A Request and a Bequest
by Jim Westmoreland
Did you hear what happened when Forrest Gump died and went to heaven? At the pearly gates he met St. Peter who told him that new rules were in effect and that admission now required the answers to three questions: First, name two days of the week that begin with the letter "T". Second, how many seconds are in a year? Three, what's God's first name?
Forrest thought a while and said, "I know. The two days of the week that begin with the letter "T" are today and tomorrow!" Saint Peter said that although that was not the answer he was expecting, he would allow it.
Then Forrest said, "There are twelve seconds in every year!" St. Peter gulped, "Okay, how do you figure there are only twelve seconds in a year? Forrest replied, "January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd..." "All right", said St. Peter, "I'll give you that one too.
How about the third question?" Forrest said, "God's first name is Andy". "How do you figure that?", St. Peter asked. "You know" replied Forrest as he sang, "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am his own...." St. Peter welcomed him in without another word!
Many of us remember the 1994 movie in which Tom Hanks who, portraying Forrest Gump, floated through life like a feather in the breeze, unknowingly affecting history and those around him with his innocent grace. One memorable line was when Gump said, "I am not a smart man, but I know what love is".
In the Christ event we are presented answers to life's basic questions that startle us. They defy our human logic and limited information about the reality of our place in the infinite scheme of creation, but, somehow, they ring true for us, and we understand them.
The miraculous Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ broadens our minds to believe beyond our familiar boundaries of scientific empiricism. There is more to life and reality than what can be methodically reproduced by humans in a controlled experiment. Purpose, values and meaning are beyond the scope and vision of a materialistic world view that is limited by its own values and limited questions.
As believers, we can affirm the role that science plays and still be people of faith who are at home in the realm of the spiritual. Subjective, heart felt, experiential matters like: Faith, Hope, Christian Love, Miracles, and Divine Inspiration, affect our behavior and decision making.
Thankfully, the description of the Ascension in the New Testament is of secondary importance to its theological meaning. Luke, who wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, says in both of our readings that Jesus was lifted or carried up into heaven. When we remember that the world is round, not flat, that kind of language strains our sense of how the world really is. But, we know enough to know not to get caught by the limitations of language. How do we describe God, or say where He is? Is heaven a “place” that we can map out in a four-dimensional universe? I don’t think so.
When we understand the Ascension theologically, rather than spatially, then we can better understand Jesus last words to the disciples as He left them a request and a bequest. The Ascension was the closing scene on Jesus’ earthly life. God, who came and revealed Himself by becoming one of us, came only for a while in the flesh. Jesus was God. He revealed the heart of God through both His words and His actions. He lived a life of love and sacrifice for others. Following His death on the cross, He was raised from the dead, and He continued to meet with His disciples to assure them and to prepare them for the time that He would no longer be with them. The Ascension marks the leaving of God in the flesh and the appearance at Pentecost of the God who is with us always, even unto the ends of the earth.
Going back to God’s covenant with Abraham, His purposes have always been that His people would be a light to the nations, a blessing to all people. This was true for the nation of Israel and it was true for the disciples of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples, “You are the light of the world.”
Jesus lived thirty-three years as the “God-in-the-flesh” person on this earth, and he invested His last three years calling disciples and pouring Himself into them. Why? Because, His days on earth were numbered, and it was time for Him to go. His last words to them before He left were, “be my witnesses.” Tell others about me. Share with them what I have done for you. And, He also told them to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our Heavenly Father wants so much to open our understanding so that we might know the joy of this wonderful Gospel that He has entrusted to us. Just as the first century disciples felt "great joy" as a result of the ascension of Christ and His promise that He was sending His Holy Spirit, we, too, can experience joy that casts out fear, and grief. This Promise of Pentecost is still meant for us Century Christian Church Believers in the Year 2006.
Sure, we will always grieve in bereavement, but not like those without faith who have no hope. The first disciples had witnessed the Resurrection and Ascension with their eyes; however, we can experience the living presence of Christ in our hearts. This is the expectancy that builds in us as we look forward to next Sunday's celebration of the Day of Pentecost.
What kind of follower of Christ will be? Are we ready to boldly be Christ’s witnesses and to live our lives with the power of the Holy Spirit? This is a question for us as individuals and also for us as a church. Is it possible for us to be a disciple of Christ and to not be living in the power of the Holy Spirit? Yes, I believe this is definitely possible. It was true for the early believers, and Luke tells us several stories in Acts where there were believers who had not received the Holy Spirit. Both then and now, there were many who were living un-empowered lives. Throughout the world there are dying churches inhabited by a dwindling number of un-empowered people. We may believe in Jesus, but we will never be very effective unless we also live with the power that Jesus provides us through the Holy Spirit.
The story is told of the new bishop who received a request from an area church for a pastor and sent them the very best one available. Within two weeks, the church had sent the pastor packing and requested another. Another was sent. Same story.
The bishop sent yet another pastor, and the same thing happened. Finally, in anger, the bishop sent the church the worst candidate he could find -- a pastor he was preparing to drum out for laziness and just general incompetence. To his surprise, the church reported back that they just loved the new pastor and thanked the bishop profusely for sending him.
Confused, the bishop called the Search Committee chair, saying, "I sent you the best I had, and you rejected them all. But this last one you accepted. Why?"
"Well," the chairman said, "The fact is, we don't really want any pastor at all. And this last one you sent was as close to that as any we'd ever seen!"
Where there is no vision the people will perish. Jesus did not plan to leave the disciples without knowing His vision for them. In Jesus’ conversations with His disciples leading up to the Ascension, Jesus gave them a request and a bequest. The disciples are to be His witnesses in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And, they would be clothed with power from on high. We are heirs! Let us live up to our inheritance. Let us be His witnesses. Let us share our faith stories with others. And, as we do, let us be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. In that moment when Jesus ascended into heaven He left it up to us–with a request and a bequest! Amen.
Century Christian Church, May 28, 2006 - Sermon by Jim Westmoreland
