feast: The Clear Light Of A God-Given Life


Mark Schindler
Given 15-Oct-19; Sermon #FT19-02A; 35 minutes

Description: (show)

Claire Wineland was an inspirational speaker who suffered from cystic fibrosis from birth, dying from a stroke on September 11, 2018 following a lung transplant. From her valiant example, we learn that: (1.) God the Father has given us life, He and His Son living their lives in us. God expects us to live now, in the moment, not waiting for a better day. (2.) Even though a time will come when our physical condition deteriorates, we should remember that God will never forsake us if we stay grafted into the Vine, Jesus Christ. (3.) We need to be ready to take the baton and courageously carry on the work when our time of service begins. Let us use whatever gifts God has given us in the moment, regardless of the cost.




A little over a year ago on September 2nd, 2018, a young woman by the name of Claire Wineland, died. Most of you have never heard of Claire, and her name is not familiar with many, but she accomplished a lot although I am sure there are few within the sound of my voice who are very well aware of her.

In her short lifetime, Claire determined to make the most out of her life. She had been given very much to serve and encourage others, or even living lives just like hers, there were those who cared for loved ones like her. Claire had incurable cystic fibrosis, which limits one’s life to a very short period. But in that time, she made a distinct difference.

I would like to begin with excerpts from the article by osteopathic physician/nutritionist Joseph Mercola, regarding the reflections he made on Claire, and the YouTube presentation, “Claire: The Documentary.”

Dr. Mercola writes:

There was a movie called “Five Feet Apart.” It reminded me of the courageous and inspirational story of Claire Wineland. Honestly, the documentary was much better than the movie, but it reminded me of Wineland’s story. It is a exceptionally potent reminder of how we need to live life to the fullest, even though we might die tomorrow. I really don’t know of any better example of that than Wineland. At the age of thirteen Wineland founded the Claire’s Place Foundation to help families with children who, like herself, struggle with cystic fibrosis, which is a progressive and terminal genetic disease that causes an over production of buildup of thick sticky mucus in the lungs and other organs. The disease requires daily breathing treatments of up to five hours a day, and children with cystic fibrosis usually spend a great deal of time in the hospital. It has been said that Wineland spent about a quarter of her life in the hospital with her chronic infections.

In 2016, she received the World of Children Youth Award, for her foundation’s support of children with cystic fibrosis and their families. At the age of nineteen, Wineland launched C.F. University, an online learning research for children. Where they can learn more about their disease.

In 2015, Wineland appeared in an episode of “My Last Days” a limited CD documentary series hosted by Justin Baldoni featuring people living with terminal illnesses. “My name is Claire Wineland. I’m 18 years old,” she said. “I’m living with something called cystic Fibrosis. Doctors say I have around a year left to live. But that does not really matter to me because death is inevitable, but living a life that we are proud of that is something we can control.”

According to Wineland’s father she has always been a positive little girl, but something happened when, at the age of thirteen, she went into lung failure and slipped into a coma for seventeen days. When she emerged, she had a new level of acceptance about her life, and the attitude of wanting to enjoy life as much as she could, all the while knowing her days were numbered.

Claire said,

The only thing you’re told when you have this illness, is, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Your life must be horrible.’ That is the exact words you hear over and over and over again. That gets so cemented into your consciousness. What kind of weird belief is that?” Wineland continues, “Most eighteen-year-olds do not have to deal with what I have to deal with, specifically now. But everyone must deal with their own pain. The absolute truth is that I don’t think the pain I’ve been through is any more severe than the pain any other individual has been through. It might be more physical, but I’ve also had the incredible gift of having people who genuinely love me, giving me so much mental stability and strength. We have to realize that we are part of something bigger. What happens in our world, in our society, is very literally a part of us because we are so influenced by it, and it’s influenced by us. We can’t put ourselves in a bubble, we can’t detach ourselves from the world we live in.

Dr. Mercola continues:

Wineland’s mother was convinced her daughter came into the world with a mission to share the message of what it is like to be blessed with life. Her mother said, “I think she felt, knowing that she had a shorter life, she wanted to do more with it.”

Dr. Mercola writes,

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve always loved the idea of bringing life into places where people think life doesn’t really exist,” Claire said. During the filming of “My Last Days” director Justin Baldoni surprised Wineland with his unusually gift, private lessons for speech by coach Richard Greene, agreed to help her polish her public speaking skills, and graft a speech. Greene told Wineland he believed she is destined to impact the whole world. Greene told her, “Great speaking is nothing more than having a conversation from your heart about something that you do all the time. Number two is speaking about something you’re authentically passionate about in order to help another person, help a group of people, or help the world.” And he told her, “That’s how you’ve lived your life, and you’re not afraid of it.

