June 18, 2006

Forgotten Lives

Defining Moments

Genesis 22:1-14

Opening Words: There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament. The New Testament is dominated by Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The Old Testament consists of a variety of lives. Each one played a small part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Most of those lives are forgotten. So what I would like to do this summer is take some time and look at those forgotten lives. I have called this thirteen part sermon series Forgotten Lives.

This morning we look at Abraham. His is not really a forgotten life. Today, it is more of a forgotten story. We are in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. It is not the first time we have heard about Abraham. He is first mentioned in the twelfth chapter of Genesis. For it is in this chapter that God makes him a great promise. He will be the father of a great nation. It was a special moment for Abraham. He never forgot that great promise and he assumed that many happy children would come to him and his wife, Sara. The problem was that he assumed wrong. For many years Sarah and he had no children at all. It was only in their golden years that God blesses them with a son. They named their only son, Isaac. The bond between Abraham and Isaac, father and son, must have been strong. It is that bond that God tests in this morning’s scripture lesson. Let me call this message defining moments. This is my question for you today. What is the most important thing in your life?

Introduction

In 1898 the obituaries of a young woman were carried in the Spokane, Washington newspaper. It was one of those deaths that pulled on your heart. The deceased left behind six children. They were left to the care of their father, William. Many suggested that he break up his family and place those children in various institutions or in the homes of other family members. The father rejected their advice and decided to keep his family together. In many ways he sacrificed his life for the lives of his children. I am sure he was not a perfect parent but he did his best. It was only when the children were raised that they began to understand what their father had done for them.

One of those six children married and become Sonora Louise Smart Dodd. She went to church on the second Sunday of May in 1908 and heard the minister promote the value of motherhood. The problem was she had no mother. It was her father that influenced her life. It was her father who sacrificed. It was only then that she got an idea. She wrote a petition to encourage a national father’s day. It was supported by the local Ministerial Association and the YMCA. On June 19, 1910 Spokane, Washington celebrated the very first Father’s Day. In time, popularity spread. However, it wasn’t until Richard Nixon in 1972 that Father’s Day became a national holiday. Father’s Day is a time for family and a time to rediscover what is really important to you.

In today’s scripture lesson Abraham discovered what was truly important to him. Call it a defining moment. What he says is not important. It is what he did. During defining moments you learn things about yourself. You assume you would act in a certain way if that situation happened but you are not 100% sure. You are guessing about yourself. For years, Abraham had said God was the most important thing in his life but after this story he really knows. You can use your sanctified imagination and see the scene. Abraham is holding his son, Isaac, down on the pile of wood. He was about to sacrifice his only son because that was requested by God. It was Abraham’s defining moment. It was when he discovered what was truly important to him.

Have you ever had a defining moment? Have you ever had a moment when you discovered what was truly important to you? You think you know how you will respond but you really don’t know until it happens. It may have been at the death of a loved one. It may have been at the time you sacrifice something you liked for someone you loved? It may have been that big promotion you turned down because it wasn’t the right time for your family. It may have been that time you wrote that letter to the editor. Have you ever had a defining moment? It is at those moments you were the most qualified to answer the question of the day. What is the most important thing in your life?

Body

As disciples of Jesus Christ the most important thing in our lives must be God! There is only one answer. It was true for Abraham years ago in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis and it is true for you today. Let us be honest. God has been good to every one of us. It is so easy to fall in love with the gift and forget the gift giver. So this morning, using this old forgotten story of Abraham and Isaac as background, I want to give you three guidelines for holy living. Three things you can use to make sure that God remains the top priority in your life. So if you are ready for my three guides for holy living say, “Amen!” What is the most important thing in your life?

Tests come to every life!

The first guideline for holy living is to remember that tests come to every life! I hope that comforts you. Abraham was one of the greatest lives who ever lived! With all the people God could have chosen to be the father of a chosen race, God chose Abraham. Through the eyes of God there was something special about Abraham. Yet, even this special life was not excused from the test. God tested Abraham for the same reason that God tests everyone. God wants to know if we love the gift or the gift giver more. God wants to be the most important thing in your life! That is why everyone is tested from time to time. Have you ever felt like you are the only one who is being tested? You are not alone.

