Don’t wait. Leave a mark.
Vs. 12 says be an example. That word is interesting because it literally referred to an image, imprinted by a stamp or chisel. The way you live your life chisels yourself and the world – it leaves a mark. And the Apostle Paul wants to remind you that you can leave a mark now. You can chisel the goodness of Jesus now. You don’t have to wait. I know that so much of your life feels like waiting – waiting for Summer, waiting to drive a car, waiting to go to college, waiting to vote, waiting to pick a career, waiting to make your own choices. Well, this morning, I want to tell you, “Don’t wait. You can start chiseling now.” You don’t have to let anyone think less of you or look down on you but you can go out into the world with chisel in hand and start carving an example that will “heal/save/deliver both yourself and your hearers,” Paul says in vs. 16. Don’t imagine that what you are being called to is fundamentally about the next life nor do you need to believe that leaving a mark demands that you have everything figured out. Be an example now, show others what a Christian life looks like now, at this time, in this way. Don’t wait. Leave a mark. In Christianity you will never hear Jesus say, “Just wait until you’re older. Here’s a hammer, a chisel, make something beautiful.”
Maybe you’re wondering, “What will I chisel on the world and where will I chisel it?”
Chisel the Nouns of Scripture.
Listen to the nouns that you are to chisel with and where you should chisel them: speech (what you say), conduct (how you behave), love (how you relate with God and others), faith (whom you trust – Jesus), and purity (they way you do all these things - with attention and intention). These aren’t simply nice words but to be devotional and taken from reading Scripture with others. Let Scripture be the dictionary that defines your words and chisel them on your life – not your neighbor, not your enemy. You are to be your own billboard proclaiming the goodness of God, the transforming power of Jesus.
If you chisel the nouns of Scripture on your mouth, hands and feet, heart, mind, and will – you will create and craft a unique but utterly recognizable image of Jesus. But remember – Jesus is the real example. Jesus is who you are carving. But don’t imagine that you can chisel the nouns of Scripture without mistake because some of the nouns of faith are also words like sin, hurt, harm, “I’m, sorry,” even unbelief. The Apostle Paul will, earlier in our passage, will chisel this remark as an example of God’s amazing grace: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” So to chisel the nouns of Scripture on yourself is also to remember that the love of God turns our failures into something beautiful. In the end, never forget that while you chisel, God is chiseling you. God is making an example of you and God loves broken statues. And sometimes the best example is the chiseled image of a sinner in the hands of a loving God. The most beautiful image is the one that revels in its own imperfections. So sometimes the best example you can offer is not never sinning or making mistakes but what you do after.
Go public.
Faith for Paul is a public thing – it involves reading things aloud, talking with others, and receiving gifts from a community that prays for you, that lovingly lays hands on you. The church has not always done that well and so I can imagine speaking of faith as public might conjure all kinds of nonsense in your minds but don’t let bad examples deter you. Be the good example and remember that faith that goes public helped end slavery and promoted civil rights. Faith that goes public helped bring about the suffrage movement so that women could vote. Faith always demands a community and is mindful of an audience.
Going public is always remembering that a life of faith is never a solitude journey or solo adventure. In our passage Paul speaks about the “public reading of Scripture” and the gift given Timothy through the laying of hands. In fact, the whole notion of example is first and foremost for other believers. So don’t neglect to maintain a community of faith because that publicity will kindle your faith when it feels hard.
There’s a story of a rabbi who goes to visit a prominent person who has dropped out of the community. The man isn’t a bad person; he just doesn’t see the need for himself to remain involved and engaged. There’s a roaring fire in the fireplace, and for a while the two simply sit and look at the fire. Then, the rabbi takes the poker and pushes a burning ember out of the fire onto the stone floor. The ember starts to lose its heat and its bright red color. Soon, it’s about to go out. But then, the rabbi uses the poker to push the ember back into the fire. The fire gets bigger and stronger, and the ember begins to glow again. Suddenly, that person who had pulled away from the community understands: he is the ember. When a person removes himself from the community, not only does the community lose some of its strength, so does that person. Faith needs the fire of other believers.
But faith isn’t simply the public of an insular community. It’s also an audience in need. The Apostle Paul says to follow this public way for both your own healing but also the healing of others in vs. 16.
Every Christmas the founder of The Salvation Army, General William Booth, looked forward to addressing the crowd at the Army's annual convention. But on Christmas in 1910, his health was poor and he knew he would not be able to attend the convention in person. When the thousands in attendance were told that he would not be present, a wave of sadness and disappointment swept over the crowd. General Booth's speech was the highlight of the event and something everyone looked forward to. However, Booth had sent a telegram to be read instead. As the moderator opened the telegram the thousands waited in anticipation to hear his message. His telegram was then read aloud to the crowd. It contained one word: Others! That was it. But one word was all that was needed.
Chisel that word on your life. Chisel it on your hands and feet. Chisel kindness, compassion, extravagant expressions of love. Be the graffiti of God’s love in public spaces. Go and make your mistakes, mindful that the love of God is greater. Don’t wait – pick up hammer, grab a chisel, and give the world a whack!
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