Travel Plans

June 25, 2017                                             NOTES NOT EDITED
Travel Plans

John 14:1-14

Sermon-in-a-Sentence:  Jesus has promised to be with us on life’s journey and guarantee our safe arrival in Heaven.

I have great theological differences with the Catholic Church.  I would never suggest this path for someone who wants to honor Christ and live according to what God has revealed in the Bible.  That being said, I can appreciate the depth of devotion of the early Catholic servants, call them saints if you will.  Many were men of deep devotion to spiritual matters.  As I studied for my sermon this week titled, “Travel Plans,” I came across an interesting fellow called, St. Brendan the Voyager.  He lived about 500 years after Christ.  Ordained an Irish priest at the age of 26, St. Brendan became a “voyager.”  He sailed from Ireland to Scotland, Wales, France, and Brittany establishing monasteries.  Finally setting out on a seven-year voyage for Paradise.  His life is as much the matter of myth and legend as it is fact.  Stories of his life have parallels in Irish mythologies, as well as other famous stories like Sinbad the Sailor, and Pinocchio.  What attracted my attention is a prayer supposedly written by St. Brendan called, The Journey Prayer. 

God, bless to me this day, // God, bless to me this night;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace, // Each day and hour of my life;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace, // Each day and hour of my life.

God, bless the pathway on which I go;
God, bless the earth that is beneath my sole;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love,
O God of gods, bless my rest and my repose;
Bless, O God, and give to me Thy love,
And bless, O God of gods, my repose.

All of us are “voyagers.”  We are all on our respective journeys.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, matters more than to have God’s blessing upon our travels.  Without the blessings of God, our journeys are doomed to despair and difficulty and will never reach the safe harbor of Heaven.  Jesus has promised to be with us on our journeys and to guarantee our safe arrival into Heaven.  Let’s read about the Travel Plans Jesus has for our lives—John 14:1-14.

There are many issues to consider when traveling.

1.  The Destination (1-6; 7-14, esp. 2-3)

² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
Every journey has a destination, even if you don’t have specific plan in mind.  Everyone is going to end up somewhere in the journey we call life.  The destination drives and defines the journey.  What exactly is the destination Jesus is pointing to in this passage, a final address before He is crucified?  Several clues are given in the text.

One, Jesus says believers are headed to “my Father’s house” (v2).  Two, Jesus calls a believer’s destination, “dwelling places” (2b).  Third, Jesus simply describes our destination as “a place” (3).  So, here’s what we know:  disciples of Jesus are heading to a place to dwell that is owned and operated by the Heavenly Father.  We call that place, heaven.  Now, when Jesus declared this encouraging news to the disciples, they responded with looks of confusion as evidenced by their doubt and questions.  Thomas, ever the doubter speaks for the others, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, and we don’t know the way” (v5). 

The Bible nowhere gives a complete description of Heaven.  Paul visited there and this is what he said,

² I know a man in Christ who was caught up  into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know, God knows. ³ I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know, God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise.  He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.
The word, “inexpressible,” best describes a believer’s final destination.  Heaven is simply “beyond words” or as the NET Bible declares, “too sacred,” to put into words. 

Poets have tried to describe heaven.  

Peered I, up to the heavens. So stunned, I stood in awe.
His hand swept over East to West and this is what I saw...
A sight exposing every truth, that made me nearly faint.
A sight, that in a million years, no man could ever paint.

Emily Dickinson wrote 

I went to Heaven --'Twas a small Town --
Lit -- with a Ruby --Lathered -- with Down --
Stiller -- than the fields // At the full Dew --
Beautiful -- as Pictures -- No Man drew.

If Paul could not find words to describe Heaven, and even declared it “too sacred to put into words” (NET Bible), then I will simply leave the matter with what Jesus said.  Heaven, our destination, is a real place; a place we will live and dwell; and a place owned and overseen by the Father.  In fact, Jesus describes Heaven not as much as what it is or where it is, but “Who” is there.  It is the home of the Father. The entire second half or our reading today, verses 7-14, deal with “Who” will be in Heaven—the Father.  Jesus was going home to the Father, and promised we too would come home to the Father.

2.  The Travel Agent (1)

¹“Your heart must not be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in Me.  In other words, Jesus was saying, “Trust me, I’m God’s travel agent.  I’ll take care of all the details.”

