Hebrews 11:8-16
Lectionary Reading Year A
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old– and Sarah herself was barren– because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Just read the Declaration of Independence this am. I would say that I am amazed but I am not amazed anymore, I’m simply reminded of how relevant that document is over 200 years later. I am reminded that every government is corrupt. All through history, all through the bible all governments are corrupt. Our country was founded on great ideals borne out of an oppressed people. People who had the courage to say enough is enough and then do something about it. To stand up to a fat and powerful government. We are today, not the country that our founding fathers fought and died for, but rather the country they fought against. What they fought for didn’t last and it didn’t take long.
But that is the pattern built into the fabric of this world. We are all born corruptible. Jesus said to the a man we call “The Rich Young Ruler”, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18) I don’t know why we have subtitled that passage of scripture, “The Rich Young Ruler”. From the text we know he was wealthy but I don’t know how we concluded that he was young and involved in government
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. Mark:10:17-22
Maybe he was a lawyer, a lot of politicians have a background in law. And maybe he had a lot of property not through inheritance rights which is how most Jews owned property but perhaps he seized it through loopholes in the Jewish law, taking land and homes that belonged to his neighbors, to other families and felt good about it because he did it legally while keeping the commandments. When we are told that Jesus “showed love to him” it was not that Jesus was faked out by this wealthy guy who became wealthy by seizing what rightfully belongs to others. The love that Jesus had was that no one probably liked this guy and Jesus rather than embarrass him, he gave him just as much of a chance to be His follower. When He says, “One thing you lack…” that one thing is a pretty big thing. And Jesus knows that. This guy’s life and public image and reputation and hope were tied up in his wealth. To give that up was exactly what he needed to do and apparently he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It says that he was dismayed and went away grieving. Was it perhaps because he knew that he’d been found out. He didn’t call Jesus “Lord”, he called him “good teacher”. From the beginning he was not going to bow to Jesus. He saw Him as an equal at best. But Jesus was not his Lord. And now that was exposed. Jesus called him to follow him and he chose to go a different route. Perhaps he went away dismayed and grieving because he knew he couldn’t keep the property he stole and be right with God. He could no longer live the life he was living. He wanted Jesus to follow him. He said, “Jesus, you’re a good teacher and I’m a good person. Anything you see in me that would keep me from inheriting eternal life?” Jesus says, “Yeah, just one thing, give up everything!”
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:5
No one is living a life that dovetails into eternal life. We all have to lose our life, to find our life. If I have put all my hope and possessions and status in this life and it is working out well for me, it is going to be really hard to give it all up! Most of us, get beat up by this world. All that we put our hope in seems to never materialize and when it does it gets stolen or destroyed or becomes toxic to us. Most of us have taken enough abuse from this world that we start looking for something better. That is what makes the gospel good news. This life is not it. There is something way better waiting on the other side. Start living into that now. Just start and you will find it. Look for Christ and follow the path where you see the pattern of Christ and you will find your life there. Where you see death giving way to new life. Where you see love overcoming hate. Where you see Good remaining and Evil collapsing in on itself. Go! There is where you will find your life!
Those who are the heros of the faith, from Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Paul all came to realize this. They all gave up their life here, in faith that true life, eternal life, was something to be attained and could only be attained by losing this life, destroying self, killing ego, carrying their cross.
No government is ever going to create and govern perfectly. They are always going to be corrupt and praise be to God because that is what drives us to seek Him. I know I injected a lot of imagination into who the “Rich Young Ruler” is. I really have no idea. But it is just a way of looking at it and thinking about it. A cautionary tale to warn us against putting all our hope in what seems to be desirable in this world.