Journeying on

In East Kent is the ancient town of Sandwich. Nearby the Romans landed in 43 BC to begin their conquest. Nearby St Augustine landed in AD 597 to begin his mission. Nearby was an important transit camp for troops in the First World War, and nearby there are two world-class golf courses. So, there’s something for everyone in Sandwich! And nearby is the small village of Ham and there is actually a signpost pointing you to ‘Ham’ and to ‘Sandwich’!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the theme of journeys; secular journeys, biblical journeys, faith journeys, personal journeys. Pathways through our lives. Sometimes lived in the shadows. Sometimes lived in bright sunshine. Sometimes lonely and difficult times. And for the Christian, always with other people. Someone helpfully said that:

The lifelong journey of following Jesus is the one every [believer] must make – but we do so in community with others.[Richard Burridge, John, 242].

Of course, we are all on a journey from birth to death, and sometimes we need to stand back and review where we were, to look again at where we are, and to discern where we’re going. In the TV series Who do you think you are? someone said: ‘You don’t know where you are going to unless you know where you have come from’. And the chief rabbi told a very insightful story about a man on a journey; He came to a crossroad and found that the sign-post had fallen over. He didn’t have his phone with him so which way should he go? Then he thought for a moment. He knew where he had come from and pointed the sign in that direction. Now he knew where he was going.

As we begin the New Year are you standing at a crossroads? Perhaps unsure about the future? Perhaps hesitant and uncertain? Perhaps unable to know which way to go, or where to find help? In the year ahead there may be some big decisions to make over getting married, moving house, changing jobs. If only things were simple and straight forward! Standing at the crossroads can be both exciting and challenging and also quite a daunting prospect. I wonder, tonight, where faith comes into these things?

Hear some wise words from two Old Testament prophets; first from Jeremiah 6.16:

Stand by the roads, and look, and ask forthe ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

And second, from Isaiah 30.21:

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it”, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Tonight, I want us to focus on the theme of journeys; biblical journeys and personal journeys.

1. Biblical journeys

a) Journeys in the Old Testament

The identity of the people of God began with Abram who left the city of Ur and journeyed west to the Mediterranean coast. The Old Testament prophets were not innovators, but they were deeply rooted in their history and ancient traditions going back to Abraham and Moses. And for Christians, we see Jesus as the fulfilment of the Old Testament scriptures, and we are rooted in him as our LORD and Saviour. Think of the Exodus. Moses led the people of God from Egypt to the Promised Land. It took them 40 years to get there but they eventually arrived and settled in the land, no longer wanderers but residents. Think of the Exile. The people of God were forced to go east to Babylon. Their anguish and sense of loss was recorded in those pitiable words (Psalm 137.1):

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.

Their past was still a present reality; and their present overwhelmed them as they remembered their past. Eventually the remnant returned to the Promised Land. They rebuilt their cities. They rebuilt the Temple. They rebuilt their lives. They returned and began again. No longer wanderers but residents. Just as 1,000s of people in the Old Testatement were on the move or so too individuals were making their own personal journeys. Think of travellers like Joseph, Jacob, Moses, Ruth, and David. And in the story of Jonah God told him to go east and he disobeyed and went west. I wonder, tonight, are you, like Jonah, deliberately running away from God? Jeremiah 6.16:

Through the prophet Jeremiah, the LORD said: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.

Commenting on this verse, John Calvin says: We should not doubt the way we should go, because God has told us the way. But although God had shown his people the way, they chose instead to go their own way. In his kindness, God shows us his perfect way. In our foolishness we ignore his kindness and prefer our own way. I wonder, tonight, does that reflect your situation?

b) Journeys in the New Testament

During the Romans occupation they conducted a census and insisted that people should register at their place of birth. The magi came from the east and travelled to the west. The holy family fled south into Egypt, and on their return settled in the north where there was work for ‘Joseph and Son, builders’ at the new city of Sepphorus near Nazareth. Over the course of three years, the journeys of Jesus took place mainly on foot from the Galilee in the north to Jericho in the south. From the river to the sea, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. From Caesarea Philippi in the north to Jerusalem in the south. Remember the two dispirited friends who met a stranger on the road, and their lives were transformed as they encountered the risen Christ. I wonder, tonight, are you walking with Christ as your companion?

There are a number of journeys in the stories of Jesus; of a man who was robbed on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10.30), of a younger son who squandered his wealth in a distant land (Luke 15.13), of the owner of a vineyard who after moving away sent his servants back to collect the rent (Matthew 21.33-34), of the hired hand who ran away when the wolf came (John 10.12), and Jesus told a story about the broad road and the narrow road (Matthew 7.13). Peter and Paul travelled widely throughout the Roman Empire. They journeyed from the Holy land in the east to Rome in the west. And Paul even had plans to travel further west to visit Spain. A few centuries later a few Christian merchants and soldiers had reached Britain. The early believers were known as ‘The way’ – what a good title that is for the followers of Jesus, who said (John 14.6):

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

Jesus is the only way that leads to life and John the Baptist was the signpost who pointed to him (John 1.29):

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world

I wonder, tonight, are you still trusting in Jesus as you once did? If you like a good story, could I encourage you to read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress? It was first published in 1678 and over the centuries has been read by many Christians. Pilgrim’s Progress is the life of a man called Christian who journeyed from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Early on, Christian’s burden of sin is taken away at the empty tomb and then we follow his journey and his encounters with fellow travellers. Some are helpful. Some are unhelpful. Some are good and some are bad. On his travels he is often tempted to leave the narrow way and to join the broad way. I wonder, tonight, how much you and I tempted to leave the narrow way and to compromise the faith we profess?

2. Personal journeys

On the three occasions when Handley Moule, the Bishop of Durham (1901-20) preached in this church he had the same text (Hebrews 13.8):

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He repeated the text because it points us afresh to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the unchanging one who is always with us and who walks alongside us – past, present and future – in Christ we live – in Christ we are eternally secure. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and for ever. What does it mean? Quite simply that Jesus is always the same. Yesterday includes the Old Testament; today reminds us of his death and resurrection; and tomorrow of his return. Jesus Christ is always our contemporary. Always our unchanging companion. Always with us whatever the situation we face. And since Jesus Christ is always the same, the Christian faith is also unchanging. And what is the Christian message? It is routed and grounded in Jesus. It brings hope for lost people. It speaks of sin confessed and sin forgiven. It speaks of peace in our hearts of the hope of heaven.

Tonight, we have been looking at the theme of journeys, and I wonder how your Christian journey is going? Are you still trusting Christ as much today as when you first believed? Do you still love God? Do you still love your neighbour? Today, be honest with yourself before the LORD. Where are you going? Let’s look together at Hebrews 13.8:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday.

Think back and recall how and when you came to faith in Jesus. There isn't just one way of becoming a Christian. Perhaps it was a sudden Damascus Road experience. Perhaps it was a series of experiences. Perhaps it was a gradual unfolding. Our individual journeys may be different but our destination is the same. What is important is the reality. That you trust in Christ. That you believe in you heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. That Jesus is your Saviour and LORD. That simple act of faith is yours. That personal trust in the Saviour. That conviction that he died for me, and bore my guilt and sin and shame.

Jesus Christ is the same today.

Today, as you look back, do you still love and trust in Jesus as much as you once did? Is Jesus as real to you now as he was then? Is he still your constant companion and friend? In what ways have you grown in the faith, and used the gifts that God has given you? In what ways has your faith matured and deepened? And is the Holy Spirit still transforming you and making you more and more like Jesus? And are you still learning and trusting and believing? Are you as faithful today, as you once were, in reading the Bible and in prayer?

Jesus Christ is the same for ever.

We are all nearer to our destination. Nearer to the time when he will call us to himself and invite us to stand before the throne. Nearer then when we first believed. Not through any personal merit. Not because of anything that we have done. But it is by the sheer grace of God. By the love of God. By the mercy of God - that we come before him. I wonder, tonight, are you still looking to Jesus? Tonight, we come to the end of 2023 and tomorrow we begin a new year. Looking back, it’s not been an easy year. Many people have struggled financially and the level of personal debt has increased. Many are deeply concerned about wider issues in the world over the environment, a deeply divided society, a broken world, over wars and conflicts in the Ukraine and the Holy Land. We see the world on a screen and feel helpless to do anything about it. To be honest, are you glad this year’s nearly over? And looking forward, what of the year ahead? Do you expect things to be much the same - or radically different? Will there be some significant changes in your circumstances, within your family circle and group of friends? Do you know where you will work? Do you know where you will live? And as we move forward on our journey of faith to whatever lies ahead, we need to trust in Jesus; to be thoroughly rooted and grounded in him, confident in Christ, secure in Christ, trusting in Christ. So that whatever the circumstances, or the changes, or the challenges there may be, deep down we still continue to trust in Jesus and are becoming more and more like him.

In the address the King’s grandfather gave in December 1939 he quoted these words:

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”. And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”[God Knows, Mary Louise Haskins].

May that be true for us all in 2024!