think God has given us a healthy dose of curiosity. I want to see what’s going to happen, I’m
curious about where he’s leading us, aren’t you? I want to see it. I hate to let go of yesterday and today—but
knowing how much God has given me, both yesterday and today, I bet he’s got
even more coming? Don’t you think
so?
Can
we really trust God to do the most loving thing, or not? Do we really believe the words we say? Do we really mean and trust words like
forgiveness, faith, new life and forever?
Do
we mean it? God does.
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