Alarm Clock
Originally scheduled for August 18
Those of
a certain antiquity will remember the original design of the alarm
clock. The clock usually had two brass bell structures on top, with
a little hammer that oscillated between the two. You wound the
clock; you wound the alarm mechanism and set it. When the hands of
the clock got to the indicated hour the little hammer started
vibrating, ringing the bells and in theory waking you up. At the
time it was considered rather a nuisance — but this was because we
didn’t know what was coming. The next major revolution in this
concept was to make everything electronic. This allowed the modern
alarm clock to sound like a buffalo herd running through your house.
(And as the old song puts it, “give me a home where the buffalo roam
— and I’ll show you a very messy house.”) It could, of course, be
worse. You could be in the Army and be awakened by the drill
sergeant version of the alarm clock — a full-sized metal trashcan
being beaten with a baseball bat.
So why
do we put up with these things? The purpose of the alarm clock is
relatively simple:
·
It gets
your eyes open.
·
It putas
your body into action.
·
It does
so giving you enough time to get something done.
Have you
ever considered that communion is rather like an alarm clock for the
spirit? It is to open your eyes, put you into action and give you
enough time to get things done. Many of us view this is just some
sort of ritual to be endured, but the truth is Christ instituted
this so that you would remember what he did. In particular, that you
would remember that he died, in the flesh, for sinners like you and
me. He did not die just for the righteous people, but all of us. He
want you to do something about it.
·
He wants
you to open your eyes to the reality of sin in our world today. Our
society has greatly deteriorated. Many no longer consider sin and
judgment to be real.
·
He wants
you in action — faith without works is dead.
·
He has
given you the time to take action. That time is called “now.” Use
the time wisely; do not idle it away.
Communion reminds you of what Christ did for us. It also reminds us
that we are his hands and feet carrying the good news of the Gospel
to the world.
