Our Problem, God's Plan
Notes
Transcript
42
42
The answer is… 42
Undoubtedly many of you will be aware of the writing of Douglas Adams and in particular the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
It’s a quirky little book which by no means fit into the standard SciFi genre, but it does involve travel around space.
So what’s with the number 42?
The story describes a quest to find the answer. They have the universes smartest computer so they ask, what is the answer to life, the universe and everything?
Well, they’re told that this will take time to think - in fact, they’re told to come back seven million years later to get the answer (and just for a bit of context for those who haven’t read the book, that absurd length of time is part of the absurdity of the whole book).
Anyway, they come back, very excited for the answer, only to be told the answer is 42.
Which of course completely baffles them because they now have no idea what to make of this answer.
Now I’ll let you read the book if you want to know what they do next, but it actually highlights something which in a way is quite profound.
You see, we so often want answers, but we don’t understand the problem.
Actually, often it is the case that we see an issue directly before us, we want to solve that particular issue, but we don’t want to see the deeper issue below it.
A good example could be what we’re seeing in Alice Springs. The issue is, the youth are causing havoc. The obvious solution is crack down on the youth. But there’s something deeper. I’m no expert on this, and I’m not about to offer the answer, but it would seem to me that there is a systemic problem probably the culmination of mistreatment over generations.
It’s not my plan to explore this one, I only raise it as we see an issue, we want an answer, but we don’t want to know what the actually problem is.
It’s useless trying to find an answer if you don’t know what the problem is.
If we don’t want to know what the problem is, maybe we should just stick with 42.
Societal problems
Societal problems
I pointed a moment ago to Alice Springs. The reality of course, is that societal problems are all around us. The Alice Springs problem might be more noticeable, but the sad reality is that in our community, domestic violence is happening behind closed doors. Children are being abused. Drug addictions are leading to violence and other crimes. Gambling addictions result in misappropriation of money and of leaving families with no money for essentials. Corruption is wide spread. People lie and think its just part of business. Large companies extort and price gouge, but of course, that’s just capitalism.
We ask, what’s the solution? How do we deal with it all?
Well, I’m sure the politician will promise some new laws which will solve the problem.
But are they actually dealing with the real problem?
Now, don’t get me wrong. We need laws. In fact, Romans 13 reminds us that God places governments to create laws for our good.
So laws are good, but they don’t actually get to the problem.
So what is the problem?
Well, this is where Christianity can name it. And it can be summed up in a three letter word - sin.
Sin
Sin
But here’s the problem with this word - it’s not understood.
You see, with the list of problems that I listed a moment ago, I could probably get a very clear acceptance from most that yes, that is sin.
But I’m going to suggest that what I described is actually the outworking of sin. Sin is actually a condition of the heart, and it’s not just in those nasty people out there (you know, the ones who are causing all of the problems)… actually, it affects all of us.
You see, sin is actually when we turn our back on God and do things our own way.
This is the root of our problems. And it’s in all of us. The intensity in which the sin manifests itself in each of us will vary, but it is still there.
We become blinded to the hurt we cause in others. And even though we minimise how bad things are in ourselves, the consequences of our actions and our words are very real, and actually have a negative impact on those around us.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve
But let’s trace things back in the Bible - because the bible describes how sin first manifest itself in God’s good creation.
Genesis 1 describes the making of God’s good creation - and it was good. In fact, when humanity was created it was very good.
Genesis 2 again looks at creation but with a more intimate look at what’s going on. Central to this look in Genesis 2 is the garden, and in the garden we find first Adam and shortly after Adam and Eve.
Things are good at this point.
But they are not going to continue like this for long.
You see, they’re actually giving an extraordinary amount of freedom in the garden that God has placed them. They can eat anything they like.
There is only one exception. They are not allowed to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now perhaps this might seem all rather strange, why would God set this up? Is he deliberately setting a trap for them?
I’d suggest that actually, it’s part of giving them freedom. You see, God has created humans to be like him. But being made in the image of God means you have real choices, but real choices come with real consequences.
They can choose to submit to a good God who has provided everything they need. Or they can choose to act in a way where they will assume control.
You see, this is actually what the choice is about. It’s why the snakes deception was so convincing. The deceiver was actually not entirely wrong in what he said.
