Remaining Steadfast Under Trial

Remaining Steadfast Under Trial
First in a series, “The Pious Life of a Christian”
Mark 1:9­–15 // James 1:12–18 // Genesis 22:1–18
 
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our sermon text for today includes all three readings, beginning in James, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial...” Our text thus far.
 
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
Today we consider the pious life of the Christian. As we consider James chapter one, Genesis chapter 22 and Mark chapter one, we think about how the pious life of the Christian includes remaining steadfast under trial.
 
Which is, frankly, something that I haven’t had to deal with much in this life. I’ve lived a marshmallow kind of a life. I haven’t had to face the trials of various kinds that many other have had. So, do not rely on my experience; rely on God’s word.
 
To be steadfast is to remain. That’s a transliteration of the Greek word from James chapter one. Hypomeno. To remain under. The image behind it is of a person keeping their form even when under pressure. Like a weightlifter keeping his back straight and his eyes up when he does squats. Like a point guard keeping the ball in triple-threat position even when he’s guarded closely. Like a running back protecting the ball high and tight even at the end of the game when he is tired. Like a post player shooting free throws at the end of the game. Form matters. To remain, even when under pressure.
 
The effect of the pressure of trials is chaos. When we get under pressure, the neat life that we have starts to get muddy. The direction and trajectory of our days starts to get confused. The way that we made life meaningful disintegrates, becomes chaotic.
 
The kingdom of heaven is like men and women, families and friends that know the feeling of being under pressure. They know what it is like to remain under pressure. They know the nerves, the worry, the anxiety of not knowing what is going to happen next. And when they don’t know where life is going, they once again go back to the basics. They gather to hear God’s Word. They receive the strength and peace of the sacraments. And this orders the chaos of their world.
 
To be steadfast is to speak the truth when it matters. Abraham says it throughout his trial: God will provide a sacrifice. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew speaks God’s Word in response to every temptation. James calls a man “blessed” who is steadfast under trial. To be steadfast is to speak the truth when it matters.
 
Oftentimes, my wife is my counselor. Sometimes, my counselor is my counselor. But here’s the thing: much of the time, I know what they will say. Why? Because I’m usually the one saying it to someone else. I am the one counseling someone to be patient, to keep perspective, to search the Scriptures, to view the other person as a human being dealing with the stuff that human beings deal with rather than some evil automaton sent to make your life miserable.
 
Oftentimes, I am that person, but here’s the key: when I need counsel, I need someone else to say that to me. I need someone to remind me to be patient, to keep perspective, to view the other person as a human being.
 
I remember before Benjamin was born, Laura and I had a miscarriage. We found out at 12 weeks and went through the months of grieving and healing that have to happen. But I do remember that first day, coming to church after we found out. Pastor Griffin came in and sat down next to us.  I asked him about this a little while ago and he said, “I had no idea what to say.” But what he said is what we pastors know we should say. We tell God how much our hearts hurt, and we remember his promises in Psalm 23, in Psalm 27.
 
You see, the temptation that we can fall to under pressure is this: let our trials distort the truth that we need to hear. We can distort the truth. We can condemn what God has not condemned or cling to what God has not promised. We can let our trials drown out what God has done.
 
The kingdom of heaven is like a church family in every chapter of life letting their growing history together drawn them further into God’s word. The Father of Lights has once again shown his word of truth. Every sin against them is an opportunity to forgive. Every failure is an opportunity to confess. Every trial is a place and a time when they can hear God’s word more and more.
 
To be steadfast under trial is to speak and hear the truth knowing that God has a hand in your trials. 
 
Pastor Griffin would say that his prayer life in the smooth sailing days was never nearly as sincere as it was in the days of trouble. So, when life was going too well he would pray for a little trouble.
I’m not inviting you to go looking for trouble, but I will tell you what I do know. The Spirit, not the devil, drove Jesus out into the desert. God, not Satan, told Abraham to sacrifice his son. God has a hand in your trials. God tests even while the devil tempts. God’s will is not that we would stay comfortable, but that in every chapter of life, we would turn toward him.
 
As I’ve read the Gospels, I’ve often thought about how frightening it would be to speak to Jesus. He never seems to say what a person expects. He always seems to take the conversation a different direction. He doesn’t usually answer the question that you’re asking; he often answers the question you should’ve asked. 
 
So, if you were talking to Jesus (which you can do daily) what’s the right answer? What can you say? I would submit to you that the only right answer, that anyone ever gives to Jesus in the gospels, is the one that he asks for, right at the end of our reading: Repent.
 
It seems that the only right response in the Gospels is to repent. To follow after Christ wherever Christ is going. To know that Christ will rock your world and your conscience with his word on a regular basis. To be perfectly comfortable weeping your eyes and your brain out with those who are mourning, knowing that you will receive comfort every time you come to the Sanctuary. To be perfectly content to spend your time, your talents, and your treasures building a kingdom that lasts for eternity. To be ready and willing to examine on a daily basis and to fall on the grace of God. To know that the Old Adam in you day by day is going to rise up // the Old Adam in you is daily needing to be drown so that a new man can arise. 
 
The kingdom of heaven is like a large church in a small town freed, absolutely freed to repent. Throwing off the sin that so easily entangles and clings so closely, they daily set out to run the race marked out for them. They are no longer bound by their faults and their failures but are compelled by the Love of Christ.
 
To be steadfast under trial is to speak and hear the truth knowing that God has a hand in your trials. 
 
Amen and amen.