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“It’s a Wonderful Life… Really?”
Brimfield Faith UMC
November 29, 2009
Luke 21:32-36
Brimfield Faith UMC
November 29, 2009
Luke 21:32-36
INTRODUCTION
With Thanksgiving celebrated, the turkey eaten and pie consumed, the Christmas holiday season has officially commenced. At the promise of a really good deal on a gifts I wanted to get for Michelle, I ventured out to Toys-R-Us on Thursday night as the opened the store at the stroke of midnight for their door buster deals. I was not a Black Friday shopper before this weekend and I won’t be after this weekend. I’ll be honest though, the experienced was worth it. I didn’t get the item I was hoping to get. I never really expected to get it because when I pulled into the parking lot at Chapel Hill at 11:45 pm and it was full. The line outside the store wrapped under the overhang all the around past the Burlington Coat Factory. There were probably 1000 people there easily. I stood outside the front of the store instead of getting in line because I wanted to watch as people went it. I laughed out loud as people in line were screaming at the people standing next to the line to go to the end of the line. It was an unbelievable event to witness.
Eventually I got into the line and went into the store. It was a bit saddening to watch as people filled their carts with discounted toys as they pushed and shoved and became frustrated and angry with each other. . It kind of broke my heart as I drove home thinking about all of the people that seemed to think they needed to have this stuff. I had two thoughts: First, I thought these people should have heard the “Enough” sermon series that we just finished at church. Second, I thought what a way for us to prepare for Christmas and the birth of our Savior. This type of stuff was what Jesus came to free us from and here were all of these people preparing to celebrate his birth by remaining in bondage.
The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of preparation: a time of hope, joy, peace, and love. For many of us, the Christmas season is anything but. The pressures of a struggling economy, the stress of provided lavish gifts, feelings of inadequacy, shame and guilt seem to mark the season. The reality is that the Christmas season can be an overwhelming time to deal with for many of us. As we gather this morning, I think it is important that we recognize and name these pressures for what they are. If we gather together, we can overcome the messages of this world and rediscover the purpose and meaning of the Christmas season.
Hollywood in all of its shortcomings has produced some classic Christmas movies that have powerful captured the Christmas spirit. This Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that we use to prepare for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we are going to look at several of these movies and listen for the messages of Christmas in them. The first movie we are going to look at is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The title of the sermon is “It’s a Wonderful Life… really?” Because as we’ve just discussed, most of us probably don’t feel like it is a wonderful life, especially if we are feeling the pressures of the season.
Eventually I got into the line and went into the store. It was a bit saddening to watch as people filled their carts with discounted toys as they pushed and shoved and became frustrated and angry with each other. . It kind of broke my heart as I drove home thinking about all of the people that seemed to think they needed to have this stuff. I had two thoughts: First, I thought these people should have heard the “Enough” sermon series that we just finished at church. Second, I thought what a way for us to prepare for Christmas and the birth of our Savior. This type of stuff was what Jesus came to free us from and here were all of these people preparing to celebrate his birth by remaining in bondage.
The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of preparation: a time of hope, joy, peace, and love. For many of us, the Christmas season is anything but. The pressures of a struggling economy, the stress of provided lavish gifts, feelings of inadequacy, shame and guilt seem to mark the season. The reality is that the Christmas season can be an overwhelming time to deal with for many of us. As we gather this morning, I think it is important that we recognize and name these pressures for what they are. If we gather together, we can overcome the messages of this world and rediscover the purpose and meaning of the Christmas season.
Hollywood in all of its shortcomings has produced some classic Christmas movies that have powerful captured the Christmas spirit. This Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that we use to prepare for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we are going to look at several of these movies and listen for the messages of Christmas in them. The first movie we are going to look at is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The title of the sermon is “It’s a Wonderful Life… really?” Because as we’ve just discussed, most of us probably don’t feel like it is a wonderful life, especially if we are feeling the pressures of the season.
A TIMELESS STRUGGLE
For those of you less familiar with the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released in 1946. It is the story of one man, George Bailey’s, timeless struggle with life. The short synopsis goes like this:
On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, the guardian angel Clarence is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey to not commit suicide. George is a good man, that sacrificed his dreams and his youth on behalf of the citizens of his small town. He inherited the loan business of his father and he gave up traveling the world and joining University as scheduled. Later he resisted the proposals of the evil banker Mr. Potter, and never sold his business to protect the poor community of Bedford Falls and offer a means to afford to buy their own house. He married his beloved Mary Hatch Bailey and had four children with her and a tough life with his family. When his uncle Billy loses US$ 8,000.00, found and stolen by Mr. Potter, George decides to commit suicide, since he believes he worth more dead than alive. When Clarence sees that he is not able to persuade George to give up his intention, he decides to show the life in town if George had never existed. George concludes that life is wonderful.