When asked by Greene what she wanted her audience to get from her speech, she said, “I want them to have a moment of clarity, realizing they have actually power in their happiness and the way their life goes.” She ended up giving that speech at the Life is Beautiful Music and Arts Festival in Las Vegas in 2015. She said at the festival,

I can stand up here and tell you I’m genuinely proud of my life. I’m so proud to be alive. I’m not saying that I don’t feel pain, ‘sadness, suffering, and loneliness, because that’s what it means to be a human being. I’m saying that pain, that loneliness, and that sadness is beautiful. We live in a society that benefits off of us continuously looking for happiness, for dreams and goals out there. If we say we’re not going to go looking out there for happiness, we’re alive and that’s all we need, then we’re beating the system and we’re living the life so we can be proud of living lives that make us happy and serve others.

Wineland’s mother said, “I think people see her in this light that she was born with. Claire Lucia, her name, means “clear light.” And I really think that embodies who she is. She’s very real; I think some of these great things that are happening are because she relates to people on a different level. I think the biggest thing she’s taught me is to stay in the moment. Right this second is beautiful.”

Dr. Mercola continues,

Wineland’s life was nothing if not impactful, and even though she is gone her impact is bound to continue. Proceeds from Claire made by Oscar winning documentary film maker Nicholas Reid, and produced by YouTube Originals, will go to the Claire’s Place Foundation to continue to assist those families with cystic fibrosis. Reid worked with Claire for the last 18 months of her life. In a statement Reid said, “When I met Claire I was totally blown away. All my partners instantly said she is the most amazing young person we have ever met. We must do a film about her. And with each meeting we were humbled more and more by her story. We are honored to have worked with Claire, and with the blessing of her family on this official documentary that encapsulates the true nature of Claire and her courageous battle to help dignify people who are sick.”

Dr. Mercola continues,

"Optimism that having a sense of purpose in life has actually been scientifically shown to have great direct benefits on health and associated with increased life expectancy. Wineland was herself a testament to this as she never expected to make it past her teens.” As explained by Wineland, “Your purpose is really all about what you believe you can give. How you can make a difference. So often people get stuck in the limiting mentality of, ‘I’m just one person. How could I possibly make a difference?’"

A bit down in the article Dr. Mercola writes,

“Wineland’s message also stresses the importance of cultivating an attitude of gratitude.” In her speech at the Life is Beautiful Music Festival she said, “You’re never going to be happy with what you get unless you’re happy with what you have. And that’s what you have to do with your life. You have to look at it all, all the pain all the loneliness, all the beauty, all the friendships, the family, the sickness, the health. You have to lay it all in front of you and say, Okay, this is what I have. It’s all wonderful. Now what can I make with it?”

Claire Lucile Wineland died September 2, 2018. Not from cystic fibrosis, but from a stroke that she suffered following an otherwise successful lung transplant that would have extended her life for another 5 years. Claire was 21 years old.

I know this is a rather long introduction, but I think you can see something that we of all people should learn from this young woman, who was wise beyond her years, but without the greatest gift that we have been given, the light of Jesus Christ actually drawing within each one of us.

Because death was a reality from the day she was born, that reality of death made the gift of life and what to do with it in the moment, precious. No matter what the circumstance of that life, she determined it was all a gift to be used in outgoing concern for others. How much more should we, the walking wounded, gathered here in this place where God has placed His name and called His people together at this Feast of our temporary dwellings in this life, be ready to say from our hearts, “Okay, this is what I have. It’s all wonderful. What can I do with it?”

Romans 8:9-14 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life you your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Romans 8:28-31 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew. He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

How can this not be a wonderful life of clear lights directed by God, with all its circumstances to be lived to the full without growing concern for the whole creation that is waiting for the sons of God to be perfected, and the next part of God’s plan to open to all men.

We have a job to do, with perseverance no matter what the circumstances of our lives there no doubt as we go through these times of trial we are going to be worn down. And what we can accomplish will diminish with our physical conditions. However, the clear light in Jesus Christ will never diminish because of our circumstances if we continue to persevere within that diminishing physical strength. In our weakness we are becoming stronger even if it does not seem that way, because God will accomplish in us exactly what He wants, in the way He wants, even when we think our strength and standing before God is no longer the light that we think it should be.

There are three things that I would like us to take away from this message today, the second day of our temporary dwelling in this world and all that goes with it.

First, we have all been given the privilege of a physical life lived with the light of the Father and Son dwelling in us within the circumstances of our lives no matter what they are. Whether it is strength of youth, or weakness of old age, with good health or bad, within triumph or tragedy. But in it all God expects us to be living in the moment. He expects us to do what He wants now, from our place within the body of Christ even in a more limited capacity. We cannot wait for a better day because we may find ourselves in a worse day, when it is too late to do what He expects with the gifts we have been given. Now in this time regardless of how we must muscle through it.

Mark 14:3-9 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. And she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indigent among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”

She had done what she could, she had done what God had given her the gifts to do at the time. From that point forward, what she had done would be told wherever the gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached throughout the world.

Please turn with me now to another similar, though different occasion. We will see the same attitude of gratitude and humility that should motivate us all to use the God-given gifts as a light to the world.

