Rend the Heavens and Have Thine Own Way
December 03, 2023
“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence-- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.”- Isaiah 64:1-3
In some place deep in our hearts, we know that God’s will is best.
We understand that God knows more, and God knows best. We understand that we do not understand. We are settled on the idea that God is God, and we are not God, individually or collectively.
God is a potter fashioning the universe and us, within that universe, into something useful, usable, and beautiful.
We long for the divine will to be done in some ways that make us unsatisfied with anything less. We want it now; we want it in the resolution of history; we want it for eternity.
Isaiah’s heart longed for God’s presence to be known and acknowledged. With this movement of God, the prophet knew there would be justice, righteousness, and a rectification of wrongs.
For the Christian, this comes, in fullness in the Second appearing of Christ at the end of the present age. It is the hope that is the longing expressed every first Sunday of Advent.
It also comes whenever and however God shows up in our lives and circumstances.
It is a wonder beyond comprehension or description.
“From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.” – Isaiah 64:4 (NRSVU)
Sin is that part of our nature that resists the deepest desires for God’s will and purpose. Sin resists God’s love, God’s grace, God’s mercy, and God’s sovereignty.
It settles for less than the best. Sometimes, it gravitates toward that which is polar opposite of the best or even what it good.
Isaiah confessed collective sin and embraced the gift of salvation. He knew the hopelessness of those whose own righteousness is as filthy rags, who fade like leaves, and are blown away with the wind.
We are stained with iniquity, but we are covered by grace. For that reason, we pray for the Day of the LORD and we joyfully wait, even judgment because we have no terror of awesome revelation of God’s power.
Isaiah declared, “We are Thy people.” To be the people of God is to be a people of promise and hope.
We are God’s people. We are called to be that. We are desired for that. To the extent that we have heard and responded to God’s call, we are considered that and are moving toward the realization of that in our lives and behaviors.
But, still we struggle with the negative forces of sin and rebellion that drag us into the mud.
The prayer continues with verses 5-9:
You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.
We are clay. God is the potter. God is making something out of us even as God is fashioning the divine purposes of history.
Psalm 80 echoes the theme:
Verses 1-7 and 17-19
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might, and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
God answers this prayer, as God answers so many prayers, in Jesus.
The coming of a child, born in Bethlehem, born to die and rise again, is a signal that the culmination of time has begun and that the glorious rule of God has been announced The Jesus event in Israel two thousand years ago, was God’s announcement that history has a meaning and is leading to a grand destination.
Let’s jump to Mark 13:24-37
"But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”
“Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.”
“Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.”
“And what I say to you I say to all: ‘Keep awake.’"
Let’s extract some key ideas from Jesus’ discourse that go to the prayers of Isaiah and the Psalmist, but also support his admonition to stay awake.
"But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
He has been predicting a time of suffering. There were actually two stages all leading to a third.
- The disciples would suffer after the passion for their testimony.
- The people of Judea would suffer under the Romans when they came to destroy the temple.
- Times of suffering will come and go, rise and subside until the end of history.
Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
God is going to show himself and the Son of Man will be revealed as victorious Messiah. God, who keeps track of all his people, will find us wherever we are scattered and will gather us together.
In the meantime, pay attention to time the way a farmer pays attention to his or her fig trees. There are indications of harvest. There are times for performing certain tasks. Each time of harvest reminds us that the great harvest is nearer than it has ever been and is coming.
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”
And yet, he says:
“Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
What Jesus is telling us is that everything short of the actual end of time, judgment, and ultimate redemption would happen in the lives of the people present. We are all living in a generation where spiritual forces are vying for control of the hearts and minds of people. We are all living on the edge of our own time on earth. We are all and always living in a generation of crisis, decision, and revelation of God’s presence and power.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
No matter what changes or how dramatically those changes may come, one thing remains – God’s words, spoken, lived, acted out, and applied in Jesus Christ.
"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.”
Days and hours are a different matter. Specific circumstances vary. We are not given all the details. We just know that something big is going to happen. Redemption is coming. Judgment is coming. Everything is going to be set right.
In the meantime, we are in charge of the house and are to remain alert because the Master can show up any time.
“Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.”
God comes suddenly.
Like at Pentecost, the Spirit came suddenly like a mighty rushing wind.
God does not ease in. God speaks without ambiguity when the Day of the Lord arrives. It will not be subtle.
God is going to show up again in Christ and rectify all that is wrong. We, who have been saved from the penalty of sin and are being saved from the power of sin, will be saved from the very presence of sin. There will be no more forces to drag us down. There will be no more war between sin and righteousness in our lives or in the world.
God’s will shall be accomplished, done, and exalted.
The Potter will make the final evaluation and refinement and the pot will be ready to be displayed.
“And what I say to you I say to all: ‘Keep awake.’"
The first Sunday of Advent is about anticipating the Second Coming of Christ. His coming Incarnation was a preview and preparation for that final historical event.
We welcome the season by praying with the saints of the centuries, “Come Lord, Jesus, come.”
As our epistle readings often do today’s reading tells us how to live in the meantime. How to stay awake.
In this case, it is an iteration and reiteration of a prayer. In this prayer, we receive confidence, strength, and assurance that God has heard. God has called us. God has equipped us for anything we may ever need to face.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We have been called into fellowship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. That fellowship is full of grace, forgiveness, joy, and love. Have you said “Yes” to that invitation?
You can. It is a one-word response:
Yes.
Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Search me and try me,
Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord,
wash me just now,
as in thy presence
humbly I bow.Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary,
help me I pray!
Power, all power,
surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me,
Savior divine!Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being
absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit
till all shall see
Christ only, always,
living in me!Adelaide A. Pollard