But What Has God Done Lately? Isaiah 25: 6-9; Mark 16: 1-7
While in high school, I had the opportunity to attend a speaking course as part of a summer program. Most of the courses were taught by college professors who came to do this summer program with rising juniors. One of the first things we learned about in speaking is that your presentation must have a WIIFM (spelled out). And that stands for, “What’s in it for me?” Any time you have an audience sitting and listening, they want to know why they are there and what’s supposed to benefit them from this speech.
Unfortunately, one kid was out that day, and nobody realized it. The teacher asked him what his “WIIFM” was, and he looked confused. He quietly replied, “Nothing that I can tell.” At this we were all lost. She asked him again, “What’s your WIIFM?” And he said, “I’m not getting a whiff of anything…what am I supposed to smell?” And at that, the class was done.
We seem to apply that same practice to all of life. It’s a clear theme in throughout the Bible. How many times did the Israelites receive the lecture, “Have you forgotten what I the Lord have done for you…” wherever they were in the struggle. We have become a people of immediate satisfaction and gratification. If you don’t believe me, watch someone who waits too long in the Chik-fil-a drive through. It’s not just the chicken that gets spicy.
But that creates another problem somewhat specific to Easter and Christmas. Jesus comes out of the tomb the exact same way, in the exact same story every single year. There is no surprise ending to this. And after some time, we let ourselves get far less enthusiastic about this than we should be. That’s why this year I wanted you to write what God has done for you lately, so I could share them. Jesus is risen, Hallelujah! But what’s in it for us as the saying goes:
· As we all know, God is always present. However, lately, God has sent me answers to questions about dealing with issues with a family member who cannot speak for themselves. God listens and shows me the way. God always listens, and if you take the time, you will hear what God wants you to do; even if it is not what you wanted to do. Prayers are powerful.
· God is still keeping me afloat.
· God is giving me the strength to not grow weary in trying to do good as it says in Galatians 6:9.
· God has taken me out of my comfort zone and taught me it’s okay to ask for and accept help in life.
· God has allowed me to move to a more affordable place, and to meet more people willing to help the homeless and persons less fortunate than themselves.
· God has made it possible for me to be at church, and God has given me a new heating and a/c unit.
· God gives me new insights DAILY into his love and how to let God lead me through all that life puts on me.
· God has healed me of Covid, protects me every day when driving and traveling. God keeps me healthy and kept me from having a heart attack this past year. God blesses me with good friends. God has done so much for me, and I talk to God and praise God every day, every single day. God is good.
· God has grown my faith as my earthy body ages. I do not worry as worry is a lack of faith. God is in charge, and I am ready and willing to follow his plan for me. I no longer fear death and look forward to spending eternity with God when he is ready for me.
· What has God done for me lately? This is dangerous territory. I’m afraid I will leave something out. God sprinkles us every day with blessings, and my best response is to pay attention and try to keep up. Here are examples: continued good health despite years of long, unrelenting work days, a lovely safe place to live, friends old and new, work with so many opportunities including photography and at an unexpected but perfect time, family which God blesses and keeps them safe. Yes. God has done an amazing quantity of things for me lately.
Over and over you shared stories of God at work in your lives. And I know, I know for some of you the past year or few years have been hard, but these words speak to the work of faith to create hope and love in often dark situations. That is what the work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection did. It brought us hope and the chance to be close enough to God that we can celebrate what good things God has done in our lives.
Too often we look at Easter Sunday as the end of this story. Or sometimes it’s the only story we hear given how often we go to church. I remember a comic where one couple leaving the church shakes hands with the pastor and says, “You’re stuck in a rut. Every time we come you preach on the resurrection. Same scripture and everything!” For us, the truth is that the story doesn’t end at the empty tomb. That’s where it begins. That work of hope and life starts with a Savior who lives, loves, and gives us eternal hope, and then we go from this place to carry on Christ’s mission of healing, teaching hope, showing love, and sharing with those in need.
The empty tomb is not the check-in plan for Heaven, it’s an invitation to a way of life that follows in Christ’s love. Early on, before the name “Christian” had become common, followers of Christ were called “The Way.” That speaks to how we are to live in this world. If we are not agents of healing and love, then who will be? Faith is not a political movement, a system of government, the general social values for proper living. Instead, it is our life and our way of living in this world. And we must always take care to remember that faith is not that thing we do, but the way that we live.
Isaiah speaks words that offer this life of hope to us. The prophet writes, “There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.” That’s the hope, then Isaiah gives the call: “In that day the people will proclaim, ‘This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!’” It’s a pretty simple call, really. Go and proclaim. When the women encountered the angel at the tomb, the angel’s first words were, “Go and tell.”
I was working in the office the other day, and the wind picked up a bit as the sun was shining down. The cherry tree out front caught the wind, and all the blossoms started blowing around like some kind of dance. And for a few moments, I sat back from the laptop and watched it.
Remember that in this life, the empty tomb, that hope of life is the starting point. We will have ups and downs for sure. We are promised Christ with us, not that we won’t face trouble like everybody else. But every time life gets a bit hard, go back and look at the empty tomb. Go back to the beginning and remember that faith is a story of hope, and not just hope for a little here and there, hope for eternity. I think if you come back and ask what the WIIFM of our faith is, one could say it is twofold. Our belief and faith give us hope in this life and beyond life. But we also have the opportunity and invitation to change the world with the unconditional, all-expansive, never-ending love of Christ. And that, my friends, is what God has done for us lately. May we continue to carry that story of love and hope.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/389103550628217