Opened Minds

Intro: The following item appeared in the Lewiston, Idaho Tribune – “The crossword puzzle which should have appeared in today’s tribune appeared instead in yesterday’s, together with the answer to the puzzle that should have been printed yesterday. Therefore, the puzzle that should have appeared yesterday is in today’s Tribune, together with the answer to Wednesday’s puzzle. The puzzle for today and the answer to the one that should have been printed yesterday are reprinted.” --- Confused?????

I. In this passage from Luke, we find the disciples in pretty much the same situation. They were confused! The locked themselves away in an upper room out of fear and confusion.

A. The movie Aviator, depicts the eccentric, Howard Hughes as he locked himself away from the world. He feared germs and contact with other people that could make him sick.

B. Some people would call that eccentric; others would call it plain nuts. --- We have trouble imagining why someone would want to lock themselves away from the world?

C. Yet, when it comes to the church, that is exactly what we do. We stick our thumbs in our ears and our fingers over our eyes and lock ourselves away from the world in our “sanctuary” confused and afraid of getting involved. We believe we can’t get involved because we’re too old, too few, or too poor.

II. As hard as the disciples tried to hide, Jesus came to them. The same is true of us. VS. 37 “They were startled and terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost.”

A. They were “caught.” They were found out! I think they were afraid because they knew what they should be doing and weren’t!

B. Verse 44 – They are confronted by the risen Christ. “These words I spoke to you while I was still with you…” Jesus implies they know what is expected of them, so why are they sitting there, locked away? The disciples were AWOL. There weren’t where they were supposed to be or doing what they were supposed to be doing.

C. And you and I, if we aren’t actively involved in building up God’s church in this place, then we too are AWOL! When we follow Christ Jesus we become his called out people forever.

III. VS 50 – 52 – Human nature. We never appreciate something or someone until we don’t have it or them.

A. I have often been accused of “thinking outside the box.” I don’t really think that is true! I am just open to the Holy Spirit, to God letting God lead me to a deeper understanding.

B. In these verses we see a transformation take place. The disciples are transformed from eyewitnesses to believers. They finally got it! Not with the head; but with the heart!

C. The church is not a consumer based needs gratification center. It is not a glorified community Christian club, not is it a place to coddled, served, catered to and entertained. The church is the army of God called from behind closed doors to do battle with sin and evil in our world.

Conclu: If your car started only once in every 4 tries would you say it was dependable? If you wife or husband only came home 1 night in 3, would you say they were faithful? If you only showed up to work 2 days out of 5, would your boss say you were a faithful employee? If you only mailed in 6 our of 12 mortgage payments would your bank say that’s good enough? And if only 1 out of 10 patients survived the operating room would you say that the hospital was reliable? Would you get on an airplane if the stewardess said you have only a 40% chance of reaching your destination? --- If you are not actively involved in the work of the kingdom of God every day, then you are AWOL. And, if not you, then who?

Gaither E Bailey

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First Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Kentucky, is a member of Transylvania Presbytery of the Synod of Living Waters in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.