B, Epiphany 6 - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "The Flying Ant"

Ants are fascinating little creatures. They can remind us a lot of ourselves; the things we do as individuals and as a community.

A little flying ant pushes its way through the steamy environment. She can't see where she's going or from where she's come. But she uses her senses to the best of her ability to work out where she is going. She cannot fly as the steam from the room weighs heavy on her wings. So she clings upside down to roof of the bathroom.

Where is this ant going? From where has it come? Watch the ant to see what will happen next, as it tries to figure out where it is, and how to get somewhere else.

But it goes nowhere. The steam from the shower melts its only means of knowing where to go. The steam however reveals from where it has come since the room has steamed up. The best the poor little flying critter can do is to walk upside down in circles on the ceiling in the dampness. See its lost circle in the moisture on the bathroom ceiling!

We humans have a tendency to do the same thing; we walk in confused lost circles; habitually, mentally, spiritually, and sometimes even physically. History has a tendency to repeat itself too; going in circles humanity finds themselves in the same situation, generation after generation. It's as if we're like the little ant unable to fly away or walk out of the circle of repetition in which we find ourselves.

Some might think humanity should be getting stronger and stronger as we grow and develop because of our problems. It's logical to think this way; but in reality it doesn't happen. History proves and reveals our repeated mistakes time and time again.

You'd think in generations and generations of ant culture, they would have superseded the problems that arise when their scent path is lost. After all flying ants have the freedom of wings. But in this case its freedom doesn't help it get out of its lost circle.

Similarly with us, we have freedom too. But to where does it get us? An example of our autonomy to demonstrate the problems of freedom, is, human transport.

When people first roamed the earth on foot, there was a desire to have more freedom. Instead of lumping one's load on one's back, wheels were stuck on carts to give people more freedom.

Then horses were put in front to make life easier again. After that horsepower was put into the front of the cart to go faster, to be freer. This horsepower was put on rails and into boats so massive loads of what we once had to carry on our back could be taken all over the world.

However, we looked at birds and desired their freedom and so we built flying machines to hold us, our loads, and to carry the horsepower to move the aircraft through the sky. But the freedom we sought throughout the ages came at a price.

When we walked we could nearly walk any direction we liked. But when we walked with wheels we had to find a path on which to walk, limiting our freedom. When horses came along we had to feed them so they could continue pulling the cart, we had to spend time breaking-in the animal, limiting its freedom, so it would submit to our freedom.

When we put the horsepower under the bonnet, we had to send others out to toil for iron ore, coal, and oil to build and fuel our freedom, so we can get stuck in gridlock on the freeways.

And in our freedom we fly, but only when the weather is favourable, bridled by air traffic control and other strict safety regulations.

So having been grounded and gridlocked in our freedom, we return to where we started, and walk. But not realising the freedom our feet give us, once again we wonder how we might have more freedom.

Aren't we doing what the flying ant did upside down on the ceiling of the bathroom? Walking in lost circles! It appears the more we seek freedom, the less freedom we actually have. Perhaps, the more something changes, the more it stays the same.

At a recent elders meeting, after I announce the acceptance of the call to Western Australia, one of the elders reflected, "It seems like we have to reinvent the wheel, every five years or so because our pastor always leaves."

Yes! You will have to go through the process once again of calling a minister, getting to know a minister, placing yourselves under his authority as a called and ordained servant of God and his Word. There will be repetition as this process once again begins.

However, know that as you wait for the next minister to come, you have been instructed in the things of God. You have been encouraged in his word to believe and receive the forgiveness of your sins. You have been encouraged to forgive each other as God has forgiven you. That together in Christ we have grown through our joys and sorrows together. Know that you have been encouraged to train yourselves in the straight paths of Christ.

As the wheel seems to be reinvented, as we circle on ground over which we've marched before, see that Christ is walking with you, calling you together as one people to follow him. So it is good for you and me to conform our ways to Christ! Saint Paul explains to his congregation at Corinth why...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor 9:24-27)

When a person trains to win a prize they change little in their routine. They make themselves slaves to a cycle. Not in a cycle that is lost or without direction, but one that results in them winning a prize.

So too with you; remain in what you know, in what you have been taught. Let Christ continually reinvent you through his death and resurrection as you circle in repetition of life. In the mistakes you make, in the blessings you receive, allow Christ's correction and forgiveness to mature you in him. As the next pastor comes place yourselves under him, encourage him to preach the law and the gospel, to expose your sin and to grant the grace of God, that forgives your folly and feeds the faith given to you at baptism.

Don't look for change, but look for consistency. Train yourselves to win the prize. Christ is the same; yesterday, today, and forever. The greatest change is happening in you when you remain in he who is the same. Disciple yourselves in the discipline of hearing God's word preached and receiving the mysteries of Jesus in the way he ordained. Believe it is the only way to win the prize - the salvation of your souls.

History repeats itself in all of you because of your sin. Generation after generation circles in the steaminess of its sinful nature. Like the flying ant that dropped from the ceiling and died, we too will circle in life to death. But unlike the flying ant, we have One who circles with us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

As your weariness wears you down, let Christ carry you. He is carrying you towards a crown that will last forever. So use your freedom in the faith with purpose, to fight the good fight of faith, to remain in Christ, his Word, his way - to forgive, to be forgiven, and to be feed on the food of faith, forever, Amen.