In choosing the fruit, we see the heart of sin.
Because we see a rejection of God.
And you don’t have to read far through your Bible before you see how quickly things spiral out of control once this rejection has begun.
Chapter 4, the first murder.
A few chapters later, things are so far out of hand that God decides to wipe the earth for a fresh start with a big flood, only saving Noah and his family.
Once Noah is safe, perhaps we can make a fresh start, but the heart of humanity is still the same. That sinful desire remains.
A few more chapters, humanity is again trying to exert their dominance over God by building a tower up to heaven.
It’s not about whether they were ever going to get to heaven or not, it was about their heart that was continuously rejecting God because they thought they could do it better.
When God is rejected, the result is always the same… chaos.
Humanity has this way of thinking that somehow we can fix the chaos by our own means. You don’t have to be some expert to figure out that our efforts are limited at best - even with our best efforts, the chaos remains.
You see, I put it to you that the sinful inclination that exists in all of us is actually at the root of the problem, and if the solution doesn’t acknowledge that problem, then, well… the problems going to remain.
Solution
Solution
Okay, so we might have just identified the problem. That’s only half the task. If we’ve got the actual problem, we now need the solution to that problem.
Try harder?
Try harder?
And let me say up front, it’s not: try harder.
This actually is our natural response.
Lets say for example you’re a natural hot head who blows up quickly at the slightest provocation and say things you later regret.
You then identify the sin in your heart as the root cause.
So you promise yourself - I’m no longer going to react that way. When I’m provoked, I will will myself to stay calm.
So how do you think that usually ends up?
If you’re lucky, the next time you’re provoked, maybe, if you’re in a good head space, it might work. I can almost guarantee it won’t last long - not without serious help. Because the state of our heart is too strong.
A better solution is needed.
A better solution
A better solution
Well, I mentioned how the Bible showed us how fast things spiral out of control in the first 11 chapters of Genesis.
Genesis 12, however, is a turning point on which the whole Bible pivots.
It starts with a man called Abram, although we know him better as Abraham so I’ll just call him that for the sake of simplicity.
God chooses this man, not because he is the most amazing person, but he had faith.
God then promises that he will bless all the nations through Abraham.
Now at this stage of the story, we’re not quite sure how this is going to work. And the is the beauty of the whole Bible story, because as you read it, it is progressively revealed how it is going to work.
I could spend a long time unpacking all of this, but let me give you a quick run down, because what we’re about to see is God’s plan to the problem we actually have.
A new nation/kingdom
A new nation/kingdom
Well, from Abraham comes the promised child, Isaac. Isaac has Jacob, who God changes his name to Israel, hence the name of the nation. Israel has twelve sons, which become the twelve tribes of Israel.
But what’s all this got to do with the plan to deal with this problem?
Well, it God establishing a kingdom where his way will reign. A kingdom where things can order can be established.
So the kingdom grows. He keeps them separated from other nations so he can shape them the way he needs. He takes them to Egypt. But as they grow, there is a need to return them to their land.
God’s established order (law)
God’s established order (law)
God raises up Moses. Through Moses, the law is established. God showing the way things should be. He’s establishing the standard for living.
The problem is sin, so God establishes an alternate way to the worldly way.
But at this point, the plan is not complete. Because even with people set aside and shown how to live, they keep going astray.
God knows this, and so with the law, comes a way to atone for their wayward ways.
A Sacrificial system
A Sacrificial system
A sacrificial system. It was quite an elaborate system, but it allowed them to acknowledge their problem, and hand it over to God. But it was a system that would need to be constantly done.
And unfortunately, over time, it was a system that became somewhat neglected.
A King
A King
Time goes on. God then establishes a king. David becomes a model of this kingship in one regard, although even he doesn’t do a great job. He falls well short.
But all of this is a continuing revealing of the plan that God has, and it’s recorded for us in what we call the Old Testament.
But is it a plan that deals with our problem? It certainly starts to, but even a quick read of the Old Testament will reveal that it falls short. People continue to live their own way.
Will there ever be a solution to our biggest problem?
New Testament
New Testament
Enter, the New Testament.
A baby is born.
There’s a lot of heavenly fanfare with this baby, but what good is a baby?
