May 3, 2009

1 John 3:16-24

John 10: 11-18

Life is a Gift

            Psychologist Rollo May writes, “Humans are the strangest of all of God’s creatures, because they run fastest when they have lost their way.” And this is where we get into hot water in our lives – running frantically when we are lost. This is the time that we make serious mistakes in our family relationships, our friendships, our work relationships and productivity. Life can get really hard when we are left with only our own devices. We get lost in battles with health issues; we get lost in grief over the loss of loved ones; we get lost in guilt or shame and can’t forgive ourselves.

 There must be something more. 

We are poor little sheep who have lost our way…Baa…Baa…Baa. How do you like being called sheep? Not very noble sounding, is it?  We are like bleating sheep today as we cry out continuously “I want, I want, I want.” The cries are deafening as millions and millions of us sheep cry out together “gimmie, gimmie, gimmie.” We follow whatever shepherd is on TV telling us what we need in order to really be alive and where we should spend our money so that life will be worthwhile. They are hired hands who do not really care for the sheep. They run away when trouble comes and are not accountable. Be careful of the shepherd you follow.  

There must be something more.  

Well, each one of us sheep thinks he/she is very important. How can we not be? Our consciousness is tied up in this physical body that thinks and feels. It is all we know. To be conscious is to be alive. The natural state of our consciousness makes our needs and wants central to our well-being. Yet, each one of our conscious lives in the course of history is such a short span. Does it really make any difference after our consciousness is over whether we lived 5 years or 100 years?  Whether we were rich or poor?  

The good news of the gospel says there is something more. God has sent us the Good Shepherd to lead us into abundant life.  “I am the Good shepherd,” says Jesus; “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” Life is not just something hoarded or used up; Life is given…Life is laid down for others. Life is so much more than “I want” and “gimmie.”  

We thought we knew what life was all about in the getting of all the stuff we want. But now we see that life is not about getting, it is given. It is even laid down for others. We receive abundant life from God as a gift. Because of God’s love for us, Jesus laid down his life for us. And in order to receive abundant life “we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” The writer of 1 John says that we can talk all we want about love, but until it is put into action it is just empty talk. “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”  When we intentionally act for another person not counting the cost, this is the love that Jesus talks about. Love is not just a feeling; it is willful action and it leads to an abundant life.  

The concern that John is addressing here is that it is hard for us to really see and empathize with the person behind the need. Even though Christians were aware of others’ needs, they refused to open their hands and hearts to them.    

Today we have gotten more sophisticated and generalize about the condition of others and label them with some sort of prejudice so that we can dismiss them as unworthy of our time. They cease to be persons and are just a label. It is their fault that they are in need, and they should help themselves. And so we close off and once again retreat into our own little world of “me first” and “I want;” and the abundant life that God gives us is squandered.  

Please hear God’s voice in the Good Shepherd once again. Listen, really listen. “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” You are a child of God. God loves you and you belong to God. There is no need to run; there is nothing to fear; you abide in God’s love and God’s love abides in you today, tomorrow and forever. Know this; believe this; live this. Everything else is just window dressing and it all passes. God has a relationship with us made possible by Jesus laying down his life for us so we might know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. This relationship is the only thing in our lives that is permanent. Our love of God, God’s love for us, and our love for each other never dies.  

How do we experience this abiding in a continuous relationship? It is an ongoing process. An hourly visit with God once a week is not abiding. We must actively water and nurture this relationship each day. Not only must we read and pray over the scriptures, but also we must develop relationships with other children of God who need love and care so that there is room for God’s seeds of love to grow. It is about relationships. We have a relationship and communion with God; and we are to develop a serving, loving relationship with others not counting the cost. It is the way of God’s love. We now are responsible for bringing God’s love and truth to others. We are to be shepherds for others and bring God’s voice and love into their lives.  

Life is a gift. Live it abundantly for the purposes of your loving God who abides in you.