"A Vision From Isaiah and Jimmy Buffet"

A sermon preached during The Third Week of Advent at our Lessons, Carols, Communion and Candlelight service on Thursday, December 20 at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Isaiah 35:1-10.

Now, I would never claim to be a "Parrothead" – which is the term used to describe a person who is a big fan of Jimmy Buffet’s, but I do, from time to time, enjoy listening to his music and songs. One song in particular came to mind when reading these words from the 35th chapter of Isaiah. The song, "Volcano." Perhaps some of you are familiar with that song, I want to share with you some of the lyrics to the song:

"Ground she's movin' under me

Tidal waves out on the sea,

Sulphur smoke up in the sky

Pretty soon we learn to fly

Let me hear ya now.
I don't know, I don't know,

I don't know where I'm a-gonna go

When the volcano blows."

Usually when we see a volcano it is surrounded by a beautiful setting. Some might refer to it as paradise, but after the eruption of a volcano that scene changes drastically – suddenly, what you are left with is devastation, and destruction and death. I can imagine that the Israelites might have had some questions about the promised land – their paradise, if you will, and the volcanoes that had seemed to erupt all around them as a result of their captivity. As Israel looked around, the picture they had to view was no longer a land flowing with milk and honey – no longer a paradise, but a land covered in the black soot of war and the destruction of captivity. The promise of Scripture though, is that God doesn’t leave us in the blackness of soot, and death and destruction. Rather, God comes to us! That’s the blessed reminder of Advent! Emmanuel - God with us!
Learning more about volcanoes helped me to understand this quality about God. You see, as I did a little research about volcanoes, I found out that the black soot that is a result of the lava spewing from the volcano – that destroys everything in its path does eventually change into a paradise. Somehow in God’s creativity, God provides a way for that which is unproductive to become productive again. Somehow, after the lava from a volcano has hardened to where it seems as if nothing could ever grow there again, mysteriously