Someone tells of two women viewing a painting in an art gallery. A guide happens by as one says to the other, "Well, frankly, I don't see much in it!" The guide says, "Madam, these paintings aren't on trial. They've been judged long ago. It is they that judge us!"

That's the way it is in our world ever since Christ came. We travel a road on the edge of eternity. When we ignore Advent, when we give up expectation, when we fall asleep next to the wonder of the world that Jesus brought to our front doors, it is we who lose. I talked the other day with a fellow who used to be part of our church. He doesn't come to worship here anymore. "No time," he says. "Not much in it anyway."

Of course not! There's not much in coming to worship if time means money! It's a waste of both!

Years ago archaeologists dug up a Roman military camp on the edge of the Syrian Desert. They found the diary of a soldier, stationed far from home. He wrote, "I have come to the conclusion that there are two things to live for in this world. One is power and the other is love, and you can't have both at the same time."

He was right. If you think life is a rat race, don't expect people to treat you like a human being. If you go after power, don't look for love; you'll never find it. If your goal is to get to the top, watch your back!

And, by all means, don't look over the side of the road because the view will terrify you! You will see things there that money can't buy. You will hear a language you don't speak. You will feel the waves of eternity foaming at your feet, and it will scare you to death! You won't know what to do with it.

My wife remembers the first time her family went through Glacier Park. Her younger brother was so scared that he crawled over to the side of the car away from the edge of the cliff, hugged himself under a blanket in the corner, closed his eyes and wouldn't look out again until they came down into the valley and the flat land.

That's what Paul's "sleepers" are like. They take the religion out of life, and make it so much less. They give up on Advent, and have only a "Merry Christmas" that is here today and gone tomorrow.

Those Who Soar

But you aren't like that, says Paul. You are wide-awake!

Do you remember the last time that you stood on the balcony of a tall building and looked over the edge? Part of you had this incredible urge to throw yourself over, and see what it would be like to fly, to soar through the air!

In a sense, Paul would say, those who live in expectation of Jesus' return live with the wild desire to move right on over into eternity. They know that the road will turn that direction again someday, and they look forward to it. They know that it won't be a frightening thing. Instead, it will only deepen their spirits, and broaden their minds, and magnify their insights, and expand their love. Who wouldn't want that?!

Years ago, someone came to Harry Emerson Fosdick's church in New York City and told Dr. Fosdick that he didn't know how anyone could live in a place like New York. All those temptations around! All those things that can pull a person down! All those enticements that could lure a young person into depravity and sin!