March 20, 2022
Pastor John Hering
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2 and they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them—and that rock was Christ! 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them. He had them die in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples to warn us not to desire evil things the way they did. 7 Do not become idolaters like some of them—as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to celebrate wildly.” 8 And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and so were being destroyed by the serpents. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 All these things that were happening to them had meaning as examples, and they were written down to warn us, to whom the end of the ages has come.
12 So let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you except ordinary testing. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability, but when he tests you, he will also bring about the outcome that you are able to bear it.
If you watched any of the Winter Olympics and happened to watch the down hill skiing events then you couldn’t have missed it. All along the course there were blue lines painted on the snow. I’m sure you know these lines are painted on the snow to help the skiers see the turns, hills and bumps as they speed down the hill. They watch the lines with patterns to know where to go, when to turn and what to avoid. There are lines painted on our lives as well. These lines are painted in history to help us learn from the patterns of human behavior from the past. You can learn about engineering, health, art, family recipes and tons of other stuff to help you navigate through life today.
Think about the lines painted on biblical history. Oh, how today’s news broadcasters would drool if they could get the exclusive on these events! 1) Rebels swallowed alive by man-eating earth! 2) 23,000 die after committing sex acts as sacrifices to pagan gods. 3) Venomous snakes kill thousands who grumbled against God. The News reports like this to attract people and viewers. God’s Word reports on these events to show people the results of sin and keep others from falling into the same dangerous situations. So, God paints these lines for us to show us where to go, when to turn and what to avoid. “6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” This also means excuses like, “I didn’t know” or “I couldn’t help it” are not legitimate. The Word of God before us today tells us we CAN help it. The Holy Spirit tells us to pay attention and
Stay In The Lines
Because of Past Human Failures
We would feel pretty good when we discovered that the Angel of Death struck down every firstborn in Egypt except yours and any Israelite’s kids. We would feel privileged when Pharoah’s army couldn’t capture you because a wall of cloud and fire keep them in the dark and kept you in the light during your escape. We would feel lucky while our sandals walked across dry ground of the Rea Sea with God’s breath keeping walls of water at bay on both sides. We would feel satisfaction when the wheels fell off the chariots of Pharoah’s army as the water rushed over them. When water gushed out of a rock to give a drink to your family. When manna covered the ground every morning. God painted lines all around his people to show them he was their treasured possession of the Lord. Moses even said, “What other great nation is there that has a god as close to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call on him? 9 But guard yourselves and guard your whole being diligently, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen and so that those things do not disappear from your heart all the rest of the days of your life. Make them known to your children and to your children’s children” (Deut 4:7,9). But did they listen? No, in short time they lost sight of those lines and forgot the Lord when they worshiped the Golden Calf, practiced pagan sex with temple prostitutes, and cursed God for making them wonder in the desert. They had lines painted all around them that pointed out their Human Failures!
Knowing this history helps us make sense out of the words Paul wrote to the Corinthians. “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” Paul knew history and didn’t want God’s people to make the same mistakes. He knew the Corinthian’s temptations of adultery, incest, sinful foolishness and pagan rituals. They needed to reminded of the lines of judgment painted in history. The same could happen to them in Corinth if they ignored the Lines of Past Human Failures.
Listen, if God’s chosen people of the Old Testament failed, if the early Church of the New Testament failed, do you honestly think that you’ve succeeded in avoiding sin? That is arrogance! Heed Paul’s warning! “6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” Arrogance boasts in a church’s doctrine as a vicious weapon instead of Lines that help direct and point to a saving message. Arrogance is a pastor or member who thinks their ordination certificate or membership certificate gives rights and privileges instead of a continuing pursuit of faith-filled, Bible-based discipleship. Arrogance sees the sins of others and thinks, “I’d never do that!” It exposes Christians just like those of the past when “they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them.” It was Jesus who warned us in the Gospel lesson today, “5 I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too” (Luke 13:5). Today we repent and our New Man in Christ arises to Stay In The Lines Because we know Past Human Failures & we know our own failures! We don’t want to be swallowed by the earth, drown in the sea, stricken with illness or bitten by snakes because the Lord wants us dead! Rather, repent and refocus on the Lines, learn from them and navigate them.