George is like many of us. We’ve gone through life doing everything we can to live a good life and to care for others needs before our own. As I was watching the movie this week, I kept thinking through the movie that this could really be a movie about how a person needs to act selfishly once in a while in order to succeed in life and be happy. George seems to have gotten the raw end of life’s deal. And as a result he has come to the end of his rope and decides that life just isn’t worth living anymore. The clip we are going to watch right now, George has lost $8000 and he is finally overcome by feelings of hopelessness.
[CLIP- GEORGE MELTDOWN]
Like George, most of us eventually come to a place of mental and emotional breakdown. We hit the wall and we find ourselves overcome with frustration, anguish, despair and hopelessness. We find ourselves in a dark hole or what the addict calls hitting rock bottom. How many of you find yourselves in a similar place this morning? I know some of you have felt this way in the past. And others of you are going to be there in the future. The reality is that George’s struggle is not a unique one nor is it a new one. George’s struggle is a story of human struggle. This life comes with obstacles, challenges, and difficult moments, and given the right set of circumstances it can bring even the most powerful man to his knees. The ultimately problem does not lie in arriving at this destination, but rather how we respond when we get to a place of despair and hopelessness.
For George, he initially responds to his hopelessness by contemplating suicide. When we arrive to a moment of hopelessness in our own lives, we too may be tempted to do something drastic. Thanksfully, most of us won’t commit physical suicide; instead, we simply give up on life. We begin to go through the motions like a mindless robot. We live in a place of lifelessness devoid of hope, joy, peace, and love. We resign ourselves to the dead end job, to the broken relationship, to the dysfunctional children, to the joyless existence. We become embittered, angry, and resentful. Thankfully, God doesn’t intend for us to live in a place of hopelessness and fear. Which brings us to our Scripture…
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Earlier we heard some interesting verses out of Luke 21. This text is the lection text for the first Sunday of Advent. I always thought that it was a strange text with which to start Advent. In this chapter, Jesus spends some time prophesying about the future and the end of times. He talks about the temple being destroyed, the persecution that will come, and even the wars and insurrections that will arise. He tells how people won’t be able to withstand the challenges ahead. These words are very different from most of Jesus words. They are frightening words, overwhelming words, and even doom-filled words.
Many people feel that these words describe the times that we live in. Indeed, today’s culture seems to be obsessed with end-times prophesies and how and when the world is going to end. The alleged 2012 Mayan prophecy is all over the news. Nostradamus also has been popular in recent years. Christians with certain perspectives have even gotten into the fold. Most widely known of course is Tim LaHaye and the Left Behind Series. While this passage, the book of Revelation, and other biblical texts do in fact discuss the end of the world, they don’t talk about them in the context that we might think they do.
Many people think of prophecy as a tool of gloom and doom. It is a way in which to scare and guilt people into doing the right thing. Christians are sometimes the worst offender of this use of prophecy, but God never intended prophecy to be used in this manner. Sure prophecy is a way to sound the warning shot against certain behaviors and actions but prophecy is much more than that. Prophecy, at its heart, is the way to undermine the established authority. It is a subversive way to spread hope in the face of hopelessness. Prophecy is meant to inspire not to frighten. Prophesy speaks truth where false messages have been spread.
The prophesy of the second coming of Christ which is the subject of the Luke 21 text is perhaps the most powerful text in the Scriptures. In verse 27 Jesus shares amazing words: “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.” Unfortunately, many Christians have gotten caught up in the wrong details of the text. They try to literally interpret texts that are poetic, cryptic, and figurative. They get caught up in trying to figure out the exact moment of Jesus’s return or precisely when the world will end. While the Scriptures make it very clear that Jesus will return triumphant over heaven and earth, they make it equally as clear that we will not know the time or place. In short, we waste valuable energy trying to postulate the time, place, location, and specific events of Jesus’s glorious return.
DISCOVERIES FOR LIFE
When Jesus prophesies about his return, I think he wants us to be prepared in the midst of the darkest hour. These words apply to the ultimate end of time, but in a very real sense we have been living in the end times ever since Jesus ascended into heaven in Acts 1. So whether we are living in the literal end times or not, we all face moments of darkness, despair and hopelessness. Jest as George Bailey reaches the end of his rope, we too find ourselves weighed down by the burdens of life.
With that in mind, Jesus says to his followers, in verse 34-36, “34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap… 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” George had let his guard down and fallen into the trap. He needed to say alert. Instead he had lost perspective and thought that losing $8000 meant his life was over. Through George’s time with Clarence, his guardian angel, he is about to discover two important things about life.