Luke 7:36-50 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him,” Simon, I have s something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors, one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My head with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Here is a similar but different event, where we can see an attitude of gratitude from this woman. Without even having been forgiven first, she came to the dinner, not to dine, but as a mere spectator-servant, giving everything she had, beginning with herself, in humiliation and tears, followed by the costly anointing of oil. In faith, she gave what she could and by faithful use of what she had been given she received forgiveness and peace of Jesus Christ.

In the documentary of her life, Claire Wineland said,

It’s easier to say we’re not doing incredible things because of the situations of our lives. It’s hard to say, maybe I’m not the person I want to be because maybe I’m not giving anything of value of myself to the world right now. Maybe right now, in this moment, I’m not doing what I should be doing. Maybe instead of trying to get rid of the problems, instead of trying to something in the future, do something now. Instead of trying to get rid of our problems, jump through hoops to evade our problems, maybe we should start using them because they are probably some of the biggest gifts you will ever have been given. Just have courage.

The second point I would like you to take away from this is, we must also recognize there will come a time when our physical condition may be so overwhelmingly difficult, we may no longer have the capacity to do the work we once did within the body of Christ. But we must always keep our focus on Jesus Christ and our Great God’s promises, especially His promise to never to leave or forsake His faithful servants.

John 3:27-32 [a time when John was preaching and teaching, but Jesus had already begun His ministry] John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies.”

Matthew 11:1-15 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John; “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes. I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’

Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

John, now in prison, not being able to do anything, all his work, all his efforts and the passion of his life service was no longer a viable option for him. Perhaps within this very context he became a bit discouraged, and he sent his disciples to Jesus Christ asking Him, “Have I done a fruitless work?” This might be over the top, but how many of us have become discouraged when our trials have reached the point of being in prison of no longer being able to continue doing any of the things that we had done in service to God and to the brethren?

There are some not even in this room but listening to my voice somewhere else, because of their physical circumstances have diminished to the point of virtual prison, like John the Baptizer. John knew in his head that when his job was done, he must decrease but Christ will increase. But perhaps he had never saw it as being totally removed from service and unable to do anything for anyone.

As Herbert Lockyer wrote in a book, All the Parables in the Bible, “Like a wise man John took his doubts about Christ to Christ Himself, and was not long before being relieved of his doubt officially in his difficulty, because Christ testified who he was.” Locklear wrote that, “John may have been perplexed over his master’s apparent neglect of him while he was suffering for righteousness. But Christ’s answer confirmed what John knew had to be true of the work of the Son of God.” Then Christ goes beyond that, as John’s disciples leave to relieve John of his doubts, Christ turns His attention to those who are gathered. He publicly reaffirms what He thought of John the Baptizer, and the work that he had done, when he had the ability to do it.

As Herbert Lockyer wrote in the book, “John was neither a reed shaken in the wind that vacillated and swayed this way and that way as every blast of popular feeling. Christ knew him to be more of a mighty oak than a weak reed, even though now he was in the weakest of states physically. Christ also pointed to him as one who was no dilettante hanging out at the courts of the kings for gratification of lusts. He was not popularity hunter but a faithful servant of God.”

Toward the end of the documentary on Claire, she is sobbing and explaining she was not getting the lung transplant for herself, but because she had become so weakened, she could not do anything anymore for others and she needed to get back to work.

Brethren, we too probably find ourselves in such an ineffective condition as Claire or the mighty man of faith, John, but with our eyes focused on Jesus Christ even in our most helpless states, we can know in faith what Christ thinks about those who stood like oaks and put Him first over self-gratification when we were in it and had the moment to do it. To Him, even in our diminished condition we maintain the clear light of the Kingdom of God.

The third point I would like to get from this message is especially the strength of the youth, who my friend Kim Myers often focuses his messages on. We need to be ready to use our God-given vitality and strength to pick up the baton, and continue the race in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, following the same path that has been won in strength by those who have gone before us.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.

It would be good to remind ourselves at this point of what God told young Jeremiah when he commissioned him to do the work that God alone gives us the power to do.

As recorded in Jeremiah 1:6-8, Jeremiah protests being given such a great responsibility, as you all have. He protests and he said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

Everyone of us increases or decreases by the power of God to serve from within the circumstances of our lives, as its suits God’s purpose. We just need to be fulfilling that responsibility as long as we can knowing that when the race is run, we too can look at Jesus Christ, just like John did in faith. In faith we stood in the moment regardless of the obstacles in front of us.

We are here at this commanded assembly looking forward to the work ahead in the Kingdom of God, following the return of Jesus Christ. But we are here in temporary dwellings to consider our physical journey, preparing for that return, using whatever gifts we have been given in the moment, to be the clear light of the God-given life. Just have courage and let us use the gifts in the moment regardless of the cost, knowing as we decrease, in reality we increase with Jesus Christ.

MS/cdm/drm












 


 
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