[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #569, Pentecost 11, 8/12/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 11 – August 12, 2007


Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Luke 12:32-40

Reality

Since most of what we experience as real comes to us through our five 
senses, we assume to be real whatever comes to us through these 
channels.  Therefore, if I had a five-channel machine with a lead for 
each sense, I could convince anyone of anything.  We don’t have these 
five-channel machines yet, so we make do with two or three and call it 
virtual reality.  When we have five-channel machines, we will drop the 
word “virtual,” but will it be reality?

Actually, the world around us is such a machine.  When I see a tree, I 
don’t see what it really is, a mass of protons and electrons.  I only 
see what my eyes are equipped to see.  The same is true when I look at 
you or when I look at the past or the future.  We don’t call it 
“faith,” this trust we place in senses so easily deceived.  We call it 
“reality.” 

What if faith is a sixth sense?  “But the word of the Lord came to him, 
‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall 
be your heir.’” (Genesis 15:4)  Which of Abraham’s five senses received 
this information?  Did he believe because he was irrational or because 
he experienced this promise through a sense more reliable than the 
other five?

Sarah’s age, something he could experience with his five senses, became 
the virtual reality, and God’s promise became the reality.

The Psalmist declares, “A king is not saved by his great army; a 
warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a 
vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.”  (Psalm 
33:16-17)  If this is reality, he didn’t get it through his five 
senses.  Military might for him has become the virtual reality; the 
reign of God has become the reality.

What if faith is the most reliable sense?

“Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of 
things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1)  Things not seen, heard, tasted, felt 
or smelt, that is.  So, things whatted?  Things faithed.  Things 
perceived in a different way, hoped for, but not just hoped for – 
things perceived not by the common senses nor hoped for in the common 
way we hope, by wishing or worse, by denying reality.  Faith is the 
assurance more than the hope.  It is the assurance that only this sixth 
channel can transmit.  The other five channels can be fooled by any 
five-channel transmitter.  The sixth channel is the clear channel that 
only God can use.  Whatever comes through it is reality.  The rest is 
virtual reality.

Is Jesus making light of our reality when he says, “Sell your 
possessions, and give alms.  Make purses for yourselves that do not 
wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near 
and no moth destroys.”  (Luke 12:32-33)

Get a real purse?  I thought I had a real purse.


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

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