Something is Out There:
Rumors of the Invisible World of the Sacred God
3/22 Drawn Upward--Embracing the Pleasures of this world
INTRODUCTION
John and Cathy Skip Church (drama)
subject: Seeking Heaven on Earth
Bruce D. Rzengota
John and Cathy Skip church for a ski trip
John and Cathy on a ski vacation together. Standing in line for the lift chair. Occasionally sliding forward as if moving in the line.
John
Isn’t this Great Cath? A week of skiing in Park City, Utah.
Cathy
Uh Huh! (nervously)
John
I’ve wanted to do this ever since we got married. Just you and I and a week of the best powder in North America.
Cathy
Oh My! This is a lot bigger the Snow Trails in Mansfield.
John
I can’t believe it took us three years to put this trip together. This is going to be so great. They got mountain runs here that are nearly two miles long top to bottom.
Cathy
Two Miles?
John
And up in the alpine regions there are some incredible shutes and bowls we can explore.
Cathy
Shutes?
John
I’m thinking we should skip lunch and just snack on the energy bars I packed. That way we can get in at least 6 hours on the slopes today.
Cathy
Six hours?
John
Here comes the lift honey, just slide in. Okay.
John and Cathy look behind them and sit down onto the chairs as though riding the lift.
Cathy
Oh no I dropped by glove. (looking down and with distress)
John
You what?
Cathy
I dropped my glove. I thought I had it clipped to my jacket, but it must have come loose. . .
John
Great!
Cathy
What!
John
(annoyed) I was just thinking. Thinking about how much time we’re going to waste having to ski back down to the base lift and find your glove and get back in line.
Cathy
I didn’t do it on purpose. (defensive)
John
I didn’t say you did? It just that were going to waste so much time getting your glove. We can pretty much give up the idea of getting in some early fresh tracks.
(pausing)
You know it’s not that cold; could you ski with out it?
Cathy
What? (shocked and becoming angry) You want me to ski without my glove?
John
No no, I’m just thinking out loud. I’m just frustrated we are going to waste time on our vacation. It just seems that whenever we plan a big trip, a big vacation. Whenever we get a chance to cross something off the bucket list, that something happens and. . .
Both Jerking forward as the lift chair abruptly stops.
Cathy
What was that?
John
(with Anger) Great! We’re stuck on a chair lift.
Cathy
John, (concerned) that didn’t feel like a normal stoppage.
John
We’re paying $120 for these life tickets, at that price the least they could do I make sure the lift chairs work.
Cathy
John, something doesn’t feel right
John
I hate this. This always happens. It seems like the more I’m looking forward to a trip the more likely it is to disappoint me! When we get down I’m going got talk with management about a refund, at least a discount.
Cathy
(Sternly and Loudly) John, I scared. Would you please shut up about how disappointed you are that I dropped my glove, that the lift chair stopped, about how everything always goes wrong.
John
Whoa, where did all that come from?
Cathy
I’m sorry John, I guess it’s just I get so stressed when we go on vacations. You always have such high expectations and dreams for the trip and everywhere we go you come home disappointed.
I’ve grown to dread our trips away.
John
You dread going away with me?
Cathy
No I love being with you. I just dread being away with you when you are chasing your dreams of experiencing heaven on Earth. You want it to be so perfect that you are always disappointed.
John
It’s just that I want experience all the good things life has for us. I just want to . . .
Cathy
John, you’re chasing heaven on earth and it won’t be found here. It’s a fallen world and even though there are some incredible things in we get to experience, it’s till a fallen world. It will never measure up to your visions of perfection. So every vacation, every good thing we get to share, gets tarnished by your inability to just appreciate it for what it is.
John
Am I really like that?
Cathy
Yes, to say you’re driven to experience it all is an understatement? And no matter how much we do, how much we see, how busy the schedules, you still come home disappointed. So I get filled with stress, waiting for you to implode and I end up not enjoying the moment.
John
Wow! You’re right. I see it. Do remember how much I complained about the hotel in Aruba? (the light dawning) The fight over Christmas plans our first year. The weekend away in Cleveland?
Cathy
Yes John, I remember them all?
John
I was such a . . .
Cathy
Jerk?
John
Yeah, I was. (shaking his head) But what do I do?
Cathy
John do you remember that sermon series Pastor Bruce preached when we first met.
John
Yeah, Heaven, Hell, Somethings out there? Rumors? Yeah.
Cathy
Well in one of the messages I remember Pastor Bruce shared that all the good things we get to enjoy on earth were not what we were chasing, they were given to us to enjoy by God as a foretaste of what was to come. Nothing on earth would ever fully satisfy, it could only disappoint. But those good things should be embraced because they were intended to draw us upward.
John
I remember that.
Cathy
John, let’s forget the schedule. Let’s forget rush. Let’s just enjoy this week. It won’t be perfect. It won’t fully satisfy. But we are in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Let’s just let the experience draw us upward toward him. Let’s look for all the ways this trip points to all that awaits us in him.
John
Cath, you know that will bea challenge for me, but if you keep pointing them out to me. I think I can catch on. I’ll try anyways.
(simulating the chair starting up)
John
Hey we’re moving? Finally the slopes!
(Pause, Cathy looking at him, John looking out)
John
Cathy, look at that. A golden Eagle! Wow. An eagle!
Smiling
Cathy
Yes John, an Eagle.
the end
T.S. This world offers so many wonderful things that it is easy to fall into the trap of seeking heaven on earth and when we do it always leads to disappointment.
Since the things of this world can be so distracting, how are we who are seekers of the Sacred world of the invisible God supposed to relate to the?
T.S. The Apostle Paul gives an instruction to his young protégée Timothy concerning how to handle this. Turn with me to . . .
1 Tim 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
NIV
P.S. THE PLEASURES AND GOOD THINGS OR THIS WORLD ARE INTENDED TO DRAW US UPWARD RATHER THAN DISTRACT US.
I. Recognize the Financial Truth
17 Command those who are rich in this present world
ILL If you take look at the Forbes 400 listing the richest people in the United States you’ll see some familiar names on the list. I saw Bill Gates’ name at the top followed by Warren Buffet and Larry Ellison and then the five children of Sam Walton of Walmart fame.
This year when I looked at the list I made hege discovery. I was shocked to discover that my name was not among the top 400, but then again, I didn’t see any of your names on the list, either.
The Price of Admission
The rich haven’t gotten richer--or poorer--this year. For the second year in a row, the price of admission to The Forbes 400 is $1.3 billion.
But let’s put things in perspective
A. Even the poorest among us are rich by the world’s standard.
There are 6.5 billion people living in the world right now
2.5 billion (40%) people live in low-income countries where they earn $745 a year or less
Those living in places like...
Zimbabwe
Pakistan
Sudan
Kenya
Haiti
Rwanda
...and other 3rd world countries earn less than $500 a year.
2.7 billion (43%) people live in middle-income countries where earn less than $9200 a year
By living in the USA you are wealthier than 83% of the world.
B. Not only are we rich financially, but we are rich because of opportunities that are available to us.
Out of the more than 6.5 billion people that populate this earth, you are better off than 6 billion.
* We worry about rising cost of health care when most of the world doesn’t even have the opportunity to get health care.
* We worry about electric bills--much of the world doesn’t have electricity
* We worry about our cars breaking down--much of the world doesn’t own an automobile
Appl: So, whatever Paul is talking about concerning the rich, we must apply it to oursleves!
II. Avoid the Stumbling blocks
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,
Those who are rich are not just cautioned, but commanded to avoid two significant stumbling blocks.
not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,
A. Arrogance
The Simple Life was a popular reality television series broadcast from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!. Fans tuned in to watch two arrogant wealthy young socialites (Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie) struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, doing farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants & working as camp counselors and at the same time making fun of all those around them who were working hard at their jobs.
Their wealth had produced an arrogance that allowed them to see all others as beneath them.
Appl: One of the greatest traps of being rich is seeing others as beneath you. If by the world’s standard each of us in rich, what does God require? That we dare not to see others in theh world as beneath us.
B. Misplaced hope
Ill: The words "In God We Trust" was first appeared on American coins in 1864--on a 2-cent piece. Since 1938, all US coins bear this inscription. In 1956 Congress declared "In God We Trust" as our national motto. And since 1966, that phrase has appear on all US currency.
It’s interesting, that on this one thing that can so easily become the thing that we place our trust--our money--it states very boldly "In God We Trust"
Instead anchor your hope in him. Nurture they relationship, becoming more and more confident in who he is, what he ahs done and what it means to you.
Appl: The second great trap of being rich is trusting your riches rather than God.
III. Enjoy his provisions.
v. 17 . . . who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
A. Acknowledging them as gifts and blessings
James 1:16-17
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1. Not rights
2. Not guarantees
B. Sharing generously with others
1 Tim 6:18
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1. To do good
That they relieve the wants of their fellow creatures, according to the abundance which God has given them.
2. Rich in good deeds
That their good deeds may be as abundant as their riches.
3. Ready to distribute
That they give nothing through partiality or favour, but be guided in their distribution by the necessities of the objects presented to them; and that they confine not their charity at home, but scatter it abroad.
4. Willing to Share
Koinoonikous -- Koinonia Fellowship
Bringing every poor person into a state of fellowship with themselves.
C. Seeing them as foretastes of the Future
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (eternal life)
The great things we get to experience and share on earth should wet our appetites for all that is to come rather than distract us.
Ill: Golfer Arnold Palmer once played a series of exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. The king was so impressed that he proposed to give Palmer a gift. Palmer demurred; "It really isn’t necessary, Your Highness. I’m honored to have been invited."
"I would be deeply upset," replied the king, "if you would not allow me to give you a gift."
Palmer thought for a moment and said, "All right. How about a golf club? That would be a beautiful momento of my visit to your country."
The next day, delivered to Palmer’s hotel, was the title to a golf club. Thousands of acres, trees, lakes, clubhouse, and so forth.
P.S. THE PLEASURES AND GOOD THINGS OR THIS WORLD ARE INTENDED OT DRAW US UPWARD RATHER THAN DISTRACT US.
They are meant to be the foretaste of everything that is to come.
Summary
Knowing that even those of us who struggle with the economic realities 2009, in the eyes of most of the world we are. Therefore we need to avoid the stumbling blocks of arrogance and entitlement, placing our hope firmly in God. And when we are privileged to experience the good things of life, let look at them as gifts to be enjoyed fully, shared freely and glimmers of the great things God has in store for us.
Application
Most of us this next week will have a chance ot experience a good thing: Dinner out, trip to movie, access to the Rec, drive dependable car, sleep in a safe home, shop in nice store.
This next week consciously practice this discipline. Utter a quick prayer.
God thank you for this good thing, that I can so easily take for granted. Give me a generous heart. May this remind me of everything you have in store for me.
Benediction
Close your eyes and think of a few of the good things you get to experience in your life.
Now pray with me.
Father, thank you for the good things, big and small, the gifts from above that you give me to draw my heart toward you. May I enjoy them fully, might I always be ready to share those gifts with others. May each one remind of all you have in store for me in the future.
