What is real? When it comes to college basketball, may say
that “March Madness” is when the REAL season begins - all that has gone on
since November has just been a prelude.
Opening Day is when the REAL baseball season begins and the seven weeks
of Spring Training are just a warm up.
Sometimes we live out our discipleship in the same way - as if our lives
now are some sort of false reality - but some day in heaven - that will be
reality. Or more commonly, just the
opposite - as if the lives we are living now are the reality and life beyond
the grave is the reality that’s a bit fuzzy.
On this day in the church
year, we end the season of Epiphany and begin the transition into the season of
Lent - Transfiguration Sunday. “Trans”
means “change”. The definition of a real
disciple of Jesus could be stated as the one who is changed by what they learn
and believe and then look to share the same Christ who has changed them.
Reality is where we come into
contact with Jesus. We need to see and
hear Jesus, only Jesus, in order to bring our lives into a sharp focus where we
can discern reality from myth. Our lives
here on earth and our eternal lives are both real, and both NOW.
Jesus took three disciples up
the mountain and there the disciples were made eyewitnesses to Jesus
“Transfigured” into all His majesty and glory.
They were able to see Moses and Elijah in glory - just as their Old
Testament Scriptures had said - confirming that God’s Word alone is real. They heard from the voice of God that reality
was found in listening to Jesus, God’s Son.
And then Jesus led them down the mountain with the instruction not to
tell anyone until His resurrection - because the reality of the mountain of
transfiguration FOR THEM would not occur until Jesus visited another mountain -
Mt. Calvary - where the glory of God is revealed in the salvation of His people
through the death of His Son in our place.
In God’s plan for His saving
glory, we are changed form dead in sin to alive in Christ, from enemy of God to
child of God. We were changed through
the reality of Baptism. And yet, the
Church, the collection of believers and disciples of Jesus Christ, continues to
be under attack that we are “out of touch” with reality. The world wants to speak FOR God rather than
listen to Him; the world gives you discipleship YOUR way rather than following
Jesus alone. The period of time that we
are living is called “postmodern” and one of the premises is that REALITY no
longer can be determined. There is a
sudden fascination with the para-normal, with forces of evil, and in turn, the
claim that there is no absolute truth or reality. God’s Word is clear - there is a spiritual
battle at work where satan is looking to make his own disciples. He is busy in this postmodern era proclaiming
and even rebuking the Church when it comes to God, His Word, His Commandments, and
His work.
Satan can’t handle the real
truth because he is a liar. In the
beloved hymn of Luther, “A Mighty Fortress”, he talks about one little word can
fell satan. What is that word? Some say Jesus or grace, or faith, Cross,
love, life - these are all great words - but not the “little” word that Luther
had in mind. The little word Luther
intended was “liar”. The devil knows
truth, but he cannot speak the truth. All
he speaks is lies. And this world in
which we live has exchanged the truth for a lie. So let’s not talk about God’s commands -
putting God first, holding God’s name sacred, worshiping God every single week,
honoring those in authority, no murder, adultery, stealing, dishonoring others,
coveting - the commandments of God cause tension. Let’s not confront the sin we see in others -
that makes us look righteous and judgmental; lets not hold up a high standard
of discipleship - because no one else is doing it. These are all lies of satan.
That’s why God thunders from
heaven - “This is My beloved Son - listen to Him!” The Church beats to a different drum because
we are listening to a different voice.
Jesus is our reality and the change He has brought to our lives is the
reality we live by and in, now and for eternity.
How do we grow as
disciples? Disciples are not made in a day. It’s a life-long process. While we may experience our ups and downs, God
is present with us in both. We are in a
process - growing up in Christ. So often
we hear, “Grow up”, to mean something we need to do. But hear it in the real sense today - “Grow
up in Christ” means remaining in the hands of God where we become His disciples
disciplining the world in the midst of all that we face always pointing to
Jesus. Reality is where we come into
contact with Jesus. Daily listening to
Him in His Word and living in His promises of grace, forgiveness, life and
salvation. When the world says, “Get
real”, may your thought, words, and deeds point to Jesus. And rather than accept the lies of the devil and
this world, rest in the hands of Jesus where you are transformed and grow up
into Him as real disciples.
Each disciple is different by
the grace of God. How you are formed and
grow is as unique as you are individually.
But what we all have in common as disciples is Jesus. We are told to listen to Him and block out
the lies of this world that offer a false reality that is here today and gone
tomorrow. WE are disciples in process -
growing up in Christ and being fed in our discipleship. Not that’s real!