Another issue with traveling is “making all the arrangements.”  On many trips of lesser significance and challenge, we might make the arrangements ourselves.  On more extensive travel, a wise person would seek out the services and assistance of a “travel agent.”  On our journey from here to eternity, Jesus is our “Travel Agent.”  Verses 2-3 show Jesus in the capacity of making all the arrangements for our travel to Heaven.

² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.

In verse 33 Jesus said something very troubling.  It was one of many statements that troubled the disciples in the last few weeks of the Lord’s earthly ministry.  Jesus said in chapter 13, verse 33:

³³ “Children, I am with you a little while longer.  You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’

Jesus was talking specifically about dying on the cross in ** days.  Peter, having no idea of the coming crucifixion, blurts out, “I will lay down my life for you” (13:37).  We know that Peter not only did not die for Jesus at that time, but he would even deny the Lord.  Jesus prophesied, “I assure you: a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times” (13:38).  Not once, but three times!

What Jesus was trying to impress upon these disciples, and upon us as we read these words, is that travelling from here to heaven requires we trust completely in Jesus.  He is God’s “Travel Agent.”  He makes all the preparations.  When we try to plan our own travel in this life we fail as surely and miserably as Peter.

3.  The Accommodations (2)

Let me say another word about the “accommodations” we will have when we get to heaven.  While we don’t know everything about heaven, or even most things about heaven, we do know they will be properly “prepared.”  Jesus said, and I paraphrase, “By the time God calls you to heaven, by death or the rapture, I will have your room exquisitely prepared down to the heavenly mint on your pillow!”

I don’t usually stay in Five Star Hotels when I travel.  Our accommodations are usually more like Three Stains on the Sheet Motels.  In these motels you are more likely to find a bug on your pillow than a mint.  When my Mom died we travelled to McMechen, W.Va., the town where Charles Manson spent much of his childhood, and stayed in motel just down the road a piece from Mom’s house.  It was the Reilley Inn. 

Shari and I still laugh at the “slightly less than five star” accommodations!

Don’t worry about your eternal accommodations.  They are personally prepared by the Lord Himself.  Again, we can only talk in hyperbole and metaphor in trying to describe what is being “prepared” for those who travel this life with Jesus.  Paul says this:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1Cor. 2:9).

In heaven, we will all live under the same roof and in the same dwelling as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  In the culture of Jesus, sons and daughters would occupy rooms in the family mansion.  Hence the words of the gospel song, “I’ve got a mansion, just over the hilltop.”

4.  The Directions (4, 6)

A very practical issue we must deal with in travelling is getting the directions.  We have already examined the confusion Jesus created when He told His disciples in verse 4:

“you know the way!”  They all scratched their heads in bewilderment because they felt they not did NOT KNOW THE WAY, but they didn’t even know the destination!  Jesus was creating a teaching moment. 

I know I’ve had a few teaching moments when I felt I was lost and driving in circles!

When Thomas speaks up and says, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way” (v5), Jesus answers with one of the most descriptive and instructive verses in the Bible in regard to His identity.  Jesus does not give an “informational” answer to the question of directions to heaven, but He gives a “personal” answer.  He says,

“I am THE Way.  I am THE Truth.  I am THE Life.  Nobody come to the Father except through me.” (v6).

The Way to heaven is not a religious path but a Redeeming Person.  There are not many ways to get to heaven.  There is only one way—Jesus.  Our pluralistic society that worships at the altar of diversity where as one Christian song writer said, “Nothing’s right and nothing’s right, it’s relativity divinve” (Barry Macquire), people do not like the Christian doctrine of Jesus being the only way of salvation.

But, He is.  It is as foolish to say all roads lead to heaven as it is to say all roads lead to Alaska. 

So, knowing the directions for our journey means knowing Jesus as Our Lord and Savior.  Jesus makes this clear using two very significant words in the Bible—”believing (vs1)” and “knowing (six times in verses 4 through nine).  Jesus then switches back to using the word “believe” twice in verses 10 through 11.  The word know in our English translations represents two synonyms in the Greek.

Both the Greek word for believe and the Greek word for know include the ideas of intimacy and intensity.  The Way to heaven is to follow the path of an intimate and intense relationship with Jesus Christ.

Neither the idea of believing or knowing refers simply to acquiring information about a person.  A person can know everything there is to know about Jesus Christ and “still split hell wide open” as an evangelist friend of mine likes to say.  It is not enough to know “about” Jesus.  A person must have had an intense and intimate encounter with Jesus in a moment of spiritual crisis in order to be saved and destined for heaven.

