This year for the Advent season I decided to preach a series of messages called "The Journey." Of course the impetus behind this series was that biblically, there are a LOT of people traveling in the Christmas story, and in our 24/7/365 day world--we are ALWAYS on the move.
I began December with "In the Beginning" giving a biblical overview of why God came to earth. I followed that with "To Grandmother's House we Go" focusing on the genealogies of Jesus and why they are important. I had planned for today to be "Are We There Yet?" dealing with the prophecies of Christmas (especially Isaiah). And then...Friday came, even while I was studying the last few passages of my message I heard the report that there had been yet another school shooting...this time in Newtown, CT and elementary children were killed.
All through the day, through the night, throughout Saturday and most of the evening I prayed and struggled. When Columbine,Virginia Tech, and 911 happened I somehow addressed each event from the pulpit with a defense of free will and the falleness of humanity but with a focus on what God has done through Christ to reconcile these issues and offer hope. Regardless, what would I say now that innocent elementary children have lost their lives!?!? In the broadest sweeping generalization there is really no difference but existentially I knew better, and SO close to Christmas!
I continued to struggle...should I alter my message? Should I continue on with my original plan? Should I scrap what I had and start again by addressing familiar issues when tragedy strikes?
The more I wrestled the more, I think, God spoke "peace" to my heart. I did alter my message, a little, but by-and-large it was exactly what I had prepared and I think it is important enough to share here...NOT because the message was anything great--but precisely to demonstrate how God work...
I altered the opening...instead of what I had planned, I told them about my dilemma, then I clearly stated that sometimes on our journey to find Jesus we must travel through dark pathways while we wait for the light--wondering IF we will ever get there!
I reminded them that Israel waited at least 1,700 years (assuming a "generation" is roughly 40 years Matt 1 states 14 X 3 X 40--imprecise and not factual but perhaps a ball park figure). When Israel was at its worst, fearing that God had forsaken them--God raised up prophets who spoke messages of hope--that though the darkness seem consuming right now--Light is more powerful than darkness).
I focused on Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6ff--600 years before the Light...God was already at work in the darkness! After an exposition of what the titles and implications of these passages means for the Christmas story I reminded them that even in this dark hour Christmas MUST go on...because without Christmas there is no hope that the darkness can be overcome. Christ becoming incarnate is a historical fact but Christmas is not about what has been, but about what could be...because of what God does in the manger there is HOPE---the journey to find Jesus OFTEN leads us along paths of darkness but we need not remain in the darkness--because our God is greater than that.
If the comments after the service were any indication--God did exactly what He had in mind. He took what I had already planned and made it speak hope to those who shared the heavy hearts of those affected by the latest attempt for darkness to overcome the Light.
This is EXACTLY why Christmas MUST go on this year!! For this is the reason that the Light has come---to shine in the darkness and to offer hope to those who find themselves on the journey...in the darkness.
I believe, help me with my unbelief.
P.S. The following weeks in The Journey series will focus on:
- 12/23--Mary & Joseph traveling to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus
- 12/30--The shepherds and wise men traveling to worship
- 1/6--Simeon and Anna waiting for the journey to be over.
