June 24, 2007

Attitude Adjustments: Trust

Louis Pasteur’s Greatest Discovery

Acts 19:1-7

Opening Words: Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” He knew what we often forget, our attitudes about life are extremely important. They affect the way that we experience life. It is for this reason that I have decided to dedicate this section of the year to examining our attitudes. I have called this fourteen week sermon series, Attitude Adjustments. Today we look at our attitude about trust. Do you consider yourself a trusting person? Let me call this morning’s message Louis Pasteur’s Greatest Discovery.

Acts 19:1-7 1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.

4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.

Over one hundred and twenty-five years ago a train traveled through France. An elderly gentleman sat in his seat reading the Bible. At one of the stops a young man got on board and sat next to the Bible reading elderly gentlemen. In time the young man asked the older man what he was reading. He responded, “I am reading the sixth chapter of the gospel of John in the New Testament. It is the story of how Jesus fed 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.” The young man laughed and said, “You don’t believe that do you? I am a scientist and I only believe what can be proved by science.” The old man said, “I believe the story is true. I believe Jesus fed 5,000 hungry people with five loaves of bread and two fish.” The young man said, “I believe in science.” It was at that moment that the train stopped. The young man got up to leave. The elderly man handed the young man his business card and the debate ended. Can you imagine the surprise of the young man when he read the name on that business card, Louis Pasteur, one of the greatest scientists to have ever lived?

Some of Louis Pasteur’s discoveries in the field of microbiology changed the world but the greatest discovery he ever made was his own personal faith in Jesus Christ. The truth is the best things in life (love, courage, integrity, honesty, morality, perseverance, compassion, kindness, commitment and faith) can not be proven by science. Faith is trusting in things that go beyond the logical.

The issue of trust is confronted by ever human being. Even the pagan must decide where they will place their trust. As you live out your life where do you place your trust? Do you trust the United Nations to handle the complex issues that are facing our world today? Do you trust our elected officials in Washington DC to do what is best for our country? (Does anyone here have $90,000 hiding in your freezer?) Do you trust our state government or our local government to rebuild the Mahoning Valley economically? Do you trust our local hospitals? If you needed a major surgery would you stay here or would you travel to Cleveland or Pittsburgh? Do you trust your schools board to educate the young to compete for jobs in our global economy? Do you trust your financial adviser with your future? Do you trust your spouse? Do your trust your spouse with a credit card? Do you trust your children? Do your trust your children’s friends? Do you trust the church to prepare your soul for eternity? Researchers tell us people are still asking spiritual questions but they no longer trust the organizational church to give them the correct answers. The issue of trust runs right to the very core of life, itself. The question, “where do you place your trust?” is constantly asked by our world.

The question the church constantly asks us is: how far do you trust God? The list of great saints in the life of the church is dominated by people who trusted God, even when God acted in illogical ways. If you think about it, it is true! The story of Abraham tells us how God selected a single man to be the father of a great nation. However, he spends most of his life waiting for the birth of his first son. It isn’t until he is old and gray that his son, Isaac, is born. It is then that God does something illogical. He test’s Abraham’s faith and asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son. It is not until the last second that God stops the killing and substitutes the boy with a ram. God knew Abraham trusted him.

The story of Abraham’s descendants includes an illogical exodus. After a series of illogical plagues, the people find themselves being lead by Moses in the wilderness. The Pharaoh has changed his mind about liberating them and sends his army out to collect them. The army finds the refugees on the shore of the Red Sea. It does not look good for the people but God provides them an illogical escape route. The Red Sea is parted and the people are forced to decide. Do they trust God enough to walk between those walls of water? The people escape because they are forced to trust God.

The entire Christian faith is built on the most illogical event in the history of the world. Do you trust the story as factual? God entered the world in the form of a little baby named Jesus. He lived a wonderful life, he never committed a single sin but he was the greatest radical of their time. He loved everyone. If you want to be the greatest radical in your world then don’t picket the court house, just love everyone. But let me warn you there is a price to pay for loving everyone! Jesus paid with his life. He died on a Friday but on Sunday morning a small group of woman made a discovery that changed the world. The once dead Jesus was alive. Let us be honest. The resurrection is not very logical. Yet, it is on the foundation of this illogical act that the faith is built. The question the church constantly asks us is: how far do you trust God?

I hope this morning to help you answer that question. We are going to walk along the timeline of your life. Do you trust God as you walk along your timeline or are you holding God back at some point? Do you trust God with your past? Do you trust God with your present? Do you trust God with your future? How far do you trust God? If you are ready to walk with me on your timeline say, “Amen!”

