“Follow the Leader” - Roadmap to Renewal V -

Begin with the End in Mind

There is a short story, titled, “The Man Who Met Death.” In that story the man has conversation with Death. The man says, “I don’t want to die a sudden death. So please give me a warning before you come.” Death agrees, saying, “I promise. I will give you several warnings.” The man is relieved and goes on his way. Few years later, death visits him all of sudden. The man is not ready and terrified, saying, “It’s a breach of promise! You’ve come without any warnings.” Death says to him calmly, “No, I kept the promise. Do you remember the day when you had your first gray hair? That was my first warning. Do you remember you saw a doctor because you didn’t hear well? That was my second warning. Do you remember you had short breath and chest pain? That was my another warning.” In Psalm 90 Moses says, “The days of our life pass by quickly and we fly away” (10).

We are in this journey together. And it’s always good to begin our journey with the end in mind. In this respect, Deuteronomy is so rich and beneficial for us today, because it’s Moses’ final speech for the next generation, about to cross Jordan river and to start a new chapter of their life in the Promised Land. We haven’t studied this book chapter by chapter; instead, we focused on five main themes from this book.

• Wilderness: Wilderness is love. It refines us, shapes us, equips us to be God’s people.
• Battle: The land of Canaan is not empty land, but to be conquered. Be prepared! But we fight from victory, but not for victory. 
• Journey: from Egypt to Canaan. It’s journey from my kingdom to God’s kingdom.
• Holiness: “Like father, like son.” Be holy for God is holy. Our journey is not a journey of happiness, but of holiness.

Greater than Moses

Our last theme word is “leader.” It’s so important to have a good leader in order to complete the journey. Moses was a great leader for forty years, but he couldn’t finish the journey. So he said to his people, “The Lord your God will raise up a prophet (leader) like me for you from among you. You must listen to him” (Dt 18:15). Then, who is Mosses talking about? Who is “a prophet like me”? The best way to answer this question is to let scripture interpret scripture. In Acts 3 Peter speaks to those utterly astonished by healing of a crippled beggar and quotes the phrase “a prophet like me.” Then he boldly proclaims, “The prophet like Moses is God’s Chosen One, the Messiah. And Jesus is the Messiah.” Again in Acts 7 Stephen defends himself before Sanhedrin and quotes the same phrase, saying, “Our ancestors killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, the Prophet like Moses, the Messiah, and now you have killed Jesus, who is the Christ.”

One day Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and took with him Peter and John and James. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. Then a cloud came and overshadowed the disciples. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!” (Luke 9:35) Jesus is God’s Son, God’s Chosen One. The Book of Hebrews clearly proclaims this truth. It begins like this:

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word…” (1:1-3, NRSV)

Jesus is the Prophet like Moses. He is superior and greater than Moses. Jesus is the Way to salvation.

The Jesus Way

When Jesus said, “I am the way…” what he meant was that he is both “ends” and “means.” Ends are goals and purposes, while means are the way we get to the goal. For Christians, the end is God’s work of salvation, eternal life, life with Christ. What about the means? How can we get there? Jesus. John 3:16 tells us what are the end and the means of our Christian journey: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus is A to Z, not ABC of our Christian journey. Some people believe that it’s ok to follow Jesus any which way they like once they received Jesus as their Savior. Jesus is the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega. St. Catherine rightly said, "All the way to heaven is heaven, because Jesus had said, 'I am the way."' In other words, the way we talk, the way we treat another, the way we raise our children, the way we read, the way we worship, the way we vote, the way we garden, the way we drive, the way we walk, the way we eat, ought to be congruent with the way Jesus talked, acted, felt, gestured, prayed, healed, taught, lived and died. Eugene Peterson captured well this truth, saying, “The way of Jesus is the way that we practice and come to understand the truth of Jesus, living Jesus in our homes and workplaces, with our friends and family.”[1]

In his final speech Moses talks about a prescribed place of worship. He says, “Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please” (12:13). Then he continues, “Instead, take your sacred gifts and your offerings to the place the Lord will choose” (26). Then Moses also talks about regulations concerning tithings, offerings, marriage, sexual relations, keeping Sabbath and other holy festivals. What we can learn from all this is, it’s not about us. It’s not about my preference, my convenience, my way. It’s about God and His Way. It is God who will choose where to worship, when to worship, how to worship, what to bring and how much to bring for offerings... and how to live. In other religions, we don’t have to change. We manipulate gods to get what we want. But in Christianity, that just doesn’t work. We cannot follow Jesus any which way we like. “Jesus is the way” means we follow the way of Jesus in every area of our life. Not only does Jesus show the way, but also he takes the initiative and invites us to join him. In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you” (MSG). Jesus is the way – means and end.

