It’s What’s On The Inside That Counts

Whenever you try something for the first time it can seem daunting.  Remember sitting down to play the piano the first time? How about a new game or sport or even a new job (like being the new office manager?).  You need to see the job, read the job description, and be prepared for some training and practice.  Or the kids at Teen Camp are scared the first time I take them for a ride on the tube and they’ve never been before.  But, after instruction there is trust and peace.

During this Epiphany season our theme has been, “Uncovered.” Jesus has been uncovering the Kingdom of God to his disciples during their time of orientation.  As we pick up the account of Jesus’ life today, he has appointed his 12 Disciples and now it was time for Jesus to give them some basic instruction before leaving earth (B.I.B.L.E.) regarding the Kingdom of God.  We need this instruction, too.  Therefore, may the Holy Spirit instruct us to realize in God’s Kingdom:

It’s What’s On The Inside That Counts

For the Sinful Outside Fails

Jesus has to teach us about the way his kingdom works because it is so much different than the way the kingdom of this world works.  The kingdom of Jesus runs on rules that are opposite from the way the world runs.  When someone looks at Jesus’ kingdom for the first time, it all seems up-side-down.

The fastest way to learn about going tubing, playing a game or sport, or a new job is not to simply read the rules, but to see them in action. (Can you say, “YouTube”)?   Think about the disciples.   They have been following Jesus and watching him work at his kingdom, preaching and teaching, healing and providing.  But, before they go to work in the kingdom, they needed to learn why it seems that in Jesus’ kingdom everything seems to be up-side-down.  We all need to learn about the kingdom of Jesus from his perspective.  Luther called it a, “Theology of the cross”—is the cross good or evil?  In order to answer this question, we first want to know why it is important to remember that It’s What’s On the Inside That Counts.

If we would ask the average non-Christian American what they think it means to be happy, how you think they would answer?  They probably make six figures, engaged in some sort of success (business, sports, relationships, etc,).  But, it’s important that we don’t confuse happiness with pleasure.  Pleasures are a good meal, a party to enjoy, exciting new experience or love.  Problem is that these fade away.  Happiness is… a warm puppy!  Just kidding! Puppies are nice and all, but who would want to hold a warm puppy for a month!  Really, the person who is happy, or blessed, is the person who has a life that is satisfied and fulfilled.  It may be natural to assume that blessedness is connected to outward circumstances, but today we learn from Jeremiah that this isn’t the case.  

“⁵ This is what the Lord says. Cursed is anyone who trusts in mankind, who seeks his strength from human flesh, and who turns his heart away from the Lord.” Jeremiah had already been shown this life by the Lord God earlier in his life.  Jeremiah’s ministry lasted over 40 years and during his early years he served under a good king, Josiah, for about 10 years.  Then the bottom dropped out when the next king, Jehoiakim (evil king) caused great grief for him (burning his scrolls, throwing them into the river).  Best we can tell, at the end of his ministry, Jeremiah ends up in Egypt with a bunch of complaining Israelites.  The world around Jeremiah was failing because the Sinful Outside Always Fails. Yes, the Lord caused Jeremiah to live a life that was marked by loneliness and sorrow (Jer 16:1-9).  Why would he demand such a thing?  To be a living picture in the eyes of the people that would remind them of their approaching punishment in exile.  To also teach us that It’s What’s on The Inside That Counts.

Don’t put your trust and source for happiness on the things of this world.  Jeremiah compared that to the juniper tree. “⁶ He will be like a juniper bush in the wasteland. He will not see good things when they come. He lives in a dry place in the wilderness, in a salty land where no one lives.” It has no roots so when heat and drought come, it fails and is cursed, disconnected from God.  “He will not see good things when they come.”  Even when outward circumstances seem favorable, those who live without trusting in the Lord are blinded.  Maybe it’s high blood pressure and what’s their first thought?  I need to go see a doctor.  Or maybe it’s politics, and they have to find the right candidate.  They would rather turn to human solutions first, before turning in trust to the Lord. Yes, the people of this world will point to their prosperity, but they end up going through life in a dry place—without a real meaning for life or hope.  They sadly lose what you have.  You know God’s grace!  When you fail to trust in the Lord, he doesn’t turn his back on you, but keeps coming back, walking right past the dry juniper trees of life all the way to the cross.  There Jesus takes the curse of us all.  Jesus forgives you—even for not believing in God well enough.  Why do I say that? Because if you’re like me, then you’ve lived a dry place like this, too! “He lives in a dry place in the wilderness, in a salty land where no one lives.” There are days when my heart is spiritually dry and my faith is weak.  I need to hear again and again that It’s What Happens on the Inside That Counts.  For What’s On The Outside—the devil, the world and my sinful flesh will always fail you and me.

