Staying Focused
Mark 13:1-8
November 11, 12, 2006

In last week's newsletter article, I described a recent trip that Brandon, Ellen, and I took to the west coast. This fall, our daughter, Heather, is attending the University of California at San Bernardino as an "exchange" student from Murray State University. While we were out there, we visited one of Ellen's college roommates, who lives in San Diego. We arranged to meet Ellen's friend at San Juan Capistrano. Although we had heard stories about the mission and the annual celebration of the return of the swallows, neither of us had been there. After grabbing a bite to eat, we took a tour of the mission. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. The number of birds that return to the mission has diminished drastically. They apparently haven't been able to swallow the overdevelopment of the surrounding area so they have flown the coop! I thought this was "for the birds" and kind of "cheep," so I considered getting my money back! But the grounds were beautiful and there was a sense of serenity within the walls. Everywhere we turned we were greeted by brilliant butterflies, hummingbirds, and gorgeous gardens. And every structure had a story to tell.

I found the history of one of the buildings to be particularly fascinating. Twenty years after the mission was founded, construction began on a monumental project-The Great Stone Church-on February 2, 1797. The church was laid out in the shape of a cross, measuring 180 feet long by 40 feet wide with 50-foot high walls. The building sat on a foundation seven feet thick. Construction efforts required the participation of every able body. Stones were quarried from gullies and creek beds up to 6 miles away and transported in carts drawn by oxen, carried by hand, and even dragged to the building site. The impressive project was completed around ten years later in 1806. By all accounts, it was the most magnificent church in all of California! But only 6 years later, the Wrightwood Earthquake brought everything crashing down-and sadly it happened during a worship service. Many lives were lost. And The Great Stone Church was never rebuilt, although the ministry of the Mission remained and continues to this day.

And I must confess something to you. This story about the Great Stone Church makes me nervous! I hope and pray that we get more than six years out of our new sanctuary at Beargrass!

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE BUILDING IS DESCRIBED IN TODAY'S TEXT. One day, Jesus is going out of the Temple. One of the disciples says to him, "Teacher, behold what spectacular stones and what beautiful buildings!" And he is correct-they are incredible edifices! William Barclay offers an eloquent account in his commentary on Mark. The Temple looked like it would last forever. It was magnificent-covering the top of Mt. Moriah. Some of the stones that were used to build it were forty feet long by eighteen feet wide. In the front of the Temple were huge pillars, almost forty feet high. The Temple was made of pure white marble and sections of it were covered in plates of solid gold. When the sun hit the white and gold structure it often gleamed so brilliantly that onlookers had to shield their eyes from the glare. And if you think our project has taken a long time at Beargrass, the Temple project took over 46 years! Yet what does Jesus have to say about the spectacular structures? "They're coming down!" "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another."

WHAT IS JESUS UP TO? This seems to be a rather innocent comment from his friend-just small talk. "Isn't it a delightful day? Nice weather we've been having, Jesus." "Did you see that ballgame last Thursday night? Unbelievable!" "Oh, what pretty buildings!" Just small talk. You've done that, haven't you? You've been in the big cities, like New York, Chicago. Maybe you've stood next to the Sears Tower or Hancock Building, the Empire State Building and said, "Wow! What big buildings!"

What is Jesus up to? Squashing all your small talk? It seems that Jesus has other things on his mind. He is thinking ahead, looking to the future. He tells his friends that some difficult things are going to come down-earth-shaking, breath-taking, heart-breaking things. He tells them that they are going to face some fierce obstacles, persecutions from without, and dissension from within. Being faithful in the days ahead will not be easy. And what's the first question they have for Jesus? They want to know when-give me a date, a time. Let me cram it on my calendar, program it into my computer, plug it into my Palm Pilot. How long will I have to last? How long must I remain faithful? But Jesus doesn't seem to be too interested in chronology-he is interested in commitment. He isn't interested in dates-he's interested in dedication. Don't be led astray. When all these things begin to happen, remain faithful, stay focused.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT WOULD JESUS TELL US TODAY? It seems that people in every generation look around at the messes and madness of the world and wonder: "When? Is this the time? Are these the signs, Jesus?" But every generation of disciples, you and I, are reminded to remain faithful-even though the world around us may appear to be falling apart. We are all too aware of how quickly life can come crashing in upon us…and the ways that can impact our faith.

I read about a man in Texas; he lived in San Antonio. Things were going fine for him-that is, until he arrived at work and his boss fired him-just out of the blue-no warning. After receiving the terrible news, he decided to walk over to his mother's office and tell her what happened. But he never made it. A five-story historical building that was under renovation collapsed on him. Rescuers arrived, but all they could see were his feet. He was quickly taken to a trauma center-he would have made a great character on "Grey's Anatomy." He had several broken bones, a broken back, a concussion, and many internal injuries. Fortunately, he survived.

And fortunately, most of us don't get smacked around like that-especially twice in one day-although it may feel like it sometimes. But we are very much aware that our lives can come tumbling down in a moment-in the twinkling of an eye. Ask any person who has suddenly lost a spouse or a child. Ask anybody who has heard words like these from their doctor: "we're not sure how to treat this, it doesn't look good, malignant." Ask any one of many people who have lost their jobs and experienced tremendous financial stress. Talk to any young person who has experienced a devastating injury or been involved in an accident. In seconds, things we have taken for granted can be taken away-reaching a happy old age with our spouse, having our parents and grandparents around for a long time, enjoying a comfortable retirement, remaining active and physically fit and healthy.

The passage stands not only as a warning about the end of times; it is also a warning about remaining faithful in the midst of our own personal trials and tribulations. But there are also strong words of caution about life around us-the pride that is so pervasive in our culture, the success that is so seductive. "But Jesus, look at these great lives. "Look at their popularity, their power, their prestige!" "Look at their positions and possessions in society!" But Jesus says, "Be careful-don't get caught up in all of this." "Because if you do, when these people crumble, you may crumble too." "They may be coming down."

We hear stories about people like Ted Haggard. Here is this pastor of a mega-church of thousands, president of the National Association of Evangelicals representing millions. He has been recognized by TIME Magazine and Tom Brokaw as one of the most influential pastors in America. And it's all come tumbling down. And so many people are hurt-why bother with this church stuff?

We hear stories about politicians like Mark Foley and an unholy host of other tales about creepy candidates in the recent elections. And more people are hurt and more folks become fed up with the political process. And we think, "Why do we even bother getting involved in this political system? "Absolute power eventually corrupts absolutely-it's just a matter of time." Too many come tumbling down. And then we're stuck, standing in the rubble. Temptation looks us squarely in the eye and says: "Why bother? Why continue to hope?" "Why continue to have faith?" "Why don't you just give up?"

AND GOD THROUGH JESUS WHISPERS THE ETERNAL "NO!" Walls may crumble, wars may rumble, people may stumble-but the ministry and the mission of the Church rolls on. The grand and glorious may be impressive, but it is humility and service that will outlast and outshine gold and marble. And the lesson is not only a warning-it is a promise. Even in the midst of the earth-shaking, breath-taking, heart-breaking things that happen, Jesus promises to be with us. Even as we stammer and stumble and struggle, God will give us strength to stay faithful and focused-to do what we have been called to do.

In one of Joyce Cary's novels, a half-mad artist, swinging from a high-hung scaffold, tries to paint a mural of the New Jerusalem, the Holy City of God, on the wall of a condemned building. This suggests an image of the Christian calling and vocation. We are to paint the new creation on the canvas of a crumbling world… Having faith, that though the world may pass away… The picture will come true by the power of God. So let it be.