The Cross Way

The way of Jesus is the way of the cross. The Jesus way is the way of sacrifice, humiliation, and “deny yourself.” The Jesus way is the narrow way, but it’s the only way that leads to life. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, on his journey Christian met two gentlemen, coming into the narrow way over the wall. Their names were Formalist and Hypocrisy. They were born in the land of Vain-glory and were going to Celestial City to receive praise. Christian asked them, “Why didn’t you enter by the narrow gate?” They replied, “Our way is shorter and easier. You came in by the narrow gate, we climbed over the wall. But we are all traveling along the same road. We will be just fine. We will go our way, and you yours.” A short while later, the three came to the Hill Difficulty. Here were also two roads – one turned to the right and the other to the left. But the narrow way led between them straight up to the top of the hill. Christian began to climb the narrow hill, while the other two decided to take the side roads. One took the way of danger and got lost in the forest, and the other took the way of destruction, stumbled over a cliff and fell to his death.[2] The Jesus way is the narrow way.

When Jesus was in the wilderness, he was tempted by the devil three times. But basically, those three temptations were one – taking the crown without the cross. The first temptation: turn stones into bread. Meet people’s needs without the cross. The second temptation: throw yourself down, show miracles, and people will be drawn to you without the cross. The third temptation: I will let you rule the world if you fall down and worship me. Again save the world without the cross. This temptation continues to the end even when Jesus was on the cross. People said, “Come down from the cross now, so we can see it and believe!” But Jesus resisted the temptation to taking the crown without the cross. The devil tempts us in the same way: follow Jesus, but it’s ok to follow him any which way you like, it’s ok to take a shortcut or side ways to get to Celestial City. But Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways (“deny yourself”), take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Lk 9:23 NLT).

Change Your Ways

As I close, I exhort our church family to read the Book of Hebrews throughout this week, because it clearly interprets the Old Testament passages about the Messiah and effectively proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah. Then, the author encourages those who faithfully follow the Jesus way, and at the same time, warns those who stray from the narrow path. He exhorts three times: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (3:7-8, 15; 4:7). Are you walking in the narrow way? Do you stay in tune with Jesus today? Let us change our ways, change our minds, change our attitudes. Let us return to Jesus and follow the Jesus Way, the Cross Way. Amen.

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[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way, (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007), Kindle Location 73 of 3482.

[2] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress: Updated, Modern English. (Bunyan Updated Classics.), 44.

“Holy to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 14:1-2) - Roadmap to Renewal IV –

“Like Father, Like Son”

We say this when the son has grown up to "be just like" his father – not just in external appearance, but also in temperament, manner, way of doing things, having the same sense of value, or some other quality. We say this when the son has taken after his father’s inner person as well as his outer person. Nowadays my son, Abe, hears often people say, “Look at you. You look just like your dad.” Now he wears glasses just like me. He got his hair permed just like me. But not only that, sometimes I am just amazed by how he likes and doesn’t like certain foods just like me, and by how he behaves the same way in certain things just like me. Like father, like son.

When we talk about the attributes of our heavenly Father (“who God is”), we may say, “God is loving, kind, wise, eternal, unchangeable, all powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and so on.” Though they are all saying something true about Him, if we are forced to choose just one quality – the most prominent attribute of God, it would be the word “holy.” Our God is holy. Let us keep this in mind, and read today’s scripture together:

You are children of the Lord your God. You must not lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for the dead. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are true children of God. “Like Father, like son.” Then, what does it mean to be holy? What is true practical holiness? Anglican Bishop J. C. Ryle gives us a good definition what holiness is and what holiness isn’t:[1]

True holiness, we surely ought to remember, does not consist merely of inward sensations and impressions. It is much more than tears, and sighs, and bodily excitement, and a quickened pulse, and a passionate feeling of attachment to our own favourite preachers and our own religious party, and a readiness to quarrel with everyone who does not agree with us. It is something of "the image of Christ," which can be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.

In other words, holiness is basically to have the same mind with God – hating what He hates and loving what He loves.

Holiness in 21^st Century

But the thing is that holiness doesn’t come naturally. Instead, our sinful nature inclines to follow the course of this world (Eph 2:2). It conforms to this world. So the Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Rom 12:2). God says to his children, “Be holy, because I am holy! Be different from those who don’t know me! Don’t follow their ways! Be a peculiar people!”  So for Israel, God commands them not to follow pagan practices, saying, “Don’t lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for the dead. Don’t make your children pass through fire (child-sacrifice). Don’t practice divination or sorcery. Don’t imitate their practices, but be different.” Then, God gives them practical guidance on how they may live as a peculiar people of God – even what to eat and what not to eat. The purpose is this: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God” (14:21b).

Some of us may think, “Those dietary laws were for Israel. What about us? What does it mean to be holy and to live as a peculiar people in 21^st century?” Actually, Jesus already answered this question. He interpreted what practical holiness really means in daily life perfectly and beautifully through his sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7). According to Jesus, true practical holiness means to love our enemies and pray for those who give us a hard time. It means to help the needy in secret and to pray in secret. It means to trust in God and be generous toward God and people. It means to seek first the kingdom of God and to reprioritize everything in our life accordingly. It means to do to others as we would have them do to us. It means to make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. It means to hear the word and to do the word. This is what it means to be holy in our daily life.

As you hear the Sermon on the Mount, some of you may ask, “Is it practical?” Some of you may think, “The Sermon on the Mount was intended only for super-Christians, not for ordinary ones like me. So I don’t have to worry about its high standards.” Now I want you to open your Bible and find Matthew 5:1-2, the introduction of the Sermon of the Mount:  

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying…”

There were always two different groups of people who were following Jesus: the disciples and the crowds. Jesus always told a parable to the crowds; and then he withdrew himself from them and explained the meaning of the parable to his disciples. He gave more concentrated instruction and teaching to his disciples. I share this because the Sermon of the Mount is one of the most challenging, radical, counter-cultural sermons in the Bible. So for those conformed to this world and its culture (“the crowds”), this sermon just doesn’t make sense and is not practical, not relevant, not attainable. But as for Jesus’ disciples, this sermon is like spiritual dynamite, spiritual revolution. And it is practical. It is relevant. It is attainable.

But How?

But the question still remains: “How is it possible to live such a godly life?” It is possible and attainable when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In particular, Ephesians 5 is the New Testament version of Deuteronomy 14, which tells us how to live a holy life as God’s children. It begins like this: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children” (v. 1). And later, Paul tells us how we can live such life in this way:

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:18-20, NIV)

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have then new nature, new heart, new desire, and new power that enables us to live a godly life. Then how can we be filled with the Spirit? Paul tells us we can be filled with the Spirit as we recite psalms, sing hymns and give thanks to God. But it is not about the formula. Rather, it is about relationship. Reciting, singing, and giving thanks are means to deepen our relationship with the person Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. Holiness comes from Christ. Apart from him, there is no such thing as holiness. Holiness is the fruit of vital union with Christ. The more we spend quality time with Christ, the more we will be filled with the Spirit, who makes us holy.

Look to Jesus

James Taylor loved to go wherever John Wesley was preaching—not to listen, but to throw stones and mock those who did listen. However, on the day before Taylor’s wedding, Wesley preached the gospel of Jesus Christ on Joshua 24:15, "…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Taylor came under intense conviction and was saved. This man who once was a chief scoffer became a believer who led his family in the paths of righteousness. His grandson, James Hudson Taylor, became one of the greatest missionaries in history.[2] Jesus is mighty to save. His word is mighty to transform us and make us holy.

Suppose the most notorious prisoner shares his room with Jesus for three months. Who do you think is transformed? The prisoner, or Jesus? The prisoner! Now we, Christians, are the ones who live a life with Christ 24/7. Then, we need to ask this question ourselves, “Am I transformed? Am I holier than a year ago? Am I more loving, kind, generous, patient, forgiving than three years ago?” If the answer is “No” or “Not sure,” then, either we are stronger than the most notorious prisoner, or we are not living a life together with Christ.

Do you feel imperfect or unworthy? Look to Jesus, and you will be made whole in Him. Do you feel as if you were nothing? Look to Jesus, and He will be all in all to your soul. Are you weary and burdened? Look to Jesus, and He will give you rest. Are you thirsty? Look to Jesus, and streams of living water will flow from within you. If you look to yourself, there will be only darkness. But if you look to Jesus, there is light. For Jesus is the Light, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Rock, the Shepherd, the Savior, the Physician, the Fountain of living water, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and All in All.

So look less to yourself, and look more to Jesus! Look to Jesus by reciting psalms and reading a scripture. Look to Jesus by singing hymns. Look to Jesus by giving thanks to Him always for everything. Look to Jesus by helping someone in need in His name. Look to Jesus by obeying the promptings of the Spirit. Look to Jesus by talking and listening to Him. Look to Jesus by testifying to others about Him. Look to Jesus by hearing him in flowers, trees, water, sky. Look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Look, look, look! Look to Jesus and live!

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[1] J. C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, 4-5.

[2] http://www.dailyintheword.org/rooted/god-meets-us-where-we-are