How can we do this? Paul wrote: “12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” You can see the lines God painted in history and see human failures that teach us to be on our guard. Do not stand firm on your family name, or your position in the church, or your status among your peers. For the same temptations that affected the OT Israelites, the NT Corinthians and every generation are the same ones you face. To think they failed but you will stand is like skiing down the hill without lines and blindfolded. Rather keep your eyes on the Lines of History and See the Past Human Failures. Then be honest with yourself. Reflect on the life that has shaped you, your tendencies that attack you and Stay In The Lines! How? Well, you can try hard, but you won’t be able to do this. You can’t unless realize that good choices can be made
Because of God’s Present Faithfulness
While we might complain about our government from time to time, they also provide us with some benefits. For instance, OSHA is an organization that promotes safety on the job. Their website says that over 5,000 people died from on-the-job accidents in 2017 (www.osha.gov). When you read their website they point out that many of these deaths could have been avoided with the proper safety measures in place. If you work for a construction business or factory you know how constantly job safety is stressed. You not only want to know the guidelines that weren’t followed that caused the accidents to happen, but you want to know the guidelines that will help prevent them from happening in the future. These guidelines are for everyone’s safety. And they work!
Whether it was the Israelites or the Corinthians or even Christians today, I’m going to share with you the number 1 safety measure for those who want to avoid sin-accidents—“God is faithful.” Did you catch that? It means God is always present. God is always working in your life. God is around you. He is there when Satan comes to tempt you. And the best news of all God has already done. He has buried your sins in Christ. St Paul said, “the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” This picture is used throughout Scripture. Jesus said, “24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on bedrock” (Matt 7:24). That rock is Jesus who has crushed Satan. Jesus our Rock has forgiven all your sins. Your faith is on that Rock! And as the song goes, “When the rains come down and the floods come up” you will stand firm. Then, “he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” These are the safety measures put in place by Our Faithful God. Yes, trials and temptations are sure to visit you, did you hear it? Not, “if you are tempted,” but “when you are tempted.” Then God’s Faithful Presence is more certain. Temptation is not avoidable, but God limits temptation to your personal threshold of “what you can bear.” Because of Jesus Christ who died for you and lives in your heart, God gives you the ability to resist the temptation in your life. God knows what you can resist and what you cannot. God’s Faithfulness prevents you from experiencing temptation you can not resist so that “you can endure it.” This is God’s gracious promise painted on the lines of your life. His lines point the way out, show us when to turn and what to avoid. The choice is yours, but it’s not only your choice. It is also God’s choice and his will according to his Word that you resist successfully.
I didn’t say this would be easy. Compare it to being in a gym. Do you think you can only lift 100 lbs. God pushes you to 110. Have you never run a 5K? God pushes you to run a 6K. That’s struggle. That’s sweat. It hurts and you might think it’s bad, but it’s good. For God won’t push you more than you can bear. And here’s the best part. When you fail, you have God’s Present Faithfulness that forgives you in Christ.
Luther did a great job of helping us see this in his explanation to The Meaning of Baptism For Our Daily Life: “What does baptizing with water mean? Baptism means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance, and that all its evil deed and desire be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” St. Paul says in Romans chapter 6, “We were therefore buried with [Christ] by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.”
God is faithful. He has painted the lines of history for us to learn from the past and lines of his Word in our life for the present. Like me, I’m sure you’ll find it interesting that when Paul writes his letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Philippians he addressed his letter to “saints.” That wasn’t to say they were arrogant because they were just great Christians. No, Paul was reminding them and us, that our status and identity before God is based not on our following the lines in our life, but that Jesus Christ did. Yes, today is a call to Stay In The Lines. This is law. But, now hear the gospel clearly! Rejoice that when we fail, Jesus forgave those sins, too. Jesus crushed sin, death and the devil. So, we can arise each day forgiven in Christ and from thankful hearts work hard to Stay In The Lines. Amen.
