Directions: How to Make Change—II Kings 2: 1-12; Mark 9: 2-9
When I started as the organist and choir director at Our Savior Lutheran Church in 2005, which feels like yesterday but is 19 years ago, the pastor told me a little joke on my first Sunday getting ready to play the Divine Service. It’s an old joke. He asked me how many Christians does it take to change a lightbulb: Pentecostal—just one as hands are already raised, Presbyterian—none because lights will go on and off at predestined times, Disciples of Christ—one to change the lightbulb and three committees to approve and change it multiple times, Baptist—one to change the lightbulb and 30 to cover the potluck, Lutherans—none, they don’t believe in change.
We’ve been talking about changing directions all through Epiphany, and I’ve saved probably the simplest and hardest issue for last when it comes to change: we just don’t like it. My friend used to have a pair of jeans that were old, dirty, worn out, and had more holes in them than a colander. But he kept wearing them to the point of nearing a dangerous exposure. Why? Because it was familiar and comfortable. Friends, I share your struggle, but the truth is, we don’t get much choice. It’s like those death and taxes things—change is assured. So here are three ways of coping: first change is hard, so embrace the difficulty; second change is inevitable, so be ready to roll with it; last change is necessary, so make the most of it when it happens.
First, let’s all just collectively acknowledge that change is hard. But like the old jazzercise or aerobics videos in the 80s said, “Feel the burn.” Change is hard, but we can embrace the difficulty. In II Kings, we read of a difficult coming change in the lives of the Israelites. Elijah had been the prophet for 24 years, and he had accomplished some amazing things, but it was time for a change.
The people say to his servant, Elisha, “Did you know the Lord is going to take away your master today?” Elisha’s response is, “Of course I know…but be quiet about it.” Many have speculated if Elisha’s response was somehow integral to this change of authority in the community, but usually the simplest answer is correct. He’s sad. His mentor of two plus decades, whom he’s been like father and son with, is going to be taken from him today. He doesn’t want to talk about it. Change is hard. And when the time comes, the chariots of fire appear, swoop right between them, and whisk Elijah away in a whirlwind in a matter of seconds. Ejlisha rips his clothes in distress and likely terror. Change is hard and painful.
But what is his request? He asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and to become his successor. Elisha knew what he was facing was going to be incredibly difficult, painful, and likely very lonely. Prophets aren’t popular. But he embraced the coming change and asked God for what he needed to make him successful in this change of life. Change is hard, but we can make the difficult work.
Change is also inevitable, so we need to be ready to roll with what comes our way. My friend’s toddler was a picky eater. She absolutely loved a “grilled cheese” in a tortilla. But if you called it a quesadilla, she threw a fit and said it was nasty. Sometimes that spirit doesn’t leave us and we want to refuse all change. But change is inevitable. The transfiguration shows the disciples’ struggle to understand that change that was happening. Was Jesus a prophet, rabbi, new person on the block in the Jewish faith?
It had to be difficult to hear the words from heaven proclaiming Jesus as the “dearly loved son.” They weren’t following a familiar teacher, they were following someone and something wholly and completely different. Churches are plagued with this issue. We hear jokes of the “First Church of No Change” and “sitting on the pew of do nothing, go nowhere singing ‘I shall not be moved.’” Faith was never meant to be comfortable. It was meant to challenge us daily how to follow Jesus and for us to challenge the world how to draw closer to the Kingdom of God.
If we’re not challenging, if we’re not growing, if we’re not pushing others toward the love of Christ, then we have to admit we’re only coming to church in the hopes of getting to heaven and nothing more. That’s not good enough. Even the demons believed in and recognized Jesus. We have to roll with the changes and challenges and follow Jesus whom we love and believe in. Change is not a horrible attack on us, it’s an opportunity for us to find new ways of sharing the unconditional and overwhelming love of God with the world. Change is inevitable in life, so let’s see it as an opportunity and be ready to roll with what comes our way.
Lastly, change is necessary, so we have to make the most of it. We’ve alluded to this idea all along the way in this sermon. The light bulb has to be changed at some point, or we will be sitting in the dark. Change may be hard and inevitable, but it also presents an opportunity to make the most of it. Look back again at Elisha’s words, “When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.’ And Elisha replied, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.’ ‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah replied. ‘If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.’”
Elisha knew that his closest mentor and friend was about to be gone, and that likely he would now bear the burden of what Elijah had worked on so long. Elisha knew that all of his life was about to change when the chariots took Elijah up into Heaven. And instead of shutting down, he prayed and asked for the strength to excel and carry on in the work he was called to do. Likewise, the disciples’ lives changed dramatically when they followed Jesus. They went from simple fishermen to being the leaders of this movement started by Jesus. It was a radical change in their lives, but they committed themselves to the work of faith and to following Christ to the very end.
My friends, today is called Transfiguration Sunday in the church calendar because the Gospel lesson tells of this scene of “The Transfiguration.” Now, that word, Transfiguration means “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.” (Oxford Dictionary). This is why we must make the most of life’s changes—because they’re necessary. In every change and new place we find ourselves, God is leading us into a closer walk or a more “beautiful and spiritual state.” The more we are adaptive and leadable, the more God can draw us closer and equip us for our work in this world. Change is necessary, so let us take every advantage of the opportunity change presents us.
When the pastor at Our Savior Lutheran told me the joke about changing a lightbulb, he laughed a little bit after the punchline of Lutherans not believing in change. Then he added, “But maybe we should a bit more.” Throughout Epiphany we’ve looked at the places in life that we need new direction or new ways of living as God’s faithful people in this world. Change is hard, change is inevitable, and change is necessary. But in all of that we can embrace the struggle and learn to grow. We can be ready to roll with the punches and push forward, and we can take advantage of the opportunities change and grown can bring us.
My friends, as we draw this series to a close and prepare for the season of Lent, I ask you this: where is God calling you to change directions and grow in faith in your life? In all of life’s journey, we have the opportunity to grow in ourselves and in our walk with God, but it requires us to be adaptable and ready to follow. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary. So, the question remains, will you be ready to follow where God is calling you today, tomorrow, and forever?
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/1776880822786077