6. Safe & Secure
Long Obedience in the Same Direction • Sermon • Submitted
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Welcome to Iowa City Church and part six of our series, Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Anyone here into rock climbing? I’m not. I’ve tried a couple of climbing walls, but that’s about it. I’ve never tried climbing up a rock, and honestly I really don’t want to.
However, I am fascinated by people who do. In the last few years the accomplishments that people in the rock climbing sport have are really incredible. I’m sure many of you have watched the documentary, Free Solo. In it climber Alex Hannold free climbs El Capitan. Just ask my family, it made my palms sweaty watching it.
We just recently watched another documentary called the Alpinist. It focuses on the climbing exploits of Marc Andre’ Leclerc. Just a few years ago he climbed some mountains and formations that were once thought un-climb-able. But again, there were moments where I just had to look away from the screen, I just can’t handle watching someone fall.
And that’s really the big issue with rock climbing right? It’s not the climbing as much as the falling. Now, for a majority of folks who rock climb they have gear to protect them from the fall. Here’s a picture of a guy climbing. If you look really close, you can see the ropes.
Here’s another picture that shows kind of the climbing set up. The climbers wear a harness and helmet, and as they climb they hook into different places either by using pitons (essentially a pin or peg) by driving them into the rocks or cracks. Sometimes they use things like cams, chocks or wedges in cracks or crevices to hook into. What they are doing is creating a safety line so that in the event that they make a mistake or can’t hold on or slip…they will fall, but not very far. Here’s a picture of a rock climber falling, only to be caught by his safety line. Having the safety line means everything!
The safety line gives the climbers confidence because they know that if they make a mistake, they are still safe and secure.
In this series we are talking about the journey of following Jesus. The term we use for this journey is discipleship; following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus and living on mission with Jesus. There is really no life like it! In fact in Jesus’ own words, following Jesus is life!
Following Jesus is amazing…until you mess up, until there is a misstep, until you lose your grip and completely fall…then what?
We’ve all had those moments in our faith journey, maybe you are there right now. Those moments where your anger gets the best of you. Or maybe it’s greed or envy comes sneaking along.
Sometimes the misstep is accidental, you were ignorant about what you said…or you didn’t do something that you should have done.
Maybe for you it was a big deal, you blatantly disobeyed what Jesus wanted you to do, and you didn’t even care. It’s in those moments we wonder what Jesus thinks about us. We wonder if you have finally messed up too much. Or if this last misstep was such a bad one that God has just given up on you. If this is hitting home for you, if you’ve ever felt like God is done with your mistakes and missteps, I’m glad that you are here…because you need to know that just like those rocks climbers have a safety line that reminds them that they are safe and secure…you do as well.
Let’s take a look at what it is. If you have a Bible or device, I want you to find Psalm 125. If you are new with us for this sermon series, we are taking an intentional journey through 15 Psalms known as the Psalms of ascent (120-134). This collection of Psalms were sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of three Jewish feast (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). Imagine these groups of pilgrims, walking together and singing these psalms as they walked up the mountain to Jerusalem. Each of the psalms has a theme that helps us focus on our journey as disciples following Jesus. Let’s read Psalm 125 and see how it provides God’s people with security in their faith.
Please join me, as we read Psalm 125.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. 3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. 4 Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. 5 But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.
PRAY
So what is the psalmist trying to convey about security? Look again at the first two verses.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
Highlight the first phrase. Those who trust in the LORD. The word “trust” is a continual action word. To the people who continually put their confidence, security, all the weight of their lives on the LORD will be like Mount Zion, this place of power, strength and security.
Verse two gives a little more clarity where this Mount Zion is.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Jerusalem. In ancient times, living in the country made one much more vulnerable. You weren’t protected by rock formations, higher ground, and most importantly walls. So in ancient days, cities were viewed as places of security…especially places like Jerusalem which is located in a natural fortress position. Not only is Jerusalem the highest elevated city, it is protected by valleys on two sides, and mountains on the other two sides.
Even today, when one goes to visit Jerusalem it has a strong, majestic feel to it. Here’s a video of the most popular part of Jerusalem. Do you see what I mean, even today it portrays strength, especially when you add in the massive walls and other defenses.
For one to put their trust in God was to make them feel safe and secure. What’s interesting is that if you were to trace Israel’s covenant relationship with God from Mount Sinai where they entered into the covenant, up through the end of the Old Testament, how would you describe the relationship? Like a roller coaster! At Sinai, they agreed to trust God…and then literally moments later they are worshipping a golden calf. That pretty much sums up what their trust looked like!
