Abraham's Challenge

March 19, 2000

cf Feb 23, 1997

Genesis 17:1

I love the story of Abraham. Even across thousands of years, somehow I feel connected to the great Father of Faith.

Three great world religions look to Abraham as the one who showed them what it means to walk with God by faith. Jews call him their father; Muslims believe his son Ishmael was their ancestor; Christians own him as their own. It is easy for us to try to fit the life of Abraham into our particular understanding of theological truth. I don't have a problem with that at all. I see MY story in miniature in Abraham's story. God calls. God says move. Move up! Trust me!

Abraham had left his native land to follow God. He had started out not knowing where he was going. Furthermore, Abraham had made covenant with God simply on the basis of trust (see Genesis 15:6.) But now in old age, when Abraham's best years seem to be behind him, God asks Abraham to move up.

This call to move higher reached Abraham at the very point of his weakness and inability. (When we think it is all over, maybe God is thinking about beginnings!) "When Abraham was ninety years old and nine YHWH appeared . . ."

God's challenge was to walk before Him and be perfect, or blameless. We could easily get sidetracked by the use of the word "perfect." Abraham didn't PERFORM perfectly. Abraham made some dumb mistakes. But Abraham responded perfectly to God's challenge. It wasn't a perfect performance God was looking for. Abraham fell on his face before God. He prostrated himself in worship and submission. He agreed with God, he continued to believe God's word; Abraham's perfect response was simply total willingness to belong to God and God alone.

This faith of Abraham and Sarah was not to do great things with God's help. RATHER, THEY BELIEVED GOD WOULD DO WHATEVER GOD WANTED TO DO WITH THEM. God would do great things if God said so. Abraham himself became a living sacrifice, and God could have him, weakness and all.

Two things took place when God challenged Abraham to a closer walk with Himself. God changed Abraham's and Sarah's names. Scholars cannot say for sure what the new names mean; the best explanation for me is that God took a part of his own name and put it into Abraham's and Sarah's names. One thing is for sure— when God changes a name it is significant, and it means a life, a character is being changed for the better. To really be a CHRISTIAN means more than believing a certain way. WE TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS AS A PART OF OUR OWN!

God also established the old testament covenant of circumcision that day. Abraham accepted a permanent sign of the covenant, to forever belong to God. Being circumcised did not save Abraham. Being baptized will not save you. Abraham's faith resulted in obedience. Whatever God said, Abraham listened, and believed, and obeyed. BAPTISM IS MORE THAN AN EMPTY REMEMBRANCE. Do you affirm what YOUR baptism means this morning?

THE GOSPEL LESSON FROM MARK 8 IS ABRAHAM'S CHALLENGE ALL OVER AGAIN. It is a call to a deeper walk, a higher way. That challenge is open to us all:

Jesus was speaking to the twelve disciples, and yet at this point he also included all who would listen, "the multitude," and he said, IF ANY ONE will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. It is clear that God's call is to the whosoever: John 3:16 "God so loved the world . . .that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Peter tells us (2 Peter 3:9) " The Lord is . . . long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

(We are all called, but not everyone— in fact not many— respond to that call. In fact, it seems as though there are at least two levels of Christians— many are called— few are (finally) chosen. But those who do choose to follow, to walk with Jesus, he has promised His Presence.)

Dr. (Edward S.) Mann used to begin one of his great sermons with a bit of poetry. I probably don't have it exactly right, but this is how I remember it: (I don't know who wrote it . . . )

Behold, I set before you a way, and ways, and a way.
And the high soul goes the high way, And the low soul gropes the low.
And in between, on the misty flats, The rest drift to and fro.
But to each is opened a high road and a low,
And each one must determine The way his soul would go.

THE CHALLENGE TO ABRAHAM, AND THE CALL FROM JESUS TO EACH ONE OF US, IS TO DELIBERATELY CHOOSE THE HIGH ROAD OF WALKING BEFORE GOD, or, as Jesus put it, of following after Him.

Jesus makes it clear and simple what the steps are if we want to take the high road. They are just three:

To deny one's self is not to deny one's self of something. It is to ask God to do what we cannot do— to seal us with His Spirit— to circumcise the heart— It is a willingness to be His love-slaves for time and eternity. It is to take self out of the center and to seek with all one's heart to know and do God's will.

Some of the disciples loved Jesus that much. They wanted to be where He was. They were willing to give up their own selfish wills. And when the Holy Spirit was given to them they found that their hearts were made pure, and it was possible to deny self and delight in God's will at any cost.

To take up the cross is more than being willing to die for Jesus. It is being willing to LIVE for Him— it is making an offering of our lives to Him. The world lives for happiness. If a relationship is painful, throw it away. If promises or responsibilities get in the way of happiness, throw them aside. "We deserve it!" But to take up the cross is to say with Jesus, "Thy will, not mine be done, even when it costs!"

To follow Jesus means simply that this higher road, this deeper walk has the great privilege of always being where Jesus is. God's challenges are always in the context of covenant— and we can count on it, God keeps his word. If we will take the time to listen these days and weeks of Lent, we will hear God calling us to come and walk with Him.

WHEREVER YOU ARE ON YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, GOD WANTS TO MAKE COVENANT WITH YOU. He wants to unfold His best will for you, in you. God's best and highest comes only as we, like Abraham, go down on our faces before God— as we, obeying Jesus, are willing to deny self, take up our cross, and follow Him.

Shall we pray: Prayer (of A. W. Tozer) I am your servant, Lord. How I want to be a good disciple. Lead me; awaken me— not that I might be great through you, but that you might be glorified through me. Amen

UMH #408 The Gift of Love or Just as I Am #357 (Nazarene #462 Sweet Will of God )