As one writer puts it, “there are many church goers who want all the benefits Jesus provides but none of the sacrifice.” (Idleman, Not a Fan). 

Jesus is the Way . . . the “only” way to get to heaven.  Jesus has promised to travel with us on this road of life and guarantee our safe arrival into heaven.  We just have to trust Him.

Heaven is our destination.  Jesus is our Travel Agent.  God’s provides the accommodations in His house; and Jesus gives us the directions—He is the directions.  But, what is the crowning jewel of any vacation.  For the Griswold family travelling in their 1979 Wagon Queen Family Truckster Station Wagon, the moment of sheer delight comes when they arrive—somewhat battered from a few detours—to the gates of Walley World (National Lampoon’s Family Vacation).  Not recommended because of crude humor and excessive nonsense).  For a believer in Christ, the crowning jewel of our journey with the Lord is 

5.  The Arrival Into Heaven (3)

Notice the certainty in the words of Jesus in verse 3:  “I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

This promise is why Jesus begins our reading today by saying, “Don’t let your heart be troubled!”  As a preacher said one time, “I am not worried about the future.  I’ve read The Book, and I know who wins.”

Our hope as believers in Christ is the promise of the Second Coming.  The Bible talks a great deal about the Second Coming.  Paul calls it “the blessed hope.”  Not just, “hope,” but “blessed” hope.  Titus 2:13 says,

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

After wandering far away from home and ending up on skid row living like a pig in a pig sty (literally), the prodigal son decides to go back to his home and ask for his father’s forgiveness.  This is a picture of a believer repenting of his or her sin and being saved, but it is also a metaphor for what happens when we arrive back home to heaven.  The Bible tells us that the Father scheduled a party!

²² “But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe  and put it on him; put a ring  on his finger  and sandals  on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf  and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and is alive again;  he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate (Lk. 15:22-24).

The Book of Revelation also describes the Party God will be throwing one day called, The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

⁷ Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. ⁸ She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. ⁹ Then he  said to me,  “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast  of the Lamb are fortunate!” (Rev. 19:7-9).

Jesus has promised to be with us on life’s journey and to guarantee our safe arrival in heaven.  Everybody’s journey is different.  It is the destination that finally unites all of God’s children with a glorious celebration in His eternal home.

As many of you know, I have been studying at McDonald's (or Chic Fil A) nearly every day for about 8 years. It reminds me why I preach in the first place.  Today, I saw a little girl. Well, she used to be a little girl. Now, she is a young lady. I've watched her grow up. She comes in with her Dad who always wears a Fedora Hat. She has autism and communicates with a briefcase-like device with programmable buttons. Usually I hear it say, "Diet Coke" signaling she’d like a refill. Her Dad is so very patient and loving. She is a bit unpredictable. She often startles the crowd if they haven't been around her. In fact, she startles me and I've seen her for years!

I watched her today. She is so happy. She always smiles. She is actually quite well behaved within her limits. I wondered today if she may have a relationship with the Lord that we "normal" folk cannot even imagine.
She is a part of "God’s world." That makes her a part of “my” world. I have never moved past, "Hi," with her Dad, but I pray someday I might. I'd just like to tell him what a beautiful daughter he has. I'd like to thank him for allowing her to bless my life over these last 8 years.

God created her and has a beautiful plan for her, just like all of us. Our journeys are not often without challenges of one kind or another.  I will never know what God's plan for her may be, but in a very, very, very small and insignificant way, I am a part of that plan as I pray for her and her family each time I see them.

They may never know I have prayed for them. They don't know I'm on the journey with them.  That is OK. God knows. God cares. God loves. God has travel plans for her, too. Maybe someday, I will get the opportunity to share God’s “Travel Plans” with them.

Life is a journey.  Don’t travel without Jesus.

Fathers Day 2017

June 18, 2017                            NOTES NOT EDITED

Father’s Day:  Mr. Potato Head’s Guide to Parenting

Selected

SIS—Our nation’s future success depends on how well Fathers pass on the knowledge and skills of godly living.

