Matthew 3:1-12.                              The World’s Only Way Out!!                       8/12/13

 {1)  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea {2} and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." {3} This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4} John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. {5} People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. {6} Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. {7} But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. {9} And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {10} The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. {11} "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. {12} His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

 Our world is not in good shape at the moment; typhoons, violence, loneliness, murders, divorce, selfishness, and the list could go on. These are all evidence of a moral and spiritual cancer eating away at our society. And in many ways it would seem as if it is terminal; after a number of wake-up calls in recent years nothing has improved. In fact it is going from bad to worse; even though we keep trying to fool ourselves that we have got it all under control. Unless there is a major change soon our society will self-destruct. Any realistic look at history will show us this.

 However it would seem that we want to continue to be blind to the realities of life itself. Some can see the problems; but they despair for a way out. They have given up and are basically just existing from one day to the next; going through the motions of life, but without their heart in it. In many ways, even we ourselves, are caught up in this decline. So the slide into complete moral decay continues.

 But what is the answer? Can we pull ourselves out of this moral and spiritual disaster that is before us? Is there a way out for us and for our society and our world? Well, John the Baptist here in this reading this morning suggests there is. There is way out of the predicament that faces us at the moment.

 But unfortunately it is not found in the areas that we are accustomed to looking to as a society. It will not be what we earn that will solve the problem; as much as prosperity and a higher standard of living is promoted as the way to go. Surely we can already see that even though we have incredibly high incomes and all the technological gadgets under the sun, we are really no better off morally and spiritually than say 30/50/100 years ago. With our wealth and materialism we have become busier, greedier and more selfish and unhappier; as well as less at peace with ourselves, our world, and above all God. So what we earn is not the way out for our world. How much or little we have is not the way to go; it will not solve this problem.

 Nor is answer to be found in what learn. Education is another part of life that is held up as an area that we need to concentrate on if we want to make this world a better place. We are told that we need to become the clever country. We are encouraged to spend more and more time at school to improve our skills and overcome our shortfalls. Yet the more educated we are becoming the more we seem to be getting ourselves further and further into the moral and spiritual dilemma that we are in. Today we have many people with a great deal of knowledge on many subjects, but not the wisdom to use any it properly. So once again division, sadness and the breakdown of society continues. What we learn is not going to be the way out for our world.

 Nor will burning everything and starting again. Certainly at times we think of getting rid of everything and seeking to make a new start. Then perhaps we will get it right next time. By destroying capitalism, the education system as have it, or whatever, will not solve our problems. Capitalism, communism, fascism, a new world order, one world Government; even a society that is based on Christian principles; no system at all can right the situation that we are facing as a humanity. Getting rid of one system of living and replacing it with another is not the answer.

 Whatever system is put in place, no matter how good will still come undone; the same basic problems will surface again and again. Sinful, selfish humanity will always mess things up. No matter how hard we try, it will all come unstuck because we have this flaw in our makeup that always comes to the fore.

 So the answer for our future is not going to be found in any of these areas:

Earning, learning and burning are not solutions; nor is it in any other brainwave scheme that we might come up with. It is only as we turn back to God that we find the way for our future. John here has the only answer; "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." To repent, is to turn around; it is to turn away from a focus on ourselves and our wants and desires or problems, to God and that which he wants to do through us.

 And why should we and can we do this? Because the kingdom of heaven has come near. There is the answer! There we and our world has something to turn to that really does make a difference. There we have that which our world is searching for and trying to create, but can't. It is all there – peace, happiness, good government and all the rest. No more guilt, pain, loneliness, death; even good directions for us to live by so that we can live happily with one another and God, as well as have all the security, contentment and fulfilment that we could ever want. It is heaven – the ideal place that we are all seeking after.

And here we are reminded that it is near. So near for each and every one of us. It is not something that we have to work hard for in order to get it; requiring a certain amount of money, education or any such thing in order to gain it. Even our failings and shortcomings are no barr to our having a part in it. It is so near!

 Jesus has come into our world; died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins; and now through our baptism; the Lord Supper and his Word, he now physically lives with each one of us. He has chosen to come and live in our lives, and to give us all the help and hope that we could ever possibly need. Jesus Christ now goes with us into our future; and guarantees the very best outcome possible; eternal life with our God in heaven.

 However, even though it is so near, yet for many it is so far! It is there for everyone, but for so many they are unwilling to repent and therefore it is unattainable. It is just a matter of turning back to God and trusting in him, recognising that he alone has the only way out for us. But this is where so many have trouble. They want to live as if there is no God. They still want to hang on to the old things of life. They still want to keep one foot on the track of a worldly life; living and doing as everyone else is.

 Yes, every one of us, wants and longs for this kingdom of heaven; this new and ideal world. But at the same time we still want to live life our way; and then we wonder why things don't go so well. We are trying to walk through life with ‘a leg on each side of a barbed wire fence’ and then wonder why it doesn’t work out. We too often act toward God as we do our doctor: and when he says that we are to go on diet or give up drinking or smoking because it is killing us, we make only a token effort, but then wonder why we end up in hospital and on our death bed. The doctor is supposed to be ‘the miracle worker’ just so that we can go on living our comfortable lifestyle.

The real danger, of course with God, is that we lose out altogether. A foot in both camps will not do. That is not repentance; it is not ‘wanting out’ from the troubles of this world. It is merely trying to use Jesus Christ as an excuse to live as we please; using him for our own ends.

 We need to remember again that when Jesus Christ comes to us; and comes to us as the Lord of life, he comes as King of this heavenly kingdom. He wants to produce in us fruit that is in keeping with one who is a part of this kingdom. If there is not that desire - that repentance - then he warns us that his axe is ready. We can’t have it both ways.

 This world is in trouble. Any blind fool can see that. So it is no good hanging on to our sin and the failings of this world. That is like holding on for dear life to the handle of the poker machine on the Titanic as it is sinking. So also the systems of this world will pull us down if we put too much emphasis on them as the saviour of our society. The only way is to turn to the Lord Jesus and allow him to pull us through.

 At this time of the year we are reminded again of the Saviour’s coming into our world. Jesus came so that he could die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We are also remind of his coming again at the end as judge, to take those who have turned to and trusted in him for their life and salvation, to be with him in eternity. We have every good reason to take him seriously.  

 So let us again prepare for his coming by turning away from our sin, so that the dangers of life don’t get in the way. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. And therein find the way out of this world's troubles, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish