November 5,6,7 2016 Here is “Foresight about Arranging Your Departure” Pastor Bivens

Luke 19:11-27 (Last Judgment Sunday, 2016, St. Jacobi)

       ¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. ¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

        ¹⁴“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ ¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ ¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ ¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ ¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ ²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ ²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ ²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ ²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. ²⁷ But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Introduction: Carl McCunn died in December of 1981, 35 years ago. The story of the end of his life is a very sad one, but it’s one that can remind us of important truths. Carl, a professional photographer, hired a bush pilot to fly him to a remote area of Alaska and leave him there. He was flown into the wild in March and had with him 500 rolls of film, 1,400 pounds of provisions, two rifles, and a shotgun. His plan was to spend spring and summer there, photographing wildlife and the natural beauty in the wilderness. Things went well – until August. It was then that Carl realized that he had not arranged for the pilot to return for him. He wrote in his journal, "I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure.” Four months later, out of food and trapped by the snow and cold of the Alaskan winter, Carl decided to commit suicide – and did so in mid-December.

That’s a very sad story, isn’t it? But what about the sad stories in today’s Bible readings! Jeremiah addressing the unbelieving King Jehoiakim and the hard-hearted people of Jerusalem, all of whom were showing little “foresight about arranging their departure” from this world. Paul writing to the Thessalonians about people who “will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” Throughout the Bible there are reminders that too many people should have used more foresight about arranging their departure from this world and arrival before the judgment seat of God. Today’s sermon text is a great example of this.

Here is “Foresight about Arranging Your Departure”

1.   It will seem a long time, so stay alert!

2.   It will be a rebellious time, so be careful!

3.   It can be a productive time, so be faithful!

1.      Foresight: It will seem a long time, so stay alert!

1.      We’re told why Jesus told the parable: He went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and the people assumed this would be the final showdown and the end of all enemies of Jesus. They knew Christ’s power and assumed he would defeat & destroy those who opposed him. But Jesus tells them to expect a delay: He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’” It’s easy for us to see Jesus in the parable, following his resurrection and ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father in the position of majesty and giving his servants, the church, tasks to accomplish until he returns. Time will pass; it will seem like a long time. So be patient. Don’t get distracted or drowsy or discouraged.  Stay alert.

2.      I recall the story of a Christian teacher warning those falling prey to greed. He took a penny and moved it closer and closer to his eye. He could see less and less as the penny (money) took over his whole focus. Important things get obscured while less valuable things get the attention. The “urgent” and “immediate” get top billing over the eternally more valuable. So be patient and stay alert: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch” (Lk 21:34ff.)   Here is wise foresight: It will seem a long time, so stay alert!

2.      More Foresight: It will be a rebellious time, so be careful!

1.      Our wait for Judgment Day will also be ugly and a time of rebellion against our Lord. The people were thinking Jesus would do away with his enemies when they got to Jerusalem, but he makes it clear that he would allow rebellion to remain for some time. But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ We easily think of their cry soon after this: “We have no king but Caesar” and their objection to the inscription on the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Jesus does say: But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me. But when is that? That’s at the very end of the parable, when the king finally returns. In the meantime, rebels can rebel and talk against the Lord. There will be hard times—don’t make light of that. Carl McCunn, for example, admitted in his journal that he prematurely disposed of boxes of ammunition in the river near his camp; he couldn’t imagine needing them later. That was foolish.

2.      Let’s be careful! “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars . . . Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. . . You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. . .Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” So be careful! Not pessimistic or discouraged, but cautious. Peter’s advice is golden: Dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18). Secure position? Absolutely. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die – and rise again. What’s that all about?? You know, don’t you? His focus is on forgiveness of sins, removal of guilt, reconciliation with God – for you. Here is assurance that you are a redeemed child of God rather than his enemy or citizen of hell. Our carefulness takes enemies around us seriously – but it takes the promises of God and power of the gospel even more seriously! We are careful and alert – but not pessimistic depressed.  Here is wise foresight: it will be a rebellious time, so be careful.

3        Foresight: It can be a productive time, so be faithful!

1.      Jesus uses most of his words describing how these end times are a time for activity as his servants. The familiar words: [The king] called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ The value of the mina (a weight of silver or gold) is relatively small (hundreds instead of millions of dollars as in “talents”) – perhaps the mina each received was $400 or so in today’s dollars. The important point is that every servant of the Lord has a gift (the gospel? skills?) and opportunity to “put it to work” until Christ returns.  

2.      The king returns to receive the reports:  Master, your mina has earned ten more. Sir, your mina has earned five more. The servants are excited and happy to report activity and productivity in using the Lord’s gifts. (They understood his love for them and loved him in return.) And his reply to them is gracious and generous: “‘Well done, my good servant!’ ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities... . five cities!” Faithful use of “small” limited opportunities results in huge privilege and responsibility – cities! But with one servant it is a different story: “Here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ The servant did not like the master and considered him a heartless, vindictive tyrant. No wonder he didn’t like the idea of serving faithfully!  

3.      The basic point is clear: Our time on earth is a time to serve, to be productive with the everyday opportunities to serve Jesus and his interests. And the way we feel about Jesus will be reflected in the way we make use of opportunities. Remember how Jesus sent sinful yet forgiven Simon Peter to “feed my sheep” and “feed my lambs”? First he asked Peter, “Do you love me?”

Conclusion: Do we love Jesus – the One who loved us first and most? Let that topic be and remain the central point when we grow in insight and foresight about our departure! As people loved by the Lord we may stay alert when the journey seems long, remain careful since rebellion is around us, and be faithful to opportunities entrusted to us. Amen.