A Progression to Death or Life?

Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-12, John 3:1-7

A number of months ago my wife and I were at a Dawn Doughnut shop doing something we didn't exactly need to do, but wanted to do, nevertheless -- chowing down a couple of doughnuts. And as we sat there an angry looking man came into the place. In a loud voice, and using some profanity, he demanded that whoever had parked their car so close, next to his truck door, should move it so that he could get into his truck.

Immediately those of us who were sitting there in the Doughnut shop noticed that a woman got up and went out towards her car which, indeed, had been parked a bit too close to the man's truck. And the man followed her and seemed to be continuing his angry language, which was making the woman nervous. For as she was getting into her car the woman slipped on the ice and fell to the pavement. Obviously shaken, but hopefully not hurt, the woman got up and then got into her car and drove away. The truck driver, apparently satisfied, got into his pickup and drove away, as well.

Those of us who were left sitting in the doughnut shop couldn't help but comment on the man's language, rudeness, and lack of patience. One man said, "Maybe if the man had asked her to move it a little more nicely she wouldn't have fallen on the ice." A woman said, "What a jerk! I'd hate to be that man's wife!" Another man wondered why the man hadn't just gotten into his truck on the passenger side and slid across. And Linda and I couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into that man to make him act in such an intolerant way over something as simple as someone parking too close to his truck. What kind of road had he been driving that day to make him act so mean? And, what's worse is that his destructive behavior had inadvertently affected someone who didn't even know him and who hadn't meant inconvenience him. As we sat there, we had to wonder how that woman's day or life might have suddenly been changed because of the unkindness of that man.

The fact is that all of us are on a progression either towards life or towards death. And when I say this I am not only talking about physical life, but I'm also talking about spiritual life. And I'm not only talking about life for ourselves, but life for others, as well. Indeed, we had to wonder about that truck driver at the doughnut shop. For it didn't look like that man was on a progression towards life, either physically or spiritually, either for himself or for those whose lives he touched.

Our Old Testament lesson for today talks about a man by the name of Abram, who was 75 years old at the time he received a message from God to leave his city of Haram and go forth to the land of Cana where God said he would receive a blessing. Now, not even today are there many 75 year olds who would be willing to leave everything they've worked for and go out into the wilderness with their family to begin a new kind of life, in search for something as nebulous as a blessing from God. But, in many ways, this should show us what kind of a man Abram was. Even at his advanced age, he was a man on a progression towards life, rather than towards death.

Now, since we all want to be like Abraham, in this regard, let's examine exactly what he was willing to do for God.

First, of all, as I mentioned before, most people, by the time they have reached the age of 75 have been retired for at least ten years. They're ready to slow down and let the younger generation take over the reigns of everything from business to government. Nevertheless, there are some notable exceptions. For example, last week I was reading about a woman in her 70's who was still actively working for the Social Security Commission. In fact, they couldn't even get into the office without her because she's the first one there every morning to unlock the doors.

Or, as another example, there's another woman in her 80's who has made it her job to be a friend to as many people as possible. In doing this job she puts a sign on a table in the back of a Cafe which reads, "Professional Friend." And, often while she is there she passes out cards to the patrons telling them that if there is anything they need to share with a friend, she is willing to sit with them and listen.

How many of us, even as young as some of us are, are willing to take on the kind of risks that we need to take to break down the barriers that divide people and separate them from one another? In fact, it is often the older, more experienced person who is the better worker than the younger, less experienced person. It is the older person who often makes the far better Sunday School teacher, or committee chairperson or worker. And, yet, too often, as I have sought out persons to be teachers, or leaders, or callers, the excuse I've gotten is "I'm just too old! I've already put in my time!"

Psychologists say that the person who is willing to take on new challenges, the person who is able to bend and change, the person who is flexible at a young age is very likely to be that way as they get older. And, furthermore, it is a well known fact that persons of this particular personality type, more than any other, are among those who reach the age of 100 years, or more.

Thank God Abram didn't say "no" to God when God told him to leave Haran to take on a new challenge. He could have, I suppose. I mean, after all, he had put in his time. He certainly had the right to say, "Let one of those younger whipper snappers do it!" But he didn't say that, because he was, and had always been, on a progression towards life.

Secondly, Abram was on a progression towards life in that he was constantly ready to hear and obey what God had to say to him. And this is something that we can all do, no matter how old we are. But the question is, "How can we hear God's voice, much less obey it?"

The person who is on a progression towards life is the person who makes it a practice to regularly listen to the things that most people take for granted, or just don't hear because of the din of other noises going on all around. And perhaps one of the loudest noises that most people hear is the noise of the self.

For instance, when that truck driver saw that somebody had parked their car so close to his truck that he couldn't get in on the driver's side, the voice of his self suddenly shouted, "I have the right to be angry! I have the right to be indignant and chew somebody out for what they have done to me!" And, so, hearing nothing but that loud, angry, selfish voice, that truck driver felt justified in going into the doughnut shop to shout his crude demands. But, what if he had taken some time to listen to the voice of God, at that point? Perhaps God would have suggested that he forgive the person who did such a dumb thing and just climb in on the passenger side. Or, perhaps God would have suggested that he just go into the restaurant and make a polite request for the owner of the car to move it. He could have done it with a smile. He might have even said something like, "Gee, I'm sorry to make you do this, Ma'am, but I'm in a hurry." But, instead, all he listened to was the noise of the self.

But, more and more, we need to listen to the other voices around us. Certainly, one of these voices is the voices of the Lord. And we can hear this voice speaking to us if we but take the time to do so. All of us have heard that we should count to 10 before saying anything to a person who has presented a problem to us. And perhaps the reason for that is to give God a chance to speak over the noise of the anger we may feel.

But, not only should we listen to the voice of God, but we should take the time to listen to the voice of others around us. All too often persons in our society tend to be hermits, loners, separated one from the other. More than at any other time in our nation's history, people are alone. And this is due to our prosperity and to our technology.

Let me sight some examples. Whereas at one time people went out on the town, to the fraternal organization, to the theater, to the ball room, to the roller skating rink, or to the bowling alley to get their entertainment, thereby rubbing elbows and having fellowship with people, today such places have greater and greater financial difficulties because people would rather stay home in the privacy of their living rooms to watch something entertaining on the television set.	And, whereas people used to ride trains and buses to go places, meeting and talking with all sorts of people in the process, now people go everywhere by themselves, alone, in their cars. In fact, today, it is for this reason that finding a train or a bus that goes to where you would like to go is almost impossible.

I could list many such examples of how our society has changed because of technology and how lonely we are, as a result. And, so, we don't listen to one another, like we used to. And if we don't listen to God, if we don't listen to each other, if we only listen to ourselves, and to our television set, then we have very little guidance, very little company, very little food for thought, very little help in time of trouble, indeed.

Are we on a progression towards life, or death? God offers us life. But we have to listen. And, what's more, we have to follow that voice.

As I look at how Abram followed that voice, I have to marvel. Would most of us have done what Abram did? Undoubtedly, Abram had to buck many things, he had to ignore many voices, and sidestep many social trends and taboos in order to be obedient to God.

But the same is true for us, today. It really isn't all that different. Our decisions in life concerning many things: drugs, alcohol, faithfulness in marriage and other relationships, honesty, getting involved, loving the underdog, being generous, selfless, forgiving, kind, respectful -- all of these decisions will be determined by which voices we are listening to, and which road we are on, the road to life? or the road death?

Amen.