On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, the guardian angel Clarence is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey to not commit suicide. George is a good man, that sacrificed his dreams and his youth on behalf of the citizens of his small town. He inherited the loan business of his father and he gave up traveling the world and joining University as scheduled. Later he resisted the proposals of the evil banker Mr. Potter, and never sold his business to protect the poor community of Bedford Falls and offer a means to afford to buy their own house. He married his beloved Mary Hatch Bailey and had four children with her and a tough life with his family. When his uncle Billy loses US$ 8,000.00, found and stolen by Mr. Potter, George decides to commit suicide, since he believes he worth more dead than alive. When Clarence sees that he is not able to persuade George to give up his intention, he decides to show the life in town if George had never existed. George concludes that life is wonderful.
George is like many of us. We’ve gone through life doing everything we can to live a good life and to care for others needs before our own. As I was watching the movie this week, I kept thinking through the movie that this could really be a movie about how a person needs to act selfishly once in a while in order to succeed in life and be happy. George seems to have gotten the raw end of life’s deal. And as a result he has come to the end of his rope and decides that life just isn’t worth living anymore. The clip we are going to watch right now, George has lost $8000 and he is finally overcome by feelings of hopelessness.
[CLIP- GEORGE MELTDOWN]
Like George, most of us eventually come to a place of mental and emotional breakdown. We hit the wall and we find ourselves overcome with frustration, anguish, despair and hopelessness. We find ourselves in a dark hole or what the addict calls hitting rock bottom. How many of you find yourselves in a similar place this morning? I know some of you have felt this way in the past. And others of you are going to be there in the future. The reality is that George’s struggle is not a unique one nor is it a new one. George’s struggle is a story of human struggle. This life comes with obstacles, challenges, and difficult moments, and given the right set of circumstances it can bring even the most powerful man to his knees. The ultimately problem does not lie in arriving at this destination, but rather how we respond when we get to a place of despair and hopelessness.
For George, he initially responds to his hopelessness by contemplating suicide. When we arrive to a moment of hopelessness in our own lives, we too may be tempted to do something drastic. Thanksfully, most of us won’t commit physical suicide; instead, we simply give up on life. We begin to go through the motions like a mindless robot. We live in a place of lifelessness devoid of hope, joy, peace, and love. We resign ourselves to the dead end job, to the broken relationship, to the dysfunctional children, to the joyless existence. We become embittered, angry, and resentful. Thankfully, God doesn’t intend for us to live in a place of hopelessness and fear. Which brings us to our Scripture…
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Earlier we heard some interesting verses out of Luke 21. This text is the lection text for the first Sunday of Advent. I always thought that it was a strange text with which to start Advent. In this chapter, Jesus spends some time prophesying about the future and the end of times. He talks about the temple being destroyed, the persecution that will come, and even the wars and insurrections that will arise. He tells how people won’t be able to withstand the challenges ahead. These words are very different from most of Jesus words. They are frightening words, overwhelming words, and even doom-filled words.
Many people feel that these words describe the times that we live in. Indeed, today’s culture seems to be obsessed with end-times prophesies and how and when the world is going to end. The alleged 2012 Mayan prophecy is all over the news. Nostradamus also has been popular in recent years. Christians with certain perspectives have even gotten into the fold. Most widely known of course is Tim LaHaye and the Left Behind Series. While this passage, the book of Revelation, and other biblical texts do in fact discuss the end of the world, they don’t talk about them in the context that we might think they do.
Many people think of prophecy as a tool of gloom and doom. It is a way in which to scare and guilt people into doing the right thing. Christians are sometimes the worst offender of this use of prophecy, but God never intended prophecy to be used in this manner. Sure prophecy is a way to sound the warning shot against certain behaviors and actions but prophecy is much more than that. Prophecy, at its heart, is the way to undermine the established authority. It is a subversive way to spread hope in the face of hopelessness. Prophecy is meant to inspire not to frighten. Prophesy speaks truth where false messages have been spread.
The prophesy of the second coming of Christ which is the subject of the Luke 21 text is perhaps the most powerful text in the Scriptures. In verse 27 Jesus shares amazing words: “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.” Unfortunately, many Christians have gotten caught up in the wrong details of the text. They try to literally interpret texts that are poetic, cryptic, and figurative. They get caught up in trying to figure out the exact moment of Jesus’s return or precisely when the world will end. While the Scriptures make it very clear that Jesus will return triumphant over heaven and earth, they make it equally as clear that we will not know the time or place. In short, we waste valuable energy trying to postulate the time, place, location, and specific events of Jesus’s glorious return.