Transition:  Do you get it?  There is no middle ground.  Either you put your trust in God or you don’t.  Which one are you? Jeremiah tells us what it is like for those who put their trust in the Lord.  It means life is in the right place, no matter what comes their way.  I didn’t say they are always happy and things are pleasant.  Life can even be miserable like it was for Jeremiah, yet because of What Was On The Inside, he knew trusting in the Lord meant there would always be justice and love.  The outside of our hearts might be blowing up,  

But the Blessed Inside Flourishes

The Lord taught Jeremiah that it wasn’t the outside circumstances that determined what made a person blessed or curse.  Jesus taught the same thing in the gospel for today.  St. Paul recognized this same truth in his life.  A person is truly blessed by What’s On The Inside:  ⁷ But blessed is anyone who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.“  When a person puts their trust in the Lord, then they are happy.  For even if outside circumstances seem unfavorable, God promises that he will flourish and will prosper. Yes, the Blessed Inside Flourishes because of Jesus.

Let me say this plainly.  Your heart flourishes on the inside when it is focused on Jesus on the outside who did it all for you.  You do not flourish because of the strength of your faith, but because of the object of your faith.  You are blessed because of Jesus Christ.  Troubles and heartaches will come living in this broken world, but your confidence rests in the Lord and you know in the end those external circumstances don’t get to render a verdict.  Do you see?  It’s all because of Jesus that our Blessed Inside Flourishes.  In other words, cling to Jesus, not to your faith.  Let me use this illustration.  Three people are nervous getting on an airplane.  One is terrified they aren’t going to make it.  The other two get on the plane and fall asleep.  It wasn’t the strength of their faith that saved them, it was the pilot!  We have someone who gets us to the right place every time.  Jesus.  Therefore, your heart flourishes on the inside when it is focused on Jesus on the outside because of his strength, his love, his peace.

Jeremiah shows us what this person looks like. “⁸ He will be like a tree planted by water. It sends out its roots to the stream. It does not fear the heat when it comes. Its leaves will remain green. It is not concerned about a time of drought. It does not stop producing fruit.”  We are those tress who put our roots down into Jesus and we’re fine.  When the heat and droughts of life come, they are unpleasant, but we have deep roots and we’ll be fine because the believer knows God is in control and I’m going to heaven.  Those roots are being fed what they need—the water of God’s Word.  Those trees are growing and producing fruit.  Why?  Because it is Jesus living for us, and Jesus living in us, yes, it is Jesus who is On The Inside That Counts—and the Blessed Inside Flourishes.

So, have you figured out the way things run in the kingdom of Jesus?  The world may look like it is flourishing on the outside, but inside it’s wasting away.  And Christians who appear to be wasting away on the outside, are flourishing on the inside—because of Jesus.   Which one are you? How are you going to pursue a life of satisfaction? More and more we are living in a post-Christian America. You are tempted to go the way of the world. But, today the Lord has given us instructions and orientation about his kingdom.  He knows we are living in a time when we don’t feel blessed, but we feel angry, depressed and even lack confidence in the way our world is going.  Those who lack trust in God turn away from the Lord and turn to human powers and political solutions.  Those Outward worldly solutions will not give you peace.  Peace comes from Jesus.  Peace comes to the inside of our hearts and replaces anger and vindication with God’s justice and forgiveness.  I know there are those days when it is hard to figure out if I’m trusting in human solutions or trusting in God.  Which one are you? Here’s one way to judge how you’re doing.  When the heat and drought of life are coming your way, ask yourself if you’re okay.  If you end up being a spiritual train-wreck, then you’ll know you’ve been trusting in the wrong thing.  Don’t trust the outside, because the Sinful Outside will always Fail.  Rather put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believe what Jesus told us in the gospel today—even when it seems just the opposite!  Blessed is the person God corrects, blessed are the poor—because when Jesus says it, it is as good as done.  Blessed is the one who trusts God is working all things out for our eternal good.  Because you know It’s What’s On the Inside That Matters.  And what’s in your heart?  It used to be a dry juniper tree.  But, Jesus went to the tree of the cross to save you, now you are a tree planted by the water.  Therefore, trust God is in Control.  Trust that God Loves You Dearly.  Amen.