March 14, 2004
Isaiah 55:1-9; I Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9
What a beautiful invitation by the prophet for individuals and a nation to return to God in their attitude and behavior and again reap the good things which God had intended them to enjoy. This scripture is further affirmation of the Old Testament philosophy that when persons and nations obey God they prosper but if they fail to obey God, the judgment of God comes upon them. This judgment comes, the Old Testament teaches, in the form of disappointment, hardship, and possibility destruction. When things were not going well it was customary for the prophets to admonish people to discover what they had done or were doing wrong to cause bad things to come upon them. Among the strengths of Judaism as it evolved was the belief in a "loving" God who would give people a second chance. Isaiah includes "...everyone who thirsts to come to the waters.... and .....seek the Lord while he may be found." He expands his invitation beyond individuals to nations and promises that "...our God...will abundantly pardon." The promise to Abraham could be forfeited because of disobedient behavior. Repentance and changing attitude and behavior could restore "sinners" to a positive relationship with God and hope could be restored as faith was renewed. To the prophets, disobedience to God could cause persons and nations to lose their "birthright". Remorse, repentance, and a return to obedience could restore God's promises which had been withdrawn.
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians strikes a similar theme concerning the terrible consequences of disobedience. He reminds them of the experience of their forefathers and warns them not to fall into the same kind of circumstances. Be careful, said Paul. None of us are beyond doing things that are displeasing to God. "Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Everyone is tempted, says Paul. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man." It is not necessary to yield to temptation because "God is faithful.... and....with the temptation will also provide a way of escape." The emphasis is again on the goodness and longsuffering of God. Restoration to a faith which gives hope is available for those who fall--but only at their initiative. There is no excuse to continue in disobedience. There is every reason to "return" and enjoy a good relationship with God now, and in the future, when failure has been experienced. This, says Paul, is a gift made available by the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sounds a lot like "unconditional love" doesn't it. The gift is not automatic but it is available to anyone who will claim it. Notice the process at work! In the Old Testament "the gift" was earned by obedience! In the New Testament, the gift is received by faith resulting in works that are harmonious with the way and will of God!
For Jesus, the test of a healthy religious faith was not in the past but in the present and the fruit it bears in the future. Persons can be forgiven of their past wrongdoing Jesus taught, but change in the heart is demonstrated through a change in attitude and behavior. It is not enough to sacrifice a dove! It is not enough to say "I'm sorry". It is only enough when there is sufficient inner change to bring about an outer change resulting in the bearing of good fruit. Jesus told the story of the keeper of a fig tree which bore no fruit. The advice was to do everything possible to nurture its health. If it bears fruit next year, the keeper was told, "well and good", but it not, "cut it down".
The strength of Christianity in bringing "the kingom of God to earth", i.e. making our earth home the kind of safe place for God's human family to dwell in security that God wishes it to be, is found not in rhetoric but in the way life is expressed. The sacrificial aspect of religion is insufficient. God is not looking for gifts such as animal sacrifices or symbolic rituals. God is looking for the kind of lives which reflect unconditional love for one another, healthy living, and progress in expressing life in a manner which is harmonious with the ways and will of God. The search to learn more perfectly how God would have human life to be lived never ends. The gifts that come our way through striving to live life as God intended it to be lived, are never ending.