DISCOVERIES FOR LIFE
When Jesus prophesies about his return, I think he wants us to be prepared in the midst of the darkest hour. These words apply to the ultimate end of time, but in a very real sense we have been living in the end times ever since Jesus ascended into heaven in Acts 1. So whether we are living in the literal end times or not, we all face moments of darkness, despair and hopelessness. Jest as George Bailey reaches the end of his rope, we too find ourselves weighed down by the burdens of life.
With that in mind, Jesus says to his followers, in verse 34-36, “34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap… 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” George had let his guard down and fallen into the trap. He needed to say alert. Instead he had lost perspective and thought that losing $8000 meant his life was over. Through George’s time with Clarence, his guardian angel, he is about to discover two important things about life.
#1. Georges discovers a new perspective on life.
He sees that life is not purposeless. He sees that his life is indeed part of God’s plan. Many people would have suffered if it weren’t for George’s selfless living. George discovers the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” When we find ourselves in moments of despair, it is important that we remember the purpose of God. We can stand firm on the fact that God wants us to prosper and thrive. Even when we give up on ourselves, our lives, and our God, God never gives up on us.
#2. George discovers the power of friendship and prayer.
All throughout George’s life, he had made sacrifices on the behalf of his friends. He gives up desire to go to college, to travel the world, and even to go on a honeymoon for the sake of the people of Bedford Falls. George’s ability to see that life still had meaning and purpose hinged on the friends George had unknowingly surrounded himself with. These friends understood the power of prayer and the importance of generosity. They understood how the plans for prosperity were executed by God in Jeremiah 29. God says, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and I will restore your fortunes.”
George was not able to pray much himself, but his friends stood in the gap for him. They petitioned on his behalf. While George may have given up on himself, no one else had. They loved George too much and knew God was not finished with him. As a result, George is able to discover that life has a future with hope.
The clip were are going to watch now is a piece from the opening of the movie and then the very end. Listen to the affect George’s friends’ prayers have and then see how George’s life is transformed as he discovers hope again.
[CLIP – PRAYER AND MIRACLE]
CONCLUSION
Life isn’t always as wonderful as we think it should be. In fact, life is often filled with challenges, difficulties, and obstacles. There will be times when we are filled with frustration, despair and hopelessness. In those moments, remember that Jesus will return, that God is in control and that life will triumphant over death. The situation may not change. When George is filled with hope and joy, nothing has changed. It doesn’t matter because George has rediscovered purpose and found hope again.
So as this Christmas season begins, do your best to stay on guard against hopelessness. Refuse to give into the pressures of this world. Remember God is not finished with us. During the darkest time of the year, God brought the brightest light into the world. There is a reason we celebrate Jesus’s birth in the cold of winter. It reminds us there is hope in the midst of despair. Therefore, As Advent continues over the next several weeks, will you seek to hear the voice of God who speaks hope over your life? Will discover and nurture friendship that will sustain you in the difficult times?
Let’s pray.
#2. George discovers the power of friendship and prayer.
All throughout George’s life, he had made sacrifices on the behalf of his friends. He gives up desire to go to college, to travel the world, and even to go on a honeymoon for the sake of the people of Bedford Falls. George’s ability to see that life still had meaning and purpose hinged on the friends George had unknowingly surrounded himself with. These friends understood the power of prayer and the importance of generosity. They understood how the plans for prosperity were executed by God in Jeremiah 29. God says, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and I will restore your fortunes.”
George was not able to pray much himself, but his friends stood in the gap for him. They petitioned on his behalf. While George may have given up on himself, no one else had. They loved George too much and knew God was not finished with him. As a result, George is able to discover that life has a future with hope.
The clip were are going to watch now is a piece from the opening of the movie and then the very end. Listen to the affect George’s friends’ prayers have and then see how George’s life is transformed as he discovers hope again.
[CLIP – PRAYER AND MIRACLE]
CONCLUSION
Life isn’t always as wonderful as we think it should be. In fact, life is often filled with challenges, difficulties, and obstacles. There will be times when we are filled with frustration, despair and hopelessness. In those moments, remember that Jesus will return, that God is in control and that life will triumphant over death. The situation may not change. When George is filled with hope and joy, nothing has changed. It doesn’t matter because George has rediscovered purpose and found hope again.
So as this Christmas season begins, do your best to stay on guard against hopelessness. Refuse to give into the pressures of this world. Remember God is not finished with us. During the darkest time of the year, God brought the brightest light into the world. There is a reason we celebrate Jesus’s birth in the cold of winter. It reminds us there is hope in the midst of despair. Therefore, As Advent continues over the next several weeks, will you seek to hear the voice of God who speaks hope over your life? Will discover and nurture friendship that will sustain you in the difficult times?
Let’s pray.
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