HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL

1 Thessalonians 5:6

Third Sunday in Advent

December 14, 2008

This past Friday we drove out to Seward, Nebraska to retrieve one of our children at the end of the semester. Since Seward really isn’t that far of a drive and because a change in the weather was forecast, we just turned around and drove back to Colorado. Such a drive gives you time to reflect. I realized that while I enjoy driving, there are three conditions through which I do not enjoy driving.

The first condition is darkness. I don’t enjoy driving at night. The second is stormy weather. I do not enjoy driving through any storm, really: rain or snow. Finally, I don’t enjoy driving through road construction. On the trip back from Seward, I only had to face darkness and some occasional road construction. The sky was clear, with a full moon.

I don’t like driving at night because I really like to see what’s ahead on the road. At night, you can’t really see past your headlights. I don’t like driving through storms, because I really can’t be sure of road conditions—black ice, snow-packed icy roads, that sort of thing. Finally, I don’t enjoy driving through road construction because I find myself completely at the mercy some highway department—I have no idea what lies ahead. I seem to have control issues, so I don’t like not being in control.

Come to think of it, I have some of the same concerns about living life in general. I project those concerns about highway officials to God: Does He have a plan? Does He have a plan for me? If so, how does that plan involve me? Finally, how can I be sure of that plan?

As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he may have had those questions in mind. He addresses any concerns with the certain answer that God does indeed have a plan—His will. Further, Paul assures you and me that this will of God is for you and me. Even better, unlike road construction in the darkness on a highway in Nebraska, this will of God has been made plain—revealed in Christ Jesus.

Paul already reminded the Thessalonians of this plan God has for them that’s been revealed in Christ Jesus. They know—as you and I know—how eager God the Father was for us to be part of His plan of rescue in Jesus. We celebrate Jesus’ coming as the culmination of that plan. He is the One who wraps Himself up in our flesh to be born in Bethlehem.

God the Father is so eager and so committed to His plan of rescue that He did not spare His own Son but gave Him over to the plan. The Babe in the manger is the Man on the cross. Jesus completes the plan for our rescue from sin—sin that makes us want to be in control rather than trust God; sin that makes us want to see past the moment at hand and know what God knows; sin that basically wants to be in the driver’s seat rather than let go and let God. Sin has earned us judgment and death and Jesus endures this judgment for us and dies…so that we might have life.

This plan is connected to you. You can look to your baptism and believe that all of this was given to you then. You and I come to the Lord’s Table and again are reconnected to Jesus and so, God’s will for us. We trust, even when we can’t see and don’t know.

God the Father is also so eager that we be in His plan that He gives us another Helper for this life of faith. The Holy Spirit, Paul reminds, sanctifies us. You and I remember our catechism—Luther’s teaching that the Holy Spirit calls us into faith by the Gospel, gathers us into His Church, enlightens us so that our hearts and heads are united in faith and trust, and sanctifies and keeps us.

He sanctifies us—makes us wholly holy—as He puts the forgiveness Jesus won for us where the judgment of the Father was. That forgiveness is what He uses to change our hearts and our heads—and our direction on the road and even, the road itself. Paul is excited to let us in on the surprise—the Spirit works to keeps us in that forgiveness, to keep us blameless until we stand before Jesus in His glory. That’s God’s plan—for you and me.

This is outstanding news. However, there are good number of things—conditions that lie ahead in our journey—that might threaten our confidence. Folks have lost jobs recently—that makes it hard to see what’s ahead. Some folks have seen their retirement or savings devoured by the volatility of the stock market—that makes it difficult to plan the journey. Unexpected or continuing health issues also work to make the road rough with unexpected changes in direction. However, Paul is certain. God unfolds His plan for you in Christ Jesus.

So, we can live that plan out in our days—and nights. We can rejoice. Rejoicing is past being merely happy. Happy is tied up in the moments, where joy is wrapped up in God. We can pray—you and I have access to our God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—at all times. He invites, He desires, He wants our prayers. Talk to Him, telling Him of your concerns, fears and anxieties. We can live thankfully—responding to the grace He gives through Jesus.

Paul assures us that our God is the God of peace. He has our well-being—shaping our “now” in light of our “eternity”—in mind for us. God not only brings you to the moment; He brings you through the moment.

Do you remember Christmastime two years ago? What did we get just before Christmas—two feet or more of snow? I was driving in that storm—at night. We left Denver at midnight, needing to wait for some cousins at the airport and headed for Houston. It started snowing just before Burlington. By the time we got to Burlington, it was almost impossible to go forward. In fact, I decided we weren’t going further—it was dangerous.

However, my sister-in-law offered to drive. Now you have to know my brother-in-law told me not to let his wife drive—she falls asleep driving in the night. So, I said, “Okay, you can drive.” By the time we got to the state line, we had just a little place in the windshield through which to see. It took us five hours to get from Burlington to Colby, Kansas.

Yes, I was in constant prayer. Two of my least favorite driving conditions were present full-blast. But I was also confident that we were in God’s hands. I was confident of those hands because I know them to be nail-scarred—the hands of Jesus. I was confident that God had a plan for us, so I could relax. I could sleep. I did sleep because I was confident that the God who brought us to the storm, would be the same God who brought us through the storm.

Paul concludes these words with an encouragement for the Thessalonians and for you: He who calls you is faithful. He will certainly do it.