And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people
need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat
And I went in to ask him why
He said “You look like a fine upstanding young man
I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that
Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery
Breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign?
Recognize the song? Signs was a hit in 1971 by the Canadian rock group, Five Man Electrical Band. It was their greatest hit as a band that many would consider to be a “one hit wonder”. Coming out in the turbulent 1970s, the song sort of summarized what that generation felt was taking place across the nation and world. You remember the 70s . . . the Viet Nam War, the hippie movement, civil rights, Watergate, President Nixon resigning the presidency, the Cold War—they were anxious and turbulent times. Lots of tension. The song points out this tension.
There have always been “signs”. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks a lot about signs . . . there are always “signs” for every generation says Jesus. Remember this one from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, verses 25 through 28: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
We live in anxious times. We live in tense times . . . divisive times. The prophets cry out that “the end is near”. They wave their “signs” and point to the evidence found in the world we live in. I imagine all of us have at one time or another thought that the end is coming over the years. We look around and we see the “signs” or at least we should see the “signs”. They are all around us.
As the Apostle Paul continues his discourse in his letter to the congregation in Rome, his hope is that they see the “signs” around them and if not . . . well, then, they need to wake up! “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” Paul is telling the congregation that it is time to wake up and get down to business . . . get down to the business of kingdom building. The time has come . . . get to work!
One of the most difficult challenges that the “church” and faithful have always faced is that of complacency. Too often the “church” and the faithful become complacent because we have already accomplished the goal . . . we have been baptized, secured God’s grace, hit the jackpot, reserved our place in the kingdom, have the golden insurance policy. We have it made. What more is needed? But we forget that simply because we are baptized—that we are saved, that the work is not done. We can’t take it easy. There is lots to be done.
So, wake up! There is still lots to be done.
Which brings up another struggle for the “church” and the faithful . . . urgency. That loss of urgency may be because of complacency. As we read of the start of the “church” one of the foundational components of was its sense of urgency. From the words of Jesus and the “signs” around them they truly believed that they were on a deadline to get business done . . . the end was near. Thus, there was a sense of urgency in all that the early church and faithful went about doing. And we have lost that.
The “signs” have always been there . . . always around us. Yet we have no urgency in our faith . . . no urgency in our churches. Is it because that which the “signs” have always pointed to has not happened? Is that why there is complacency? Well, it doesn’t matter. Jesus told his followers to stay awake . . . to be alert . . . to be prepared . . . because it could happen at any time. Jesus said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36, NIV)
As it was then, so it is today. Paul’s admonishment to “wake up” echoes across the generations of the faithful . . . yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Wake up and get to work.
Maybe this has happened to you. On Friday morning I was deep into LaLa Land . . . I was sawing logs with the best of them when the alarm went off. At first, I thought it was a part of my dream . . . a pleasant noise. So, I ignored it. The second time it went off . . . well, I realized that it was not a dream and I literally jump straight up out of bed in a panic. Friday was a busy day for me as I had a whole lot of stuff that I needed to get done . . . important stuff. Despite my grogginess I willed my body to get moving thanks to the awareness of what I needed to get done. But, boy, did that bed feel good . . .
The apostle is attempting to wake up the groggy congregation . . . attempting to wake us all up. He wants the faithful—the followers of Jesus—to wake up and get to work. What is the “work” that he wants everyone to get to? Well . . . the business of love. Paul wants everyone to open our eyes, ears, minds, souls and every other part of our identity. To become aware of the world around us. To recognize the signs. To do something and that something is love. To practice the kind of love that Jesus modeled. A love of acceptance . . . a grace-full love . . . a love that builds and does not tear down. As Jesus said, this is number one—love.
So . . . wake up! There is still time and much to do. With God all things are possible. So, wake up!
Now whether you agree or not with how I understand the Apostle Paul’s words this morning, one thing we can appreciate is that it is always good to be reminded. Reminded not to put off what we can do and accomplish today because you never know, tomorrow might be too late. Love is what we are called to do and be about as the followers of Jesus. Paul tells us this morning: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time . . .”
The time is now . . .
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery
Breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign?
The time has come . . . wake up! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment