It may seem strange to sing "Abide With Me" at a morning service.  Though it's an evening hymn, its central thought is taken from the Gospel story of the two men on the road to Emmaus who were joined by the Lord.  As night approached, they said, "Abide with us, for evening is coming."  Hence we've come to sing the beloved hymn, "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide."  In that light, it's a hymn we can sing to the Lord anytime.

          I always feel a bit sad for those two fellows walking home to Emmaus.  They were shaken and grieving, in the midst of shocking loss.  They had hoped Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, but were now sure that could not be since He had died.  These were two lesser disciples, one named Cleopas and the other unnamed.  They were not a part of the inner circle of disciples, so they weren't staying in the Upper Room with the others on Resurrection Day.  The two men had decided to go home, probably to get ready for work.  Sunday was not yet a day of rest, but of work.

          The precise location of Emmaus is not known today, though the village of El-Qubeibeh, seven miles east of Jerusalem is the probable site.  When the Crusaders came there in 1099, they found an old Roman fort named Castellum Emmaus, and so they built a basilica, or small church, on the site.  In 1878 Franciscans built the church of St. Cleopus there over the remains of that basilica.  Today it's a forgotten place and the guides don't even bother to stop there, partly because the Franciscans have closed the church to sightseers.

          Picture a lovely Sunday afternoon, sun shining, birds singing and spring in the air.  Yet all that was hardly noticeable as these men walked home.  When you're really bummed out, no beauty can shake it loose, no joy of spring can make it better.  When you're concentrating on personal troubles, nothing else seems to matter, regardless of how lovely your surroundings may be.  And these two men were concentrating on the mystery surrounding Jesus of Nazareth, their friend who had died.

          "We had hoped He was the one who was going to redeem Israel," (Lk. 24:21) they almost moaned.  It's such a disappointment when someone you count on fails you.  It deflates your hopes, defeats your expectations, and takes your breath away.  The friend disappoints you, the job ends, the relationship fails - all leaving us grasping for something to fill the void.  We pastors always grieve when a member unexpectedly leaves the church for some reason or other.  First we don't see them in church, then we call and leave message after message.  Then finally our call is returned, and the news is not good.  Something we said, something we didn't do, something they heard, something that rarely amounts to much, but they have decided to leave.  When they'll talk, it helps, but when their mind is made up, it deflates the day, and leaves a gaping hole.

          "I had such high hopes for this job," we say.  "I really thought I knew her..."  "I can't believe she reacted to something so small as that..."  "I can't believe my son would do that..."  "I thought I knew him better than that..." we say.  The Disciples going to Emmaus said the same - "We had hoped He was the One..."

          Sometimes you have the feeling bad news is coming and other times it blindsides you.  Last Tuesday I went downstairs and found the carpet was wet in one corner.  What I'd feared for many months had happened - water in the basement!  It wasn't a flood, but the result was the same.  That wet corner turned into half a room.  I discovered that a tiny drip, drip, drip of a water leak resulted in a small reservoir under the carpet pad.  It's fixed now and I'm taking steps to insure it won't happen again, but I'll never quite trust that room again.  When a basement is fully finished, how do you fix the problem without making a mess?  Of course I've found a sermon illustration in it.  Just like that little undetected drip, the small things we do and shouldn't, or the little things we don't do but should - all eventually become a big problem unless we change.  Our life doesn't usually get out of control by one big sin, one huge gaff, but by a series of little sins we don't take care of.

          On the other hand, the things which deflate us are rarely huge, but sometimes they are.  You wonder about that lump, and one day it does turn out to be cancer.  You wonder why your daughter is acting strangely, and then you do discover the drugs.  You notice your spouse withdrawing more and more, and then the divorce papers do arrive.  Your mother has been sickly for years, and every time you leave, you think it might be the last time you'll see her.  But she bounces back so often, until one day she doesn't, and you get the phone call.  You'd think we'd be ready for it, but you're still not prepared for the empty feelings and sadness.

          At such times, we all need to say to the Lord, "Abide with us, for evening is coming."  Stay with us Lord!  Dear friends, the wonder of our Almighty God is that He really will come to us, and that He actually will stay with us, as long as we want him to.

          The two men going to Emmaus poured out their hearts to this stranger on the road.  They told Him all their sadness, but He responded differently than expected.  "C'mon guys," He said, "it's not as bad as you think!  Didn't the scriptures say this would happen, that the Christ would have to suffer these things?  Hey, stop feeling sorry for yourselves and lighten up!  It's not so bad as you think!" (Lk. 24:25-26, PBVersion)

          We people don't always like hearing this.  We want someone to commiserate with us, to feel our pain, to pat us on the back and be quiet.  And sometimes that is our true need.  But not always!  Sometimes Jesus slaps us in the face with the truth like He did to them:  "It had to happen that way - don't you remember your Bible?"  Such talk might offend some, but not those two.  They listened!  Jesus held them spellbound with His good Word.  "And beginning with the Prophets," the Bible says, "He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself." (Lk. 24:27)

          They say there's nothing like the possibility of death to clear your mind.  I think the truth can do the same thing.  When you're down and out in your self-pity, the truth can pick you up.  When you're imprisoned by fear and doubt, the truth can set you free.  It can slap you in the face when you need it.  That's a great blessing of God's truth.

          As the three men drew near their home the sun was going down, so they invited Him to stay.  Nothing uncommon here, to invite a stranger for the night.  There were few inns, and sleeping in the open could be dangerous.  And later that night as they broke bread together at mealtime, the stranger let Himself be known - it was Jesus Himself.  Incredible!  "Didn't our hearts burn within us while He spoke?" (Lk. 24:32) they said as they hurried back to Jerusalem.

          Godly heartburn!  - now there's a great thought.  Through His Word God makes us uncomfortable so we'll want to hear more.  Godly heartburn has no need for purple pills.  Sometimes discomfort can be good for us!  It's just what the Divine Doctor ordered.

          Jesus will stay with us if we invite Him.  In Revelation 3:20, He tells us, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  Now that's an offer worth accepting.  That's an offer you shouldn't refuse!  He's not only the Honored Guest, but He brings the food with him.

          I thought it was pretty exciting watching the president land on an aircraft carrier last Thursday.  How would it be if he'd come to your house?  What preparations would you make?  Friends, someone far greater than any president or any king wants to come to your home, and into your heart this day - the Son of God Himself, the Ruler of the Universe.  He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

          Let Him in, my friends.  By faith, receive the Son of God and let Him rule your heart and mind.  Let Him abide with you, whether daytime or at night.  He'll bring you divine gifts of peace and hope and joy.  He'll see your needs are met, in His very own special way.  He'll walk with you each day, giving gentle direction.  As the hymn says, "I need Thy presence every passing hour;  Who but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?  Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?  Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!"  Amen

Copyright © 2003 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.