There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your, Father. On Saturday in front of the newspaper office in Madrid 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. I tell you that story for one reason. There are many people in our world who are going through a hard time. You are not alone!

As I go through my week I hear people’s problems. There is no shortage of problems in our world. There is no shortage of problems in our church. There are people in our congregation who have not spoken to family members in years! The last words that were spoken were not kind. They are unquotable in church. There are people in our congregation that are facing some incredible medical challenges. There are people in our congregation who are facing some incredible financial problems. Many have discovered retirement is not going to be an option for them. There are people with emotional and psychological problems. These people are afraid to even speak of their issues. We have people who are so spiritually last that they don’t even know it. The fellowship of the church is important because we need one another for love and support. Tests come to everyone. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” During the tests in your life you discover what is really important to you. What is the most important thing in your life?

Hold your possession loosely!

The second guideline for holy living is to remember to hold your possession loosely. We have a surplus of white knuckled Christians. Abraham was on old man. According to Genesis 21:5 Abraham was 100 years young! Sarah was 90. That is a strange time to start a family but that is what the Bible tells us! They had waited a lifetime to have this child. They were thrilled when Isaac came to join their family. They must have protected him and built their entire lives around him. They were so thankful to God for him. Isaac was a great gift at any age. Then the test comes. It must have been a jolt to Abraham when God informs him that he is to sacrifice the long awaited son. It is a defining moment in Abraham’s life. What is more important to Abraham? Is Isaac more important or is the one who gave Isaac more important? There is only one answer. God! It is for this reason that the second guideline is so important. Hold on to your possession loosely. That way it won’t hurt so much when you loose them.

What is the most important thing in your life? Is the most important thing in your life your possessions? Is it things that you can buy? That is only natural. We work hard to buy the basics in life. They don’t give away homes or cars. They don’t give away food or retirement plans. We work hard for those things and the harder we work the more valuable they become to us.

What is the most important thing in your life? Is the most valuable thing in your life your position? You are respected in your little corner of the world. You are known by what you do. You contribute to society in your position. You are a doctor or a lawyer. You are a teacher or an engineer? You are a mother or a father. You are a 49 year old preacher of a growing church. That is your position in life and you are proud of who you are.

What is the most important thing in your life? Is the most valuable thing in your life your dreams? You are out there working hard so someday you can retire and move to Florida? Perhaps, you are out there working hard getting that college degree so you can become a marine biologist? You are working hard to pay off the house or get out of debt.

What is the most important thing in your life? Is the most important thing in your life your relationships? Is the most important thing in your life your husband or your wife? Is the most important thing in your life your children or your parents? Is the most important thing in your life your friends or your co-workers? I hate to say it but if the most important thing in your life is one of those things, then you have a problem. According to the Bible the most important thing in your life must be God! Everything else is secondary. Everything in your life is a gift. Do you love the gift or the gift giver more? I know it is hard but hold those gifts loosely. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Faith involves risk!

The third guideline for holy living is to remember that faith involves risk. There is a moment in this story when Abraham sacrifices Isaac mentally. He had surrendered Isaac in his mind. Abraham was more then 100 years old and he is ready to say good-bye to his son. The chances of having another are slim. Abraham knows God’s promise of being the father of a great nation and he knows his age. Abraham didn’t know how but he knew God would provide. He trusted God. During your time of testing you must be able to trust God. That is hard but maybe God knows more than you? Maybe you are to learn something?

Roy Campanella was one of the first African Americans to play baseball major leagues. In a distinguished career he won the Brooklyn Dodgers Most Valued Player award many times, and in 1955 was on the team that won the World Series. But in January 1958 his career was cut short after a car crash left him a quadriplegic. After he was injured he spent a lot of time in the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. One day he stopped to read a gold plaque upon one of the walls, and for someone who had been blessed with such athletic gifts it resonated deeply within him. This is what it said:

"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey…

I asked for health that I might do great things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things…

I asked for riches that I might be happy,

I was given poverty that I might be wise…

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God…

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things…

I got nothing I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among men, most richly blessed!

Faith involves risk. What does God what you to learn? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Conclusion

It is Father’s Day. It is a time for family. It is a time to evaluate your life and rediscover what is really important to you. I hope you enjoy the gifts that God has given you! I really hope you discover that the most valuable possession in your life is God. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”