Shock and Awe

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs November 18, 2007.

I remember the first time I went to Devaney Sports Center. Now I had seen it on TV, I knew what it looked like, yet the size of the Building didn't really sink in until I went there for the State Wrestling tournament. Standing on the floor, looking up at that massive building, I was in a bit of a state of shock. Same way with Memorial Stadium—there is something to be said about the shock of seeing it for the first time.

Imagine how these country bumpkins from Galilee felt as they saw the massive stones—historians tell us the stones were the size of boxcars – 12 to 60 feet in length. You can almost sense their awe as they saw the gold and silver plated gates, the gold and silver plated grapevine clusters, and the Babylonian tapestries. But imagine their shock when Jesus told them that it would all be destroyed—not one stone upon another. I don't think they could really even picture it—it was beyond their ability to comprehend. To them it had to be a sign of the destruction of the entire world.

They weren't alone in this observation. Many have looked at this passage in the gospels as a way to predict the end-times, a topic of much fascination. Even today, there are books and television shows all dedicated to the predictions of the end-times. The “Left Behind” series, written by a proponent of only one viewpoint regarding end-times, has sold over 58 million copies, and 1 of every 9 Americans has read at least one of the 12 book series. There are kid's comic books, movies, audiotape readings (seems to me to be good marketing).

But I think the books miss the mark when it comes to what Jesus was telling us. In this passage, there are three statements Jesus makes that I believe applied to the disciples then, and to us now. Don't be Fooled, Don't be Afraid, and Tell about your Faith. The first of these three, “Don't be Fooled,” is found in vs. 8:

“Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them.”

There are a lot of false messiahs in this world. Listen to this:
“His name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda; his followers call him everything from apostle to Dad, or simply Jesus Christ Man. De Jesus Miranda himself believes he's the living incarnation of "Jesus Christ Man," "the second coming of Christ."

A follower of his believes "he is God, he is God." She also lavishes him with money and gifts.

"I don't have one Rolex," de Jesus Miranda said, "I have 3 because they want to give it to me. It's like that woman that came to Jesus with the expensive perfume and put it on his feet. He didn't reject it, so when someone gives me a watch or a gift, I receive it. I like them too, they're nice."

This self-proclaimed Son of God is a 60 year old former heroin addict and convict. The divorced father of 4 was born in Puerto Rico and now lives in South Florida with his second wife.” (http://cbs4.com/topstories/jesus.Christ.Jesus.2.395540.html)

The people who follow this man have put their trust in something that is guaranteed to disappoint—but don't we do the same thing? We put our trust in technology, wonder drugs, our own strength and abilities. We are a people who are easily led astray by the latest fads, the comforts of our abundance, the power of our business community, the false sense that somehow through Lotto, or dog and race horse tracks, we can become rich, and then life will be secure. Are these false messiahs? They can be.

Augustine said it best: “Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in your friends and they will die and leave you. Trust in money and you may have it taken from you. Trust in reputation and some slanderous tongue may blast it. But trust in God and you will never be confounded in time or eternity. Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to his love, and the future to his providence.”

The second statement, “Don't be afraid,” is found in vs. 9:

“9When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 10Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. 11There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.”

There are many who believe that Christians will be snatched away from the difficult times—that if we simply trust in Jesus Christ we will have no struggles. But Jesus tells us just the opposite—when you see these things, do not fear—situation normal. We are a fallen, broken, sinful, prideful people, and we struggle for power and riches and territory—there is always struggle. Yet if our faith is in Christ we have the footing to make it through all of these struggles, including what Jesus describes next:

“...you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors.”

Now maybe you have never been “persecuted for your faith,” at least not in the sense of being put on trial or arrested. But persecution takes many different forms. Have you ever been ridiculed for your faith, or actions you've taken because of your faith? Think about recent suits intended to remove God from the Pledge of Allegiance, and from our currency. Think about Ernie Chambers' recent lawsuit filed because, in his words, God has made terroristic threats against him and his constituents, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." . . . Chambers also says God has caused "fearsome floods ... horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes."

Jesus tells us persecution gives us the opportunity to “tell about our faith.” Maybe you don't take Ernie Chambers seriously, but what about your neighbor, or that woman who laughs at you bowing your head in a restaurant, or the guy who questions your intelligence or integrity because he applies the world's standard to matters of faith and calling? In these situations, you have an opportunity to tell about your faith. The words might seem to fall on deaf ears or they may alienate them completely, but you are called to maintain your faith in Christ alone, regardless of the consequences or cost.

These three statements, Don't be Fooled, Don't be Afraid, and Tell about your Faith, can equip you for anything the world has to offer. Put your trust in Christ alone, and tell the world what he has done in your life. Let that sense of awe that can be elicited by worldly buildings and powers be brought about only by God. Amen.