March 18, 2007

Spiritual Blindness: Mixed Up Priorities

So Near, Yet So Far

Mark 10:17-22

Opening Words:” The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good then your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad then your whole body will be filled with darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?” Those words were first spoken by Jesus. They are recorded in Matthew 6:22-23. Those are powerful words and act as a theme for this entire sermon series I have called Spiritual Blindness.

The truth is most are spiritually blind. Most people haven’t seen God at work in our world for a long time. We are in the middle of eight reasons why our spiritual eyesight is so poor. Each reason or sin acts like a filter, blocking out a little more light. The more filters are added to your life the less light is able to enter your eye. In the end, like the passage says, only darkness remains. This morning we look at our mixed up priorities. This morning’s text is Mark 10:17-22.

Mark 10:17-22 ¹⁷As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother."

²⁰"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

²¹Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

²²At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

This is my favorite story. When I was in high school there was a football player named Tyrone. He was the best player on the team and may have been the best player in the area during his senior year. He was recruited to by several Division I football programs but he decided to go to Washington State. It was a big day at Harding when Tyrone signed his National Letter of Intent. The local media was present. On the local news there was Tyrone with the recruiter. He was wearing his Washington State cap and wearing his Washington State sweatshirt. He was holding a football with the words: Washington State - Home of the Cougars. Everyone was smiling. The whole school was so proud. The whole community was proud. Imagine, a local boy going all the way to the west coast to play football.

The next day in school there was Tyrone. He was wearing his Washington State cap, his Washington State sweatshirt, holding his Washington State football. I was standing in the hall talking to a teacher when he came strolling down the hall. The teacher yelled out, “Ha! Tyrone! You are going to Washington State!” Tyrone yelled back, “That’s right. I am going to be with the President!” Tyrone was so close, yet so far.

That was really Pilate’s story. He was so close, yet so far. He stood there with Jesus that day. He knew there was something special about him. I believe he liked Jesus. I believe he both respected and feared him. He found no fault with Jesus. Pilate had the authority to spare his life but he surrendered to the will of the crowd. He washed his hands of the whole matter and Jesus died. He was so close, yet so far.

That was Judas’ story. He was so close, yet so far. Judas had been with Jesus for three years. He had experienced so much. Daily, he walked with Jesus. He talked with Jesus. He ate with Jesus. He had heard the teachings. He had seen the miracles. He had seen how Jesus took broken lives and made them whole again. He should have understood but he didn’t. He sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. He was so close, yet so far.

That was the rich young ruler’s story. He was so close, yet so far. He ran to Jesus, a sign of enthusiasm. He fell on his knees, a sign of devotion. He asked the question that we have all asked in out lives. What must I do to inherit eternal life? No one wants to die. Jesus asks him if he had followed the commandments. The answer was yes. He was excited because he was so close. Then, Jesus threw his hopes up against the rocks. The Master said, “Then you lack only one thing. Go and sell your possessions.” The young man is devastated because he just can’t do it. He was so close, yet so far.

Could that be our story? Could we be like Tyrone, Pilate, Judas and the rich young ruler, so close, yet so far? We are not bad people. We are good people. We help our neighbors. We handle our responsibilities and are not a burden on society. We care for our children and pray for our old. We help anyone in need. We come to church. We are good people! But that is not good enough. If you want to inherit eternal life then you must be a disciple. Let me say this clearly. There are many good people who are not disciples. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ or are you just a good person?

This morning I want to talk about three characteristics of authentic Christian discipleship. This list is not complete. I am sure there are many more. But time limits me to just these three. So if you are ready to look at these three characteristics of Christian discipleship say, “Amen!”

Jesus

If you want to be an authentic Christian disciple then you must be dedicated to a personal relationship to Jesus. I want you to listen to what I said. I said, “If you want to be an authentic Christian disciple then you must be dedicated to Jesus.” I did not say you had to have a passion for the organizational church. I did not say anything about your mother’s or father’s relationship with Jesus. I said you must be dedicated to personal relationship to Jesus. Your dedication to a personal relationship to Jesus is not just important in true discipleship, it is indispensable.

The other day I called Circuit City. I had a question about my television set. It was a wonderful Christmas gift from my wife. It is thirty-two inches high definition, flat screen, Sharp. Most of our money these days goes to real estate and college. She should not have spent so much but she did. I love it but I had a question about the warranty. It was a quick question. It wouldn’t take long. I dialed the number. I got the recording. “Thank-you for calling Circuit City, for store hours press one, directions press two, to hear about our specials press three, for all matters pertaining to our merchandise press four.” I pressed four. Then the recording said, “For cell phones press one, for video games press two, for digital cameras press three, for home theater systems press four, for television sets press five.” I pressed five. Then the recording said, “For traditional television sets press one, for flat screen high definition television sets press two.” I pressed two. Then the recording said, “For high definition television sets, whose screens are less then 28 inches press one, for screens between 28 or 32 inches press two, for televisions 34 or 36 inches press three.” I pressed two. Then the recording said, “If you have a Sony press one, if you have a Magnavox press two….” It was at that point I hung up. All I wanted to do was ask a quick question about my warranty. I wanted was to talk to a real person but I got a recording.” That is not the story with Jesus. He wants to have a personal relation with you. He is waiting for you to talk to him.

If you want to be an authentic Christian disciple then you must be dedicated to a personal relationship to Jesus. When Michelangelo was young he went to a master sculptor to learn the craft. The master looked the young man and said, “If you really want to be a great sculptor then you must completely dedicate your life to sculpting.” Michelangelo looked at the master and said, “What else is life for?” The only thing that really mattered to Michelangelo was art. If you really want to be a disciple of Jesus then the only thing that really matters to you is Jesus. If that is not your story then you are you near, yet so far. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” The first characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to a personal relationship with Jesus.

Holy Habits

The second characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is to be dedicated to holy habits. What I mean is that you must be dedicated to the spiritual disciples of prayer, Bible study and worship. There is no way to feed your soul and have those things missing from your life. If those things are missing then you are on the spiritually endangered spices list.

I have been in that setting a million times. I am in the hospital visiting one who is near the end of life. The food tray appears and the covers are lifted off. The child of the person in the bed says, “Doesn’t that look good?” It looks OK. The person in the bed takes two small bites and announces to the visitors, “I am full. I don’t want anymore.” The child says, “Please, eat. It is the only way to regain your strength.” However, no more food is eaten. Not because the food is bad. The food is not eaten because the person is sick, there is no appetite.

If you are full from the little bit of scripture you get in worship, then you are spiritually sick. If that is your story then you are you near, yet so far. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” The first characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to a personal relationship with Jesus. The second characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to the holy habits.

Love

The third characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to love. In the story the only commandments mentioned are the ones that deal with our relations with other people. Love of God is not mentioned. The reason is simple. When we love and respect other people we are really loving God.

They tell me the great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition. The instrument should never be played again. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.

Has God made a difference in your life? God expects us to go out and make a difference in this world. We are not just to exist for ourselves. If you are not making a difference for Jesus in this world then you are near, yet so far. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

I do not know how Tyrone did in college. I hope he did well. I have my doubts. He was so near, yet so far. I hope that is not your story. You are a good person but are you a disciple of Jesus? Today, we talked about three characteristics of authentic Christian discipleship. The first characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to a personal relationship with Jesus. The second characteristic of authentic Christian discipleship is dedication to the holy habits. The third characteristic of discipleship is dedication to a life of love. And all the disciples of Jesus said, “Amen!”