Make the Most of Today

Mark 13:1-8

November 15, 2009 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

Tim Sanders—former chief solutions officer at Yahoo! had this thought. “Take your life and all the things that you think are important and put them in one of three categories: glass, metal, and rubber.

Things that are made of rubber, when dropped, will bounce back. Nothing really happens when these things get dropped. So, if he missed a Seahawks’ game, his life would bounce along real fine. Missing a game will not alter his marriage or his spiritual life.

Things made of metal, when dropped, create a lot of noise. But you can recover from the drop. You make a mistake in your checkbook and get notified by the bank you’ve been spending more than you have—that’s going to create a little bit of noise in your life, but you can recover from it.

When you drop something made of glass it shatters into pieces and will never be the same. Even though you can piece it back together, it will still be missing some pieces. It certainly won’t look the same and you probably can’t fill it with water. Breaking something glass will forever affect how it’s used. [PreachingToday.com, “How to Develop Priorities” (Tim Sanders, www.sanderssay.typepad.com, 8/25/06)].

What in your life is glass? What things in your life, when dropped, will never be the same? Those are the things that are important for today since we have no guarantees on tomorrow.

What Isn’t Important

Jesus, in Mark 13:1-13, also talked about what is important and what is not important.

The disciples were impressed with the Temple which was truly a magnificent building. However, Jesus told them to not be too excited about the temple because it would be completely destroyed. And in 70 A.D., about 36 years later, it was destroyed.

They wanted to know when this would happen. Jesus began to tell them of signs that the destruction of the temple would happen.

Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.” [Mk.13:5-6]. False prophets will step up to claiming to be the Messiah. Some people will believe them, but the disciples must not.

Jesus also told them that there would be wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and famines. All these things would happen – and did happen – before the temple was destroyed.

Jesus said that they would be arrested, beaten by the political and religious authorities. Yet this would be an opportunity for them to tell the governors and kings about Jesus and become his witnesses. The Holy Spirit would give them words to speak. Even family members would betray one another and have them put to death. They would be hated by many people because of their commitment to Jesus. All these things would happen to them.

We are still looking for signs of what is to come – of when Jesus will return. But all the things Jesus told them would happen were simply things that were to be expected. These things are still happening today. There are wars and violent uprisings between nations and people of different political, religious and social perspectives.

Christians are still persecuted, betrayed by family members, and even put to death. Jesus is still saying to us that these things are expected. They do not predict the future.

So much of what happens everyday is rubber or metal. We worry about things that never happen, about things that do not threaten our lives or our families, about things that are temporary like a car, house, electronic gadgets, or things. Most things in life we can bounce back from even if they make a lot of noise at the moment.

What Is Important

What are the really important things in your life? One new Christian book is entitled 99 Things to Do Between Here and Heaven. I’m not sure it has the answers, but I know which book does have the right answers – the Holy Bible.

In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul wrote: “Follow God’s example in everything you do because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.”

It’s important for us to follow Jesus’ example because of what he has done for us. It’s also important because, as syndicated New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman explains, anyone we meet could have a cell phone with a camera that could record our actions. If we’re rude or misbehave, we could end up on the offended person’s blog or MySpace website for the whole world to see.

So we should take great care about how we live our lives, because someone is watching and maybe taking pictures. [PreachingToday.com, “Someone Is Watching.” Thomas Friedman, “The Whole World Is Watching,” New York Times (6/27/07)].

People may never read a Bible, but they “read” us. How we treat others, the stranger or unacceptable, how we respond to people who are rude to us, what we do when we think no one is looking, show others what is means to be a Christian.

If you and I don’t show others by our lives that the teachings of Jesus make us better people, they will never believe what the Bible or the preacher says. Our transformed lives are proof that the Bible is true.

If Christians are too casual, too indifferent, about how their unchristian behavior looks to people who aren’t Christians, they deny the power of God to change lives.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” [Eph.5:15-16].

So what is important? It’s important that we tell people about Jesus so that the gospel is “preached to all nations” [v.10],that we “stand firm to the end” [v.13].

Living for Christ is a daily challenge. We have to choose to live every day so that if someone takes our picture and puts it on MySpace, we won’t embarrass God. We are to live as children of light.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5: “For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it. For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” [vs.1, 8-9].

I read a story about seven people who were caught in an elevator during a power failure. At first there was panic as all seven strangers talked at once. Then one man remembered the tiny flashlight he had in his pocket. When he turned it on, fear was gone. During the 45 minutes they were stuck together they told jokes, laughed and even sang. Ephesians 5:8 says we are that flashlight. Just as a flashlight draws power from batteries, we draw power from Jesus. As light we dispel fear, bring relief, and lift spirits. We don’t even have to be big to be effective. We just have to be “on.” [PreachingToday.com, “Flashlights for the World.” (Luci Swindoll, “Heart to Heart,” Today’s Christian Woman)]. We just have to be “on.”

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” [Mt.5:16]. And keep your light “on” today.

Today Matters

The Apostle Peter says we should “live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God. … So then, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” [2Pet3:11-12,14].

We need to seriously consider how we live today, because tomorrow is coming. Tomorrow we may be standing before Jesus.

John Stott said: “I’m a visitor. I wouldn’t presume to speak about America. But I know what Great Britain is like. I know something about the growing corruption, immorality, violence, pornography, the lack of honesty, diminishing respect for human life, and the increase in abortion.

Whose fault is it? Let me put it like this: if the house is dark at night, don’t blame the house. That’s what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, “Where is the light?”

If meat goes bad, don’t blame the meat. That’s what happens when the bacteria are allowed to grow. The question to ask is, “Where’s the salt?”

If society becomes corrupt like a dark night or stinking fish, there’s no sense in blaming society. That’s what happens when fallen human society is left to itself and human evil is unrestrained. The question to ask is, “Where’s the church?” [PreachingToday.com, “Where Is the Church?” (John Stott, “Christians: Salt and Light,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 109)].

We are the church, God’s people. We can’t blame our immorality, dishonesty, disrespect for others and corrupt lives on the world. That’s the way the world is.

But what about the church? Where are the ones who are called to be light? Why isn’t our light “on”?

Do our lives reflect the world or Jesus in us?

· Our language should reflect God’s light in us.

· The way we treat our family members and friends should reveal Christ’s light in us.

· The way we do our work or do our school work should show our commitment to living in the light.

· The things we do for fun, for entertainment should reflect the light in us.

If we break our promise to follow Jesus and live according to his commands, to shine the light of Christ in the world for others to see, then our witness for Christ is shattered like glass.

God will forgive us. However, those who are watching us may never know the forgiveness of God because of our shattered image.

Jesus will return to claim his people. There may be signs of his return. But today we need to shine our light for Jesus.

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may be too late. So make the most of today. Live as children of light.

Let the Holy Spirit help you keep your light “on” so that you can make the most of each today. Amen.

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This sermon is copyright ©2009 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.