But here is the amazing thing: God never gave up on them. Even when they rebelled, he never gave up on them. Even when they were in exile, he never gave up on them. When Israel entered into that covenant relationship with God, He never gave up on them…even when they gave up on him.
This is why the psalmist is reminding God’s people to trust him, because trusting God is like living in a strong fortress…your secure.
For us, our relationship with God is much more personal. God sent us Jesus, and as Jesus himself said, he is the way, the truth and the life. So it’s our trust in Jesus, our faith in Jesus that defines our covenant relationship. When we put our complete trust in Jesus, we are safe, secure.
I’ve seen the journey of so many people on this path. I’ve seen people come out of broken, addictive and toxic systems and they put their faith in Jesus and are ready to live a new life…yet they have to go back into some very difficult situations and live. They have to deal with their own brokenness and sin and guilt. So the fear is always, I’ve messed up, I’m back in that same place again, does God forgive me, does he still want me. My answer to them comes from the helpful words of the apostle Paul.
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
When You Trust in Jesus, Your Salvation Is Secure
Let me compare it to our rock climber. When if they wanted to go solo, just ignore the safety line. There is no security. However, if the climber makes the decision to take their carabiner and clip in to the safety line, they are secure…even if there is a misstep along the way. When you trust in Jesus, your salvation is secure.
So the definition of being a disciple of Jesus is, following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus and living on mission with Jesus. It’s really hard to accomplish that goal if we spend our entire lives testing the safety line…if you know what I mean! How can we move forward, make progress? Maybe another way to say it is this: “How can we take better steps on our journey of following Jesus?”
3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
There’s two ways to interpret what the psalmist is saying. First, God isn’t going to allow the wicked to rule and influence forever…he will bring justice. The second way it can be interpreted is this: Don’t allow unholy things to influence your lives.
Just take a few minutes and think about some of the missteps you’ve made along the journey of following Jesus. How many of them happened because you found yourself surrounded by unholy influences? When your surrounded by a negative, toxic people who gossip…well it has a way of influencing you. When you are daily bombarded by unholy messages or images through media, social media, the internet, things you read or listen to....it influences you. Think of some of the relationships you have maintained that are just not good for you. Think about how those people influenced you to take missteps on your journey of following Jesus. So here’s the point:
2. Many Missteps Happen In Unholy Environments
It is amazing how our confidence and clarity grows when we intentionally seek the holy things of God. When we make a conscience effort to worship with our church family every week, share in communion…there is a time of renewal and focus to help us navigate more clearly the toxic work place or family situation. It also provides us with the wisdom we need to make better decisions about what to allow in our lives and what to take out.
The psalmist ends with these words of caution.
4 Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. 5 But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.
The word “turn” means, to stretch out, to incline towards. So the image we get from the psalmist is that the person who is contorting, turning their lives towards a crooked, evil path…the LORD will banish them along with evildoers. So understand this: God isn’t looking for perfect people, he’s looking for faithful people. If you choose to walk a different path not only is there no security, there is judgement.
The same is said for our relationship with Jesus, he knows we are human. The gospels gives us reassuring reminders that Jesus knows the weaknesses we possess in the flesh, the moments even when we doubt. In Jesus we are secure. However, to let go of Jesus…well that’s a different story. You are on your own, and most of us know how well we do on our own. I just read this the other day: Why would I ever use a self help book? I’m the one who got myself in trouble in the first place!
Instead the call of Jesus is to remain in him.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
On our journey of discipleship, there are going to be moments of struggle, despair, failure, temptation, enticement…here’s the point:
3. Don’t Let Go of Jesus
There’s this really encouraging section of verses in Hebrews that really drives home this point. In this section, the author is telling the readers why they trust God’s promise that they are secure. Here is the reason.
18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
The “hope” the author is referring to is Jesus. This hope is described as an anchor, firm and secure. So the image I have is a rope, attached to this anchor…which is Jesus. This anchor is tethered all the way to God the Father. So my job is what? Hold on to Jesus with all my might, and if I feel like I’m coming to the end of the rope, tie a not and clip in because when I’m holding on to Jesus…I’m safe and secure.
If you don’t get anything else from this morning, please take this one truth home with you:
Hold on to Jesus because he has a hold on you.
There is a hymn written in 1887 by Anthony Showalter called Leaning On The Everlasting Arms. I’m sure that many of you have either sang it or heard of it. It has lyrics that fit well with what we are talking about today. Here is verse three and then the chorus.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Hold on to Jesus because he has a hold on you.
Some next steps for you to consider:
Have You Made a Decision to Follow Jesus?
Have You Defined Your Relationship with Jesus by Being Baptized?
Do you need help following Jesus?