INTRO    A mom and her young son were sitting at the dining room table looking through an old picture album.  They came to one particular page and mom pointed out a handsome young man sitting with her on the family’s sofa.  The young man had a full head of thick, dark, curly hair.  With pride and fondness the mom said, “That’s a picture of your Daddy!”  Hoping to see a sense of pride bubble up in her son, she was kind of shocked by what he said.  With a note of surprise, almost shock in his voice the little boy blurted out:  “If that’s a picture of Daddy, then who is the bald guy in the living room watching T.V.?”

Well, time brings a lot of changes.  We men tend to get bigger bellies and balder heads.  Hopefully, as we get older, we also get wiser.  The Bible says,

^{Job 12:12} Wisdom is found with the elderly,

and understanding comes with long life

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great transcendental poet, said:  The years teach much which the days never knew.   We often miss seeing the forest of the years because of the trees of the daily grind.  We need to have an “eternal” view of the importance of fatherhood.

                                                                       

I’m afraid that our nation is full of Dad’s who are getting older, but not necessarily getting wiser.  This Father’s Day, the message is not just a “How-To Lesson” on raising children.  It is a prophetic call for all the men of our nation, supported by godly wives, to take the lead to train up a new generation of children who love God and are equipped to change the world for Christ.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a single man with no children, an older man with grown children, a man who has never had children, a grandfather, uncle, or whatever . . . we all have a prophetic call to build-up a new generation of believers who can influence this nation for Christ.

Just like it takes a plan to build a bridge, a skyscraper or anything else, it takes a plan to build godly children.  Today, I want to share with you just such a plan.  I call it:  “A Spud’s Guide to Parenting.”  This plan is so simple and such a sure-fire way of building godly children that even a potato head can be successful.  The Bible tells us clearly that it is the “father’s responsibility” to assure a godly training for his children:  Deut 6:4-9

⁴ “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  ^{e 5} Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  ⁶ These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.  ⁷ Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol  on your forehead.  ^{k 9} Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

A few years ago in the New Republic news journal a writer declared,

“Fatherhood isn’t brain surgery . . . most men I know have an instinct

for fatherhood that is triggered the day their first child [is] born.”

  

I totally agree.  Being a great father is within the grasp of every Dad.  In fact, one of the greatest Dad’s ever gives us a simple strategy forbuilding successful children.  His name is “Mr. Potato Head.” I’ve always been fascinated with “Mr. Potato Head.”  He was born

in 1952 at . . .  He’s has been involved with literally millions of children who have grown up to be quite successful.  What is his strategy?  Well, a successful strategy has at least five important parts.

1.  EYES: We must Shape What Our Children See (Hab 1:13)

¹³ _⌊Your_⌋ eyes are too pure  to look on evil,

 and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

Now, let me say very clearly that I DO NOT advocate isolating children and youth from general participation in society.  We are not Amish. As believers we must be as Our Lord prayed we’d be:  “In the world, but not of the world.”  Insulated by grace, not isolated by fear.

This does not mean that we do not “screen” the activities that our students participate in.  For example, in our highly sexualized society it is impossible for a boy or young man to go out in public and not see women dressed provocatively.  In fact, if you go to the Mall today you will see women dressed in a way that would have gotten them interrogated for being prostitutes only 50 years ago.

We cannot shield our children’s eyes from all the provocative dress and general evil of the marketplace.  However, we must protect our children from being completely bombarded by unnecessary evil.

I’m almost to the point of throwing away our T.V.s.  It is almost impossible to even watch a news show that is not full of gratuitous violence, foul language, or provocatively dressed newscasters.  And, there’s the advertisements that bombard our T.V. airwaves using sex to sell everything from Fritos to Ferraris.

The same caution goes for movies as well.  If a movie has an “R” rating, it is not fit for adults, much less children.  In fact, some movies that now have and “R” rating, would have been considered pornography when I was a kid.

So, Mr. Potato Head would remind us that godly children need eyes that are “too pure to take in evil.”

2.  EARS: We must Shape What Our Children Hear (Ex 29:20)

All of what I just said about guarding the eyes of our children, applies to guarding the ears of our children as well. 

But, the Bible has something very unique to say about the “ears” that I want us to take note of.  As the Israelites were being delivered out of the bondage of slavery—which represents mankind being delivered from the bondage of sin—some special instructions for holy living were given.  One such instruction involved the anointing of priests.  Keep in mind, that since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all believers are “priests” before God (1Peter 2:9)

In the ceremony of consecration that all priests went through, we read this about the anointing of their ears:

^{Ex 29:20} Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on his sons’ right earlobes,

There is much symbolism in this act of anointing the ears.  It represents “ownership of and devotion to” Almighty God.  This anointing teaches that we are devoted to the One to whom we listen.  If our ears are given over to listening to the lies of the Devil, we will be a slave to the Devil.  If our ears are given to hearing and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be a slave to Jesus Christ.

