Reflection: It Was Worse than We Thought (June 23, 2013)

The 5th Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 65:1-9; Galatians 3:23-4:7; Luke 8:26-39

After a crisis, when we've gotten through whatever it was that overtook our lives,
we can often look back to discover that things were really a lot worse than we realized when we were in the middle of it all. It can be disturbing to recognize how badly things could have turned out for us. Such an experience leaves us humbled, and, as followers of Jesus, grateful for God’s grace. This was certainly the case for the man who was living among the tombs in the Gerasenes. He lived in isolation, tormented by demons and feared by people. He was alone and in agony until Jesus delivered him from his hopeless and dire situation. Afterwards, when he was in his right mind sitting at the feet of Jesus, he realized that his horrible condition was worse that he had thought for had Jesus not come to him he would have continued in that wretched state forever. We should be able to relate to this revelation.

When we consider what it means to be followers of Jesus, we often focus on comparing our behaviors and morals to those of nonbelievers. We see the error of their ways and are glad to have a greater sense of meaning, purpose, and hope in our lives than they do in theirs. But do we really understand what it was like for us before Christ brought us salvation? Today’s Epistle lesson tells us that “before faith came, we were held captive under the law” and imprisoned by it. It goes on to explain that we “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world,” that is, we were slaves to sin and death. We were a rebellious people, who walked in a way that is not good, following our own devices, and provoking God to His face continually. We had no hope for freedom, we had no chance for salvation, and we had no way to avoid eternal condemnation. It was worse than we thought — it was worse than we still realize.

If we understood just how bad off we were before faith we would find ourselves begging Jesus for an opportunity to serve Him in thankfulness, like the man who had been delivered from the horrors of demon possession. You have been delivered from an inescapable, horrible condition and have been sent to “declare how much God has done for you.” You have been given faith, set free from the law, adopted into God’s family, and made an heir of eternal life. It was worse than you thought, but now you have been justified by faith.

Audio file of the sermon "It Was Worse than We Thought."