Rev. Bill's Sermons

MARK 1:14 - 20IT’S TIME! JANUARY 22, 2006

I remember a Bible Study group I was teaching at Smyrna not long after I began my ministry there. I thought I had come up with a provocative question to span the gap of the “there and then” of the scripture passage and make it a “here and now” for the members of the church sitting around me that evening. I don’t remember which Gospel we were studying -- but we were looking at one of the passages where Jesus calls the disciples -- and they drop all and follow. I wanted to get those there that evening to start thinking about their response to the call of Christ -- so I asked: “If Jesus were to come up to you and say: “Follow me!” what would be your response?” Without hesitation, one person looked at me and said: “I know what yours would be” “You do?” I innocently asked. She laughed and said “You’d say -- ‘I’ll have to ask Sally.’” My provocative question had backfired on me. Our gospel lesson for today is Mark’s version of the call of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus appears on the scene preaching that the kingdom of God had come -- it was time to repent -- to believe -- to live a new life -- to respond to God. It was time. The Jews had prayed and waited for centuries for the Messiah. Years had passed. Many may have even quit praying or believing it was ever going to happen -- that the Messiah was ever going to come. But - then - it happened. Jesus appeared. It was no longer time for waiting -- it was time for acting. It was time. The kingdom was among them. God had acted in a new way. The Messiah had come. Salvation was a reality -- not just a prayer or an idea. And -- it was time. It was time to repent. It was time to change. It was time to live a new life. It was time to follow Christ. It was time. Jesus calls Simon and Andrew -- and what do they do? They don’t seem to turn the question. They don’t even ask their wives! No -- they act! Immediately they drop their nets and follow. It was time! Jesus calls James and John -- and what do they do? They don’t seem to turn the question, either. They don’t ask their wives! They don’t even ask their father -- who is sitting in the boat with them. No -- they act. Immediately they drop their nets -- and follow. It was time! Not time to think -- not time to get advice -- but time to act. Yes -- It was time! It was time! The kingdom of God had come. It was time to respond. Either they were going to follow or they weren’t -- but the decision had to be made. It was time! It was time! But -- was it only that time? Was that time a special time -- never to be repeated again -- when people were called to follow Christ -- to decide -- to repent and let Christ change their lives -- and the world? It was time -- yes -- but was it the only time? Was it the only time? No -- God’s call -- Christ’s call -- comes again and again to each of us -- and each time we hear the call -- it is time. Each time we hear Christ call us to repent -- to let our lives be changed -- to follow Him instead of our own will -- to serve Him and serve others instead of ourselves -- to live the life He calls us to live -- it’s time! It’s time to decide which way we are going to go. It’s time to decide how we are going to respond. It’s time to decide what we are going to do. The call of Christ to repent and follow Him is just as urgent now as when He first gave it. Yes -- friends -- now -- here -- It’s time! It’s time! It’s time to decide how you are going to live. It’s time to decide how you are going to respond. It’s time to decide if you are going to leave all -- and follow Christ. It’s time! It’s time! I’m afraid we don’t feel the same urgency for following Christ as Simon, Andrew, James and John must have felt. Simon -- Andrew -- James -- John -- others Jesus called -- must have felt that there was some urgency to what Jesus said -- or they would not have responded as they did. Jesus’ call to repent and believe must have struck a chord within them to show them that He was the one to follow. But -- these days -- it seems that following Christ is just an option for our lives we can choose if we wish -- but certainly don’t have to choose. Following Christ has lost its urgency for many -- it’s just one of many options for life that can be chosen or not. We treat the call of Christ to repent -- to live a new life -- and to follow Him as just another option for life to choose or not -- at our peril. The truth is that following Christ means life as God intended -- while not following Christ means a separation from God and forsaking the life God has planned for us. You can’t see Christ’s call to repent and follow as an option among many and still find salvation. You can’t see Christ’s call to repent and follow as an option to choose or not choose and still find real life. It is not an option for life among many. If you want to live in God’s ways -- and find salvation -- it is the only option. It’s the only way. And friends - It’s time! It’s time! It’s time to decide! Right here. Right now. It’s time. It’s time. Repent. Turn to God. Turn away from Your ways -- Your excuses -- and turn to God. Leslie in was a Missionary to Africa. He tells the story of a day he truly learned what repentence -- turning and following God -- truly meant. One day he and some comrades were going to make a journey into the jungles of Africa to another village. They got up early -- before sunrise -- so they could get most of their journey underway before the African heat became unbearable. As they began their journey -- travelers they passed heading in the opposite direction were trying to see in the darkness -- just as they were. Soon, however, Newbigin noticed that the faces of those traveling in the opposite direction seemed to be shining with a glow he did not understand. He finally asked one what made that glow. The traveler laughed -- and said -- “Turn -- my friend -- and face the light!” Newbigin turned -- and saw the most beautiful sunrise he had ever seen. That’s what repentence is all about. Turning our lives around -- and facing God’s light. It’s about saying “Yes” to God -- and dropping all else. That’s what salvation is all about. And friends -- It’s time. It’s time. It’s time to repent -- to turn to the light of God for your life. It’s time. It’s time. So -- are you going to live your life saying “Yes” to the call of God to repent -- to change -- and follow Him -- or are you not? Are you going to repent -- to change -- to quit doing the things that separate you from God -- or are you not? Are you going to support the work of God in the world -- or are you not? Are you going to support the work of the Church by your money -- your abilities -- your attendance -- or are you not? Are the things of God going to be important to you -- or not? Is attendance at worship -- at Sunday School -- at Bible Study -- at fellowship times -- going to be important to you -- or not? Are you going to accept God’s gracious invitation to repent -- to change -- to live a new life - - and experience salvation -- or are you not? It’s time to decide. It’s time! It’s time! Maybe you never decided to repent and follow Christ. Maybe you never decided to live in the ways of God instead of the ways of sin. Maybe you never decided to repent -- to change -- and experience salvation. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Maybe you have accepted Christ as your Savior -- but never let Christ totally change your life. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Maybe your life was changed by Christ at one time -- and you were doing well in living in God’s ways -- showing God to the world -- supporting the work of the Church -- but at some point you lost your excitement and you need to recommit to Christ and His ways. If so -- It’s time! It’s time! Simon -- Andrew -- James -- and John dropped all they had and followed Christ into a new life of faith -- of devotion -- of discipleship -- where Christ guided them and they followed. Have you decided to do the same? It’s time! It’s time! Christ is calling. It’s time you made your response. It’s time! It’s time! AMEN