December 20, 2015
Sunday

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Luke 1:41 – 42

“Christmas is G-d at work with rescue. Joseph was told to name the baby “Jesus” because He would be the Savior, the one chosen by G-d to redeem His people. Dimly but surely in the faith of the earliest people was this ingredient: that G-d had rescue in need, help from death. Above all, this was the hope of that faith: that G-d whom men might cast aside would not cast them off, that He might return and forgive, that He would have mercy. He (G-d) has done what He could, the Lord of heaven and earth, in order to rescue us: He has given His own Son!” Richard R. Caemmerer, Sr. (1904 – 1984) A Sermon: “In Advent, Wait for Rescue” “For All The Saints” volume III, (p. 125 – 126)

There is the old story told about the Life Saving Station that was built along a long strip of coastline far away from civilization. The station was famous for their quick action in the midst of a calamity. The station was a crude building housing just the basics needed for the rescue of those lost on the sea. But soon, members of the rescue station began to question their surroundings. If they were to be the first rate saving station everyone talked about, they should have a first rate building. So the people went to work to build a new life saving station building. While they were in the midst of their building campaign, the saving of lives continued in earnest. But those who were responsible for the rescue of strangers said they needed first rate equipment if they were to be housed in a first rate building. So the effort was put forth to secure first rate equipment, while the saving of lives continued. But over time,while the efforts to update their building and their equipment was utmost on their minds, it allowed less and less time to rescue strangers. And those who built the new building said “We do not want the building being ruined by these strangers who come in wet and soiled – they will ruin these first rate facilities.” And those who rescued the strangers said “All of these rescues of strangers are damaging our new equipment, or at least they are taking away their luster, and if we have a shiny new building, we want shiny new equipment.”

In time, the people of the area boasted of the first rate Life Saving Station, and they showed people the new shiny equipment housed in the first rate Life Saving Station. People were still being lost on the sea, but few people were rescued any more.

G-d wants us to be in the business of rescue. Our G-d, who rescues us from sin, death and the devil through Jesus Christ, asks us to do the same. We are to be the hands and feet of Christ. Yes, we all want to have first rate buildings, and first rate life saving equipment. But, if we focus only on protecting our building and facilities, rather than inviting strangers into our midst, we will have a beautiful building filled with shiny life saving equipment, but it will serve only as a museum for those who want to know what Christianity used to be about.

Pastor Dave