Advent 1 A Awake and Responsive to God’s Will



Advent 1 A Awake and Responsive to God’s Will

November 30, 1986
By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell



Advent is an exercise in making ourselves more spiritually conscious of God’s will and presence in our
lives. It is a time for each of us to review the basic fundamentals of our Christian commitment and with God’s help, put them into practice. If we have allowed ourselves to drift along in the current of secular indifference, NOW is the time to focus on the very real possibility of a test of faith.

Never mind that half the people who live in this city would not hesitate to tell us that there are more important things to think about. Scripture tells us plainly that when our faith is tested it will come as a surprise. No one will suspect that anything is about to happen until it happens. It will happen so unexpectedly that it will leave no time to prepare.

Today’s Gospel tells us that the test will come like a thief in the night – or it will be like the five foolish Virgins who had not bothered to prepare.


Example) The Life Boat Watch – In college at Northwestern University I served in the NROTC (Navel Reserve Officer’s Training). As part of our schooling, we went out for a month on the Heaven Cruiser, the U.S.S. Albany. We stood watch all during that month, all over that ship. Once the Officer of the Day addressed the lifeboat crew, and ordered the boat be put into the water! We did not know what to do?!


No one had the slightest idea about how to lower it into the water. When a ship is going down in a rough sea, it is not the time to figure out how all the levers, pullies, and brakes function.


In today’s Epistle, Paul admonishes his readers to wake up to their responsibilities – to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To consciously surround themselves with the ‘light’ of the Gospel. Why? Because we never know when the test of faithfulness will rest solely in our hands.


Example) The night the Bridge ordered “After Steering” to TAKE OVER – We ended up 15 degrees off course, and ended with an earful of wisdom about staying awake on watch.


It’s interesting how we can lull ourselves into a state of mind that trusts, not God, but “others.” Who will have faith to steer us through, when the systems we were counting on, stop working! We can hope that it will not produce the look we gave each other when the Officer of the Day told us to lower the life boat. No one had a clue what to do.


In the 18th chapter of Luke, Jesus is teaching His disciples the importance of being faithful and open to God constantly in prayer. To illustrate His point, He tells them the parable of the unrighteous Judge, who, even though he had contempt for everyone, was eventually worn down by a poor persistent widow. But Jesus tells them, God isn’t like that contemptable judge. God is longing to hear our prayers and to respond to them quickly.


But, says Jesus, the question is: When I, the Messiah return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying? 


That is the Advent Question: When Jesus comes into our consciousness with His message of love, will anyone have faith? Will our children even have a clue as to the connection between faith in Jesus Christ and the kind of worthwhile quality of life God intends for them?


Advent is the season of the church year for each of us to prepare our hearts for God’s love to fill. We should not be surprised or discouraged if we do not see lots and lots of people making this a high priority. There is enough pride in the human heart to want to face and solve all problems – without help – even help from the God who created all things in heaven and earth, all things seen and unseen. Even help from a God who sent His only Son to save us from the destructive effects of human pride. 


The world, with all its promises for quick solutions, immediate happiness, has a way of putting us under a spell. It is easy to be anesthetized by the thought that somebody else will have faith. That somebody else will know how to lower the lifeboat!


Example) Fire Room Watch – I remember the tone of the order to “WATCH” the water in that Gauge!


We all have a faith gauge. On a scale of 1 – 10 how important is trusting God to you? The gauge would stand at a different level for everyone here, but the responsibility of keeping the level up would be the same. Advent is the season to check that gauge and to make the appropriate adjustments. The reality is that it is a daily, life-long watch. We watch our gauge because our faith is constantly being evaporated by the heat of worldly temptations.


So, like the Chief said to me in the Fire Room – with His “Gentle” …. “Kindly” voice…. 


WAKE UP! IT’S ADVENT!


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