Coming out of the stands…

Tonight at worship, Mike will be preaching the fourth message from our We Believe message series. I have a half-written sermon that I’m looking at here for tonight. Jack’s birth put me out for this Saturday which is focused on “The Problem of Sin.” The following video was one that I was planning on showing tonight because I think it so clearly illustrates the “condition of frailty” that we all deal with and the response that God has to our recognition of our weakness. 

I am often drawn back to the first few chapters of the Bible in terms of expressing the relationship I believe that we have with God. Following the first sin that takes place in the garden, Adam and Eve’s eyes are open and the text says that they “recognize their nakedness,” and decide to hide from God. When God comes for his walk with them in the Garden, Adam and Eve are nowhere to be found. They are hiding from God and when God asks them why they are hiding they reply, “because we are naked.” God immediately knows what has happened but when Adam and Eve are questioned further, rather than owning up to their mistake, they decide to blame the other one. So, to sum up, the effects of sin we see in Genesis 3 are: 

1. Sin exposes our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. 
2. Sin causes us to hide our true selves. [Fundamentally altering our relationship with the creator of our true selves]
3. Sin causes us to blame. [Fundamentally altering our relationship with one another. 

This is our “condition.” 

I think this video captures God’s response. 

Derek Redmond was a world class runner whose career was plagued by injuries. The 1992 Olympics is the most well-known example of Derek’s injury woes. With his dreams of Olympic glory at their peak, Derek’s hamstring gave way on the track in Barcelona. Most believed he was going to medal and claiming the gold that year was certainly within reach. On the back stretch, those dreams died, and for a moment all Derek could do was sit on the track overwhelmed by the knowledge that once again he had fallen short. 

You’ve been there, and I have too.

Face in your hands…

Tears streaming down your cheeks…

Wondering how you seemed to trip up this time… 

But something tells you to get up. Dust yourself off, and keep going… 

And so you do. 

And then something truly amazing happens. A father fights his way onto the track. Several security officials seek to stop him by letting him know that he is not welcome on the track… that the help he seeks to provide is “out of bounds,” but the father can’t be stopped. “That’s my son,” he says, “and he needs me.” 

And before you know it, suddenly strength comes from somewhere you didn’t expect it. The father has embraced you and calmly speaks in your ears, “I’ve got you child. I’m here. We’re going to finish this race together.” Again, others come into the picture to let the father know that what he is doing isn’t appropriate, but the father replies sternly, “I will not let him go.” 

The strength that you lack is the strength that he gives… and though your body finds itself broken, your heart is lifted because Dad is carrying the weight of the pain…

Everything is OK…

because the Father has come out of the stands…

and you and I are not alone anymore.