Eight summers ago I spent three days in the Colorado mountain wilderness near Breckenridge with 8th and 9th graders teaching them wilderness survival skills.  We were about 10 miles from civilization camped next to a rushing stream, sleeping on the ground and eating nasty food cooked over open fires.  It was fun while there, but the closer I got to the end of the camp, the better home looked.

          A few days ago Carol and I spent five days at the general convention of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in St. Louis, in the midst of civilization, next to a rushing freeway, sleeping on a king-size bed and eating good food in restaurants.  It was not fun, merely interesting, and with every passing day, home looked better and better.  And so did the people of our Epiphany Lutheran Church!

          At Wilderness Camp, people discovered they had some choices to make.  First was whether or not to come, for the devil kept trying to give us reasons to stay home.  Another choice was whether or not to listen to leaders or just have fun.  After a violent lightning and hail storm the first night, God had everyone's attention.

          At convention, people also had choices to make:  who to elect, who to listen to, and how to keep the main thing the main thing.  Sad to say, Satan raised far too much dust in St. Louis.  True, the church needs to be vigilant over error, but the church does not live by the Law alone, we live by grace alone.  We need to open our mouths less and open our ears more.  I found this to be especially true of preachers!

          At that survival camp, the youth learned some things - the dangers of getting lost, using first aid, and building shelters.  They also learned what God's Word said about being found in Jesus, being healed and finding shelter in the Lord.

          At the Synod convention, delegates continually got lost, in points of order, amendments, substitute motions and a whole lot of human opinion.  Most of us tried to listen and glorify God in what we did, but others seemed bent on glorifying their own point of view.  All of us were angry over the political maneuverings, but somehow we could not get away from it.  In some ways, the convention was a survival camp of the faithful.  But I am pleased to say much good did happen there.  God was mightily praised.  Some good leaders were elected.  Some good choices were made.  We'll just have to wait to see what happens now.

          All this reminded me of Ronnie.  He was a bright young man of 21 and working hard at two jobs.  All his friends were away in college and Ronnie would have been there too, were it not for a choice he made one Friday night in March three years before.  He and his friends were looking for some excitement, so Ronnie suggested they go ice fishing.  "We can use my Dad's motor home."  So he quietly took the keys, and drove it out onto the ice with their fishing poles, some food and a case of beer.  They drilled some holes in the ice, fished a little and drank a lot.  Then they went to sleep.

          When Ronnie woke up about noon, the first thing he noticed was that there were no fish houses on the lake (that's right - it was March).  Then he noticed a lot of open water between them and the shore.  That bothered him.  Not wanting to wake his friends, he started the motor, put it in gear and eased it towards the shore, noticing that his tracks from the night before went right into the water.  About 200 feet from shore he panicked and floored it, hoping they wouldn't break through the ice.  He got there but slammed into shore so hard the whole motor home broke up.  Everything inside flew apart, including a pan of spaghetti on the stove.  The front axle broke, the engine separated from the transmission, cabinets came loose from the walls and the spaghetti was everywhere, making it look like carnage inside.  They were off the lake, but the Winnebago motor home was destroyed.

          A man came by and Ronnie asked him to call his father.  His father asked if the boys were hurt, and Ronnie said, "No, Dad, but I'm really sorry about the Winnebago."  His Dad looked everything over, thought a few moments and then said, "I suppose you think this is covered by insurance."  Ronnie said, "You do have insurance, right?"  His Dad said, "Actually, no.  I only insure it during the summer when we use it."  Ronnie walked away a few moments, but then came back and said, "I'll pay you back, Dad, every cent."  And now, three years later, after working two jobs, he's just paid back the $40,000.  While his friends were away attending college, Ronnie has been attending the school of responsibility, learning to make good for a bad choice he'd made three years before.

          Jesus knew all about choices.  In our text He had come to visit Mary and Martha in Bethany.  When He arrived, Martha, the older, was busy doing housework.  Mary, the younger, sat down to listen.  Martha was annoyed that she had to do everything while Mary was sitting down and enjoying His company.  You'd have thought Jesus would have complimented Martha for her diligence, but He didn't.  In fact, His mild reprimand of Martha has echoed down the centuries, showing us the importance of making the right choice.  "Martha, Martha," [He said], "you are busy with many things.  Only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

          Martha's choice was not bad; it was just not as good as Mary's.  Cooking and dusting would always be there, but the Lord would not be.  They would always eat, for God would always provide.  And, as a housewife once told me, household dust was meant to be a protective covering, so leave it alone.  But right then, in the midst of all the chores, listening to the Lord was the best choice.  Our convention would have done far better, had it taken more time to listen to the Lord and His Word instead of moving an amendment and asking one more foolish question.

          What do you think?  Do we people have free choice?  Do we have the ability to choose the right thing all by ourselves?  The church of Luther's time in the middle ages said no.  People were horribly sinful, no better than vermin, and only the church could determine the difference between good and evil.  God was everything but people were nothing.  Therefore, they must rely on the church to make right choices for them.  In that kind of atmosphere, priests were privileged and the church was powerful.  And it kept the people in bondage.

          Martin Luther gave power back to the people.  He brought dignity to being ordinary.  He said the Bible teaches a priesthood of all believers.  He said our baptism ordains us to share the faith just like a pastor.  He said that in matters of daily life, people can make right choices about what to do, what to wear, who to marry, etc.

          But in spiritual matters he said it's different.  Because of sin, our human will is in bondage, therefore our spiritual choices will be imperfect.  But God in His mercy has a solution.  He gives us His Holy Spirit, first to help us believe in Christ, and then to make right spiritual choices.  Only the Holy Spirit can help us make right choices in matters of faith.  But when we ask, the Holy Spirit shows us the right way.

          Our Lord Jesus, in His love, chose us to be His people, and when we place our faith in Him, He gives us wisdom to make right choices.  When we trust in Him with our heart, He gives us the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment, for both earthly things and for eternal things.  We will not always make the right choice, but the Holy Spirit is always there prompting us to do right.

          A few years ago there began a popular little slogan on bracelets and T-shirts: "WWJD" - "What Would Jesus Do?"  That's a good question.  To consider what action Jesus would take will help us choose right.  But an equally good question is, "WDJD" - "What Did Jesus Do?"  We all need to remember that He died for our sins, that He took on Himself the punishment we deserve.  Then He rose again to show us He was the true Savior, and that all who trust in Him will one day also rise to glory.

          Back there at Bethany, Mary got it right.  She chose to hear Jesus.  Cooking could wait, work could be done later - the Lord wouldn't be with them forever.  Praise be to God that He is with us, here, now and always.  He will be with us forever.

          I believe our church needs more Marys, more people sitting at His feet, listening to Jesus.  This is Christ's Church and He is in charge.  If He wants it to go a new direction, He'll take it that way, no matter what resolutions we pass.  The church is not about us - it's about Him.  By the way, VBS is a great way for the kids to do this, and Youth Gatherings are great for the teens, and our upcoming Mission and Ministry Workshop is great for adults.  May we all sit at the Lord's feet and listen to Him.  Amen!

Copyright © 2004 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.