All of the threads of Gods plan is about to come together, and it’s going to involve this baby, but the world is going to have to wait just a little bit longer.
Baby Jesus grows, and it becomes quickly apparent this is no ordinary child. This is the Son of God, not just in a metaphorical sense, in a very literal sense.
God has come to earth in the form of a man. He is fully God and fully human.
Fulfillment
Fulfillment
Now, remember that kingdom I said was established before, the one that was meant to have people under the rule of God? Well, through Jesus, this kingdom is going to take on a new dimension. A kingdom that will transcend boundaries and ethnicities.
Remember the law? Well, that law will be written on the heart of all who belong to it.
Remember the king, the one that always fell short? Well, Jesus fulfills that as the perfect King.
In this new kingdom, dealing with the problem of sin becomes possible.
But sin still remains.
But remember the sacrificial system? The one that needed to be repeated endlessly because sin inevitably repeats itself?
It needs to be repeated because it’s not a perfect sacrifice.
In the most climactic moment of all of history, Jesus offered himself as that perfect sacrifice.
Jesus willing submitted himself to be hung on the cross. A shameful way to die. He took a curse that we deserved.
He did it in such a way that God could accept every one for all time to be forgiven.
Now we could ask - but why couldn’t God have just declared us all forgiven without such a violent end?
Well, if he did, it wouldn’t be just. He could not do that while being a just God. And if God was not just, then we can’t rely on him to do the right thing.
By using the cross, God could perfectly maintain his justice, and his holiness.
But Jesus did not remain dead. On the third day, he rose again, conquering death. In doing so, this new kingdom established by Jesus becomes something that can change the entire world. It changes the lives of individuals, and it changes systems.
Through Jesus then, we finally see God’s plan in its fullness. One that is capable of dealing with our actual problem.
Romans 5
Romans 5
Earlier I read from Romans 5. It gives a good summary of what I’ve been talking about.
That chapter goes on to say in verse 18: “Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people”… [that is to say, the action of Adam and Eve in turning their back on God]… “so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people”.
You see, because of what Jesus did, their is now a plan for getting out of the endless downward spiral of societal decline. It’s certainly not in trying harder. It’s in accepting the free gift of Jesus.
Because, through Jesus, we can be changed. We accept him, and he gives us his Spirit. We become forgiven. We are brought into fellowship with God, that is to say, we can have a relationship with God himself.
We enter the kingdom of God, the kingdom where Jesus is alive and in charge as king.
This kingdom then grows throughout the world. 2000 odd year after Jesus rose again, this kingdom has now gone throughout the world, and it has made an extraordinary difference. We often don’t realise just how much difference it has made, but so many of the good things we just take for granted, like health care and education for all, come as a result of this kingdom.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So what does all of this mean for us?
Well, the first thing you need to do is acknowledge what the problem is. The sad reality is that most people in this world think that they are good people, not realising that there own selfishness is the problem.
Recognising that we are all sinners is necessary if we want to see a change.
Then recognising that we can’t fix this on our own. No matter how hard you try, it will remain.
But God has the perfect plan for us.
One that revolves around Jesus.
But he is calling on you to accept him.
It involves a choice. A choice that requires us to say sorry for the sin in our hearts, and that we want him to be king of our lives.
If you do this, you get to live for eternity with him. You can also choose not to, and then remain eternally separated from him. That’s the choice.
So where are you in all of this?
Have you accepted Jesus? Have you said: yes, I want you to be king of my life?
If you have, hallelujah! This is the greatest thing you can ever do. Cherish it. Continue to draw close to God, because in him you will find life. In him you will find joy.
If you haven’t, or perhaps you’re unsure, I want this to be an invitation this morning.
An invitation to say yes to Jesus. I’d encourage you to talk with someone. Partly because in talking with someone you can ask any questions you might have, but also in talking to someone, you can invite others into the journey towards God that you are having.
Because it is exciting when we see people draw close to God.
If you wish, I’ll make myself available after the service.
This world is broken, but God has made a way to something better.
When you become a believer, we remain both citizens of this world, and citizens of the Kingdom of God, but a time is coming when Jesus will return, and when that happens, for those who have accepted Jesus, they will be fully in the kingdom of God - where order and love and beauty will reign supreme.
What are you going to choose?
Let me pray...