"The Double Minded Person finds No Peace"

Dec 8, 2019   Readings:   Matthew 3: 1-12         James 1:8

Last week we established that Advent for us, is supposed to be a time of preparing for the second coming of Christ.  So now we need to be thinking, what are the steps I personally need to take in order to prepare myself for this new encounter with my Lord ?   The biblical answer appears to be quite clear; we need to be turning our lives towards something. So I have a question for you?  In your opinion what exactly are Christians called to turn towards?   -------------- Now you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if I am turning towards something, I must be turning away from something. So again I have a question for you?  In today’s world, give me examples of what we Christians are called to turn away from?  

In the reading from Matthew 3: 1-12 this morning, did you hear any suggestions to the questions of how we are to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ return?  John gives us one word “repent”, which means:  to express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing.  Well that easy enough, I just say I’m sorry and everything fixed, right?    Not quite, May I suggest, Jesus would ask us to go a little deeper than that, by extending it's meaning to say:  “go and don’t do that anymore.”  Don’t just say the sorry part,  stop cussing, being obsessing, stop lying, stop being a disrupter, whatever. 

John offers us another revelation in his statement by saying:  the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” other translations uses the words “is at hand” either way, John is suggesting that the Kingdom of Heaven” is not out there, but is within Jesus himself, it is not a physical place outside the one who has come near.   Now this just might be a new revelations for some of us and its implications are life changing.  May I suggest that you enter the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God not after death, as some think, but when you take the one who comes near into your heart and mind?

Many of us are just to hardnosed about surrendering to this simple but profound way to prepare ourselves for Advent.  You don’t just admit to your sin, you must turn away from it.  Sin doesn’t hold you in bondage, you hold sin hostage with your excuses and justifications.  Let me give you a simple Example: I feel bad that I called him names.  I'm so sorry I did that.   Maybe I should ask for forgiveness, but the more I ponder this dilemma, the more reasons I find to hope for a less, obvious solution to my problem.  My hope here is Justification.   In fact if I were to accept Johns call to a redemptive life “and” become the example for others to see, I would experience the very gift that sets me free, what’s the gift?  “Forgiveness.” 

One of the interesting benefits of the repentant life is an obvious solution to our lack of inner peace. It is a peace which should be within us – a peace that should be obvious to others.  The Second Sunday in Advent is meant to be a reflection upon finding for yourself that inner peace. The bible tells us it is a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that passes all understanding.   Why is it then that so many Christians appear to lack their inner peace?   May I suggest to you that the inner peace Jesus offers cannot coexist with a person who is double minded? James 1:8. Meaning:  The bible says a double-minded person is unstable in all his or her ways.  It allows thoughts that are foreign to the teachings Jesus to creep in.  A good example would be: persons or groups where money takes priority over the welfare of the poor.  Jesus taught us to literally take Him into our heart and mind, then we become one in though with Him.  Jesus taught a oneness that supports diversity, not groups which support conformity that which makes a group exclusive to themselves.   

Thoughts that divide us rather than unite us, produce an attitude of us versus them.   Even  the best of groups themselves, ends up with divisions of race, color, tint of color or ethnic background.  Groups tends to promote the unspoken class, lower, middle and upper even then totally excluding the poor and the outsider.  The Religious do not escape this dilemma either, who are already divided by denominations.  Grouping puts up barriers that prevent Christ’s peace from entering in.   Along with groups that turn to exclusivity negative emotions begin to emerge, hording fighting and power struggles break out.
Can you name any of the devilish emotions that emerge?   Sabotage, Gossip, sadness, hatred, jealously, bigotry,etc.

You see demonic acts or thoughts not only condition a person’s mind, but also can harden a heart; “BUT” salvation is never very far away because you can begin to prepare your mind and heart for the peace of Christ:  it begins with study, studying and feeding on God’s word, then to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. And the more you do it, the more conditioned you become to think as one in Christ.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4: 7.   This is the Advent Sunday for the coming of Christs Peace, so my prayer for us is, that we will all begin to seek and find the Peace of Christ this year.   Amen

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