Past

Do you trust God with your past? Our individual pasts can be very complex. God never intends us to worship the past nor does God expect us to be haunted by the past. God only intends us to learn from the past. Do you trust God with your past?

I want you to consider two things. First, you have to trust God enough to forgive yourself. Your past may include some mistakes or regrets. Do some of your past mistakes or regrets haunt you in the middle of the night? Haven’t you kicked yourself enough over something that happened years ago? It is time for you to move forward. Trusting God with your past means you are going to forgive yourself. Second, trusting God with your past also means forgiving other people. In your past someone did you wrong. They didn’t encourage you. They gave you some bad advice and you listened to it. You swore to get even. Does any of that sound familiar? Do yourself a favor and let it go. That is not easy to do. However, it is necessary. Psychologists tell us the only one you are hurting by not forgiving is yourself. You also have to trust God enough to forgive other people. Do you trust God with your past?

Present

Do you trust God with your present? God has placed you in this world for a season. God has given you some abilities and skills. Let us not be humble. We are gifted people. Are you embracing your gifts and maximizing them or are you afraid to do anything. God expects you to maximize your efforts and do something positive for this world. If you are trusting God with your present, then you are trusting God to open doors for you today. Do you trust God with your present?

Future

Do you trust God with your future? Let me ask you a painful question. If you would suddenly to die would you go to heaven? If your answer is, “I don’t know” or “I hope so,” then you don’t trust God with your future. People who fully trust God know their going to heaven when they die. They trust that Jesus sacrificial acts were enough for the salvation of their souls. We are not going to heaven because we are great. We are going to heaven because we are trust a great Savior. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Historians tell us Winston Churchill planned his funeral. The place was St. Paul’s in London. The service ended by the playing of Taps by a bugler from the domes of that magnificent place. There was not a dry eye in the house. But just as that bugler ended another bugler began. He wasn’t playing Taps, he was playing Reveille. What was Churchill trying to say? His time in this world was over but he was about to start a new day in heaven. Winston Churchill trusted Jesus with his future. Do you?

Many years ago a custodian worked quietly in an old cathedral. He worked near the console of the church’s prized possession, their magnificent pipe organ. It was a wonderful instrument known around the world. The custodian was given strict instructions, don’t ever touch the organ and don’t ever let anyone else touch the organ. He never did until that day. As he worked there in the silence of that sanctuary he was startled by a man starting off to the side. The gentleman stood their quietly and admired the great organ. After a few minutes he looked at the custodian and said, “I have traveled a great is distance to see this great organ. Would you mind opening the console so I could at least see the keys?” At first the custodian said, “No!” But a few moments later he was opening the console. The stranger stood there looking at the console and then looked at the custodian and said, “Would you mind if I sat in the bench?” At first the custodian said, “No!,” but in a few minutes later the stranger was sitting on the bench. The stranger seemed at home on the organ bench and the custodian wasn’t surprised when the stranger asked if he could play the organ. The custodian said, “Absolutely not! Only the cathedral organist is permitted the play the organ.” The stranger looked at the organist with sad eyes that broke the custodian’s heart. The custodian said, “OK! But only a few notes.” The custodian pulled out some of the stops and positioned his fingers. The organ suddenly roared to life. The custodian had never heard such wonderful music but as fast as the music began it was over. The stranger got up, said, “Thank-you,” and started to walk away. The custodian cried out, “Wait! That was the most wonderful music I have ever heard. What is your name?” The stranger stopped and looked at the custodian and said, “My name is Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn.” The custodian almost fainted. He had heard Felix Mendelssohn play the organ. Then he realized he almost stopped Felix Mendelssohn from playing the organ. He almost missed it!

Are you missing it in your life? The scripture lesson today comes from the nineteenth chapter of Acts. The Apostle Paul is in Ephesus. He meets some disciples and asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit once they believed. They were disciples but they had never even heard about the Holy Spirit. The great evangelist tells them about Jesus and baptizes them. It is at that moment the Holy Spirit becomes part of their lives. Do you hear what I said? They were Christian in name but they almost missed it. Are you missing it in your life?

How far do you trust God? You are a Christian in name but do you really trust Jesus with your life? Do you trust Jesus with your past? Do you trust Jesus with your present? Do you trust Jesus with your future? May Louis Pasteur’s greatest discovery become your greatest discovery. May you trust Jesus with every corner of your life. And all of God’s trusting people said, “Amen!”