Another interesting practice involving the “ears” involves “piercing of the ears.”  Deuteronomy 15:12-18 tells of a “love slave.”  That is a slave that was set free after six years but decided to stay in the household as a slave for life.  To signify this life-long relationship as a slave, the owner would drive an awl through the earlobe of the slave and into the door.  Such a person was a “slave forever.”

If we hope to build godly children who will be able to influence this world for Christ, we have to “guard their ears” and teach them how to hear God’s voice through reading His Word, and instill in them the strength of character to not only hear, but to obey.  Once again we hear from the ancient patriarch, Job these words of wisdom:

^{Job 12:11} Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

NOW, LET ME SAY THIS AS CLEARLY AND KINDLY AS I CAN:  NO CHRISTIAN PARENT SHOULD ALLOW THE UNGODLY GOVERNMENT SCHOOL SYSTEM TO HAVE OUR CHILDRENS EAR 185 DAYS A YEAR FOR TWELVE YEARS!

Our goal, if we are serious about changing the world, must include getting every child of Christian parents out of the government forced schooling program and into a God-honoring classroom where they learn to “hear God’s voice and do God’s will.”

3.  LIPS: We Must Shape How Our Children Talk (Eph 4:14-15)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head —Christ.

One of the most important aspects of being a mature, world-changing believer is to learn how to “speak effectively the truth of God’s Word” to a dying and deceived world.  So many Christians guard what they see and guard what they hear, but turn around and allow the Devil to have full control of the tongue.

We must shape our children’s lips so the not only “say the right things, but they say them effectively.”  We cannot over-emphasize the importance of the “tongue.”  The Apostle James (3:5-6) warns us:

⁵ So too, though the tongue is a small part _⌊of the body_⌋, it boasts great things.  Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our _⌊bodies_⌋. It pollutes the whole body,  sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

I often think about what the Apostle John said when he was living in exile alone on a deserted island.  Though old and in exile, John was not defeated.  He tells us the source of the victory in his life.  He said,

“They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

To build a new generation of world-changers who can influence the world for Christ, we need to “shape their lips.”  We need to build children who talk like Christians should talk.

4.  HANDS: Teach Our Children How to Make A Living

Once again, let’s look at the verse concerning the consecration of the priests—the ministers of God.  Ex. 29:19-20 says:

²⁰ Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on his sons’ right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands.

I’m sure you have heard the expression, “idle hands are the Devil’s playground.”  This old adage is meant to warn us of the dangers of laziness.  Paul gives us this exhortation in the Word: 1Thess 4:10-11

¹⁰ In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia.  But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more, ¹¹ to seek to lead a quiet life,  to mind your own business,  and to work  with your own hands,

The last statistic I read in regard to our nation’s tax system is that over 50% of the population did not pay any taxes at all.  That means that 6 out of every 10 Americans are in some way dependent upon the government to provide their basic needs.  We have become a “welfare nation” with a major portion of our citizens dependent upon the government. We need to teach our youth the value of hard work, and the value of being “independent.”

Solomon wisely instructs us in the Book of Proverbs (28:19)

⁹ The one who works his land will have plenty of food,

but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

A wise father, and by extension a wise church, builds youth who value hard-work and independence.

5.  FEET: What It Means To Be On Mission for God

The Book of Exodus again helps us recognize an important way in which we can build successful, satisfied youth.  Ex 29:19-20 says,

²⁰ Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on his sons’ right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet.

Paul also mentions the importance of “holy feet” (Rom 10:15)

How beautiful are the feet of those 
who announce the gospel of good things!

We need young people who will surrender to carry the gospel into all the world, and we need older people who will give sacrificially to see that there are resources to support these young evangelists.  We need to train them not only what is “the right thing to say, but how to say it effectively.”  I must say, the false cult of the Mormon church is doing a much better job of sending out their youth to evangelize the world than the True Church.

As we mentioned with the “lips,” we need young people who can defend the truth of the gospel in an effective manner, and not only walk the walk, but talk the talk.

