Where are you going?

Readings: Psalm 40:1-11, Isaiah 49:1—7, John 1:29-42, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Preached at First Presbyterian Church, Baldwin, NY, January 23rd 2011

A PDF printable file can be found here

If someone asks you to follow them it’s reasonable to ask, “Where are you going?” As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee He saw Simon and Andrew and asked them to follow. They didn’t ask questions. Neither, a little while later did James or John when He called them.

It’s a strange thing. When people hear the call of Jesus Christ to follow, they don’t ask “Where are you going?” When we encounter Jesus, that question is turned around. We are the ones challenged to ask ourselves where our lives will be heading if we refuse to respond to His invitation.

It’s a fair question isn’t it? ‘Where are we going?’ What paths are we following? Right now, on January 23rd 2011, as we sit here in the company of each other and in the presence of God, what are we about? The last couple of weeks our bible stories have addressed questions such as “Why are we here?” and “What do we want?” This text asks “Where are we going?”

Maybe someone here is looking forward to something happening this afternoon, or meeting someone tonight, or anticipating some event later in the week. Once church is over with, and this is over with and that is over with, then we’ll go bowling!

There are people who spend their whole lives so concerned about getting to the next thing that they really never stop long enough to hear the call of Jesus to follow. It is possible to be so task orientated that you never discover the joy of savoring the moment. Life is just a series of appointments and the spaces in between are times traveling between appointments. Modern life positively encourages that way of being. Instant answers, Fast Food, Drive through everything’s.

You know how the church is here, with roads on three sides? Maybe we could introduce a drive through service. We could mount a loudspeaker and intercom at the corner, and you could stop the car and confess your sins as you drive by. A little mechanical voice could say "Do you want to supersize that! For your assurance of pardon please drop off your tithes and offerings at the next window." Drop in your offering then move on to the next window, pick up a copy of the sermon and "Vroom" your away; Church, over and done with in two minutes.

Forget this having to fellowship with people, or sing, or find a place to sit and standing up and reading prayers and all the rest of it. None of this having to consider where you’re going, because you're on the way. You haven't got time for wasteful contemplation.

The frightening thing about the concept of a drive through church, is that some people genuinely think it would be a great idea. They don't seem to pick up on the message of Jesus that we are to love each other as He loved us, and we can only do that in community.

Observers note that America, the richest of all nations, has bred a form of consumer Christianity that disciples of the early church would have a hard time identifying with. The growth of Mega-Churches and Television has created worship experiences where the attendee is more of a spectator than a participant. Religion has become entertainment, a commodity to be consumed. How does that have anything to do with the Kingdom way of life of which the Scriptures talk?

The question to ask about the church is not; "What can this church do for me?" The disciples question should be; "How can I serve Christ in this church?” Are these the people God is calling me to have a special love for? Are these the ones in whose tears and laughter I will discover God’s presence?

When Jesus wanted to teach the disciples what discipleship was, He didn’t suggest a drive-thru! He took a bowl and washed their dirty feet. He shared with them in a fellowship meal and broke bread and drank wine. He told them to love each other as much as He loved them. He laid down His life for them.

He laid down His life for us, and that is why when we hear this invitation "Follow Me" it should raise deep questions in our hearts about where our lives may be going. In as much as we follow after other things, then we are not following Christ.

Do you have a phone with “Call Waiting?” Do you put people on hold to talk with someone else? With Jesus there is no “Call Waiting”, you don’t put following Him on hold. You are either following Him or going your own way. And if you go your own way, where is it leading? Your own personal Paradise? Some imaginary safe place where the concerns of life won’t weigh you down? Or maybe, as rock band AC/DC once screamed, we’re on a ‘highway to hell’?

We don’t know exactly what it was that produced an immediate response in those first fishermen disciples. We do know that there was something about the presence of Jesus that assured them that following Him was doing the right thing. That what they were being called to, was something far greater than anything they were being called to leave behind.

That presence of Christ, that makes “No” feel like the wrong thing to say to His invitation, is available to us all. As we worship together; as we hear and apply His Word to our lives; as we rethink our values in relation to the values of His Kingdom; something can change in us.

It’s a matter of grace, it’s a matter of allowing God’s Holy Spirit time and room to move. It’s a matter of getting off the treadmill and asking where, if anywhere, the things you follow are leading you.

Someone asked me, “When you moved to the USA was it hard for you to leave your home and family behind and come to another country?” You bet it was! Anybody who has made that kind of move will tell you the same. Some days it is still hard to be thousands of miles away from those loved ones who nurtured your life and whom you call family and friends.

But I have no regrets about the decision. It was a decision made in the Presence of Jesus. It was His call to follow that I listened to. It was another step in a journey that has so far led me to all kinds of places and experiences and joys and challenges that life would have otherwise not held for me. No regrets. Lots of blessings.

That means that right now, on January 23rd 2011, as we sit here in the company of each other and the presence of God, I am in a position where I can say to you with full assurance of faith; ‘Listen for the call of Jesus that says “Follow me” and do what ever it takes to be obedient to that call.’ Whatever Jesus calls you to leave behind is dull and empty in comparison to where He wants to take you. Your right! It is a matter of faith and of trust. But the fact that you are here this morning shows you know enough about trusting God, to trust Him a little bit more.

So get excited.
Get with the program.
Get into the Word so that the Word gets into you.
Get on your knees in prayer.
Hear Christ calling to you,
“Follow me.. Help me catch others up in the Kingdom”
And do whatever it takes to make it happen!
To the glory of God.
AMEN.