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Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1 – 3
Title: Watch, Wait, Be Amazed
I. Deferred hope is the present reality.
A. Habakkuk registers a legal complaint against God...
1. (1:2) “How long, O Lord, must I call/cry/beg (so intensely) for help, but you do not listen?”
a. Habakkuk feels a perceived injustice: God tolerates wrong.
b. There is frustration in his tone as he “cries” and “begs” God for action, which does not seem to be happening.
2. (1:13b) “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”
a. God has promised justice/salvation through the “evil” Babylonians!
b. This frustrates Habakkuk even more because it doesn’t make sense.
3. God answers with two words:
a. (1:5) “Look at the nations and WATCH – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
b. (2:3) “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, WAIT for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
B. Our complaints:
1. We see violence everywhere:
a. riots in France
b. natural disasters
c. Iraqi war, terrorists, etc...
d. Democrats and Republicans fighting
2. We see injustice everywhere in a legal system run amok:
a. One prisoner in MI is suing himself for $5 million for violating his “civil rights” by committing a crime.
b. Judge in CA that ruled that parents could not control what schools taught their children about sex.
c. Oregon Supreme Court ruled 5 - 1 that telling a business it cannot have a live sex exposition on its premises is a violation of freedom of expression. BTW, they ban smoking in the saloon with the live sex show.... and in OR pumping your own gas is illegal.
*This is the pattern of humanity as it hurtles itself toward destruction. Genesis 6:11 “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.” (ESV) Or as the Message puts it, “As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer; there was violence everywhere.”
II. Delayed justice is (thankfully) the imposed reality.
A. There are some serious questions we have to ask ourselves:
1. Does God tolerate wrong?
a. When bad things happen and there does not seem to be immediate repercussions it seems to make bad people bold.
b. When judgement seems paralyzed, it seems that it will never come.
2. When God’s people fight, does that mean that peace will only come through universal destruction administered by the “evil?”
a. Habakkuk was offended that God would use the ungodly to change things.
b. Is it possible that the criticisms/attacks/persecutions leveled against the church by the world are well deserved (in America) judgements from God?
3. Is it selfish and judgmental of us to demand justice?
a. Demanding justice means we have judged a situation and people. Something that is often done lightly or in ignorance.
b. Demanding justice means we want what we want, when we want it without regard to the other person.
B. So we wait...
1. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” C. S. Lewis noted that the effect of the rule of the White Witch, which represents evil, is to cause it to be “always winter but never Christmas.”
2. Winter eventually wears on even those who love it. It becomes burdensome and is occasionally dangerous.
3. Celebrating Christmas in winter is important (“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”) because Christmas is a time of joy and hope in the mist of the sinful, dangerous, upside-down world.
*So how do we handle what we face in this world?
III. Immediate trust is the Christmas Reality.
A. The call for justice/salvation is not just for ancient people.
1. It is an end-time call: Revelation 6:10b “...how long before You will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.” (The martyred souls under the altar.) (ESV) The Message puts it this way, “How long before you step in and avenge our murders?"
2. Identification with those who are hurting is a basic requirement of ministry: 2 Corinthians 11:29 “When others are weak, I am weak too. When others are tricked into sin, I get angry.” (CEV)
3. It is the prophetic fulfillment of what Jesus has done on the cross: Ephesians 4:8 “That is why it says: When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men.”
4. At Christmas we remember to anticipate the return of Jesus by looking forward to the Babe in Bethlehem. We anticipate the cross and its’ forgiving and healing effects in our lives.
B. It takes trust to allow God to do the right thing in His time.
1. What is injustice and agony on our part is patience on God’s part: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2. The problem is that our impatience can wear us down. Yet just as Christmas happens at a set date, so will the return of Jesus.
3. That puts the question to us: Are you prepared?
a. Punishment is the result of sin. “All have sinned.” (Romans 5:23)
b. Sin does not continue without punishment.
c. The only one that can free us from the captivity of sin is Jesus.
Romans 5:24, “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that cam by Christ Jesus.”
d. The deferred judgement is really God’s love in action as He gives us time. He does not want anyone to suffer eternal condemnation. He wants ‘everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV)
(ill.) “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” according to the laws of the universe the White Witch can claim the life of Edmund because he has been a traitor. Aslan offers a trade. His life for Edmund’s. It’s that way with sin. It rightfully claims us and will not let us go. It takes the divine trade of Jesus life for ours to free us from the captivity of sin.
*If you do not allow the justifying work of Jesus on the cross to free you and become your consuming passion to guide your every aspect of life, then you not only face life with no hope but you face eternity without hope as well. For those that do allow the grace of God to change them, they can live life on purpose.
IV. Confident Expectation is the purposeful reality.
A. God says: Watch this! [“Brace yourself for the shock.” (Habakkuk 1:5 Message) “utterly amazed” (NIV)]
1. God is going to do something!
a. Problem: in America we understand and explain everything through scientific and natural means.
b. This cuts across every fiber of what we know to be “true.”
c. (ill.) As a missionary my Dad prayed for people twice for people to be resurrected. To this day he still tries to explain the resurrections as natural and not supernatural... Why? Because it is beyond our ability as Americans to believe something like that is possible.
d. Someone has once said that if we really believed that there is a living God at work we would equip our pews with seat belts and bring helmets to church because God is at work and He is in charge and we are along for the ride of our lives!
2. The wonder of Christmas is that God has done something and it is a promise of more to come!
a. Hebrews 9:28 “Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when He next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet Him is, precisely, salvation.” (MSG)
b. Not only does the manger in Bethlehem point to the cross but beyond it to the New Jerusalem...
B. God says: Wait for it!
1. There is an appointed time (2:3) “At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting – it will happen!” (CEV)
a. When we are tempted to think we are abandoned: we must wait.
b. We wait for Christmas, all 365 days every year. We can wait for Jesus return.
2. Waiting is so hard in an instant society. (2 minute counter, 30 second drive through standard... 4 people in line expect a new line to open at the store...)
a. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” the citizens of Narnia have lived under what seems to be an endless winter in discouragement and fear. However, there are rumors, coupled with hopes that “Aslan is on the move” and when He arrives He will right all wrongs. The first sign of this is the celebration of Christmas!
b. God is at work... Jesus is on the move... Let’s celebrate Christmas as a hope, a prayer, and a promise.
(ill.) I played postal chess with a man from East Germany back when communism kept people in spiritual darkness. He told me that he had never celebrated Christmas. He wanted to know more about it. I wrote to him and explained who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and how to be saved. He wrote back, “this year my wife and I are celebrating Christmas.”
You may have opened gifts, gone caroling, eaten to your hearts content. But have you ever really celebrated Christmas? Is Christmas a reality in your life with a confident expectation of the return of your Lord Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