Feet move the body.  Spiritual feet represent a devotion to the mission of God—a sense of being His ambassador to the world.  Having spiritual feet means moving beyond the status quo to develop new, innovative, creative, flexible ways to share the gospel.  We need to develop young people who will move “out of their comfort zones” and move into the “spiritual war zones.”  To build youth with “spiritual feet” we need to be adults with spiritual feet.  We need to teach our youth to be “pioneers for Christ, not campers for Christ.”

It is interesting that the same verse that talked about ministers of God being anointed on the ear lobes, also talk about being anointed on the feet.  It is not enough just to “hear” God’s voice, we need to “move according to what He says.”  We need to put our faith to work. Or, as someone has said, “We need to put feet to our prayers.”

With godly ears our young people hear the Word of God and with godly feet they carry that message into the world.  For the most part, the church has its feet stuck in the mud—or even cement.  We have not done a good job of instilling in our youth a sense of being on a mission for God.

Building godly children is not “rocket science.”  Even a “potato head” can do it.  The plan is simple, even though the results are profound.  We need to give our children godly eyes that do not look on evil, godly ears that listen intently for the voice of God, godly lips that speak the truth that they hear, godly hands that value hard work, and godly feet that move out boldly on mission with God to change the world, and finally,

But, there is one part that must be added if our children are going to become world-changing ambassadors for Christ.  They need

6.  A HEART with a Single-minded, All-Consuming Love For the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matt 22:37-38 Jesus Christ sums up the entire truth of God’s Word with a simple instruction:  ³⁷ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  ^{i 38} This is the greatest and most important command..

      

Why do the majority of church folk have such a hard time even coming close to following the Ten Commandments, much less living a life that mirrors the sacrifice and devotion to God of Our Lord Jesus Christ?  It is because they really have not obeyed the “First Commandment.”  Forget the other 9:  we fall short after just #1.

“Have no other gods before me!”(Exodus 20:3)

Our nation, indeed the world, is sliding into a path of destructiondown the sewer pipe of immorality because so many church folkhave “divided hearts.”  Our world is a mess and the first place we

need to look to assign blame is at the doorstep of the church.

We have for the most part failed to build into our children and youth a “heart” that is passionate for God.

James tells us how to have a victorious, powerful relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  He says:   James 1:5-8

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.  ⁶ But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

We as God’s people are so “divided” in our affections.  It is not that we do not love God at all—we just don’t love Him as the All in All.  We divide our allegiances and our devotions and wonder why God I not moving powerfully in our lives, our children’s lives, the life of our church, or the life of our nation.

If God is just one priority of many—He’s not a priority at all and James says, “We should not expect to receive anything from Him.”

Every time we fathers act in a manner inconsistent with what wesay we believe, we create a divided heart in our children.  We blur the lines of God’s truth and our children cannot find their way in the

world.  When we take the family fishing on God’s day—we create a divided heart in our children.  When we make soccer a priority over church—we create a divided heart in our children. 

I’m sorry if this offends anyone (actually, I’m not sorry), but we cannot hope to build youth with a passionate heart for God and His work, if we as fathers (mothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents) have divided hearts.  A person cannot serve “both God and mammon.”

Sadly, the few churches that actually have any youth who stay as young adults, end up with the same kind of passionless, apathetic, stuck-in-the-rut church members as the adults that created them.

A heart for God must be taught.  It must be modeled.  It is not so much what we say with our lips, but what we do with our lives that builds faith in our children.

Where do we spend the majority of our leisure time.  If it is on thelake, then we are teaching our children to love the lake as the Lord.If we spend most of our leisure time golfing, we teach our childrento love the greens as the Lord.  If we spend most of our leisuretime camping, we teach our children to love the forest as the Lord.But . . . if we spend the majority of our time at church and serving the Lord with ALL our hearts, we teach our children to lovethe God of the Bible with all their hearts.

MR. POTATO HEAD SAYS, “You can build some great littlespuds if you put them together according to God’s design.”

He also warns: “Be careful how you build your little spuds – you only get one chance to get it right.”

I’m praying that every adult here this morning will commit themselves to putting together our youth according to God’s design. The next generation in our church will be exactly what we design them to be.  

If Mr. Potato Head can get all the parts in the right place, then following God’s design, we as fathers, grandfathers, uncles, along with mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other adults can put together a new generation of “spuds” who can change the world.

We cannot afford to lose another generation.  Fathers, God is counting on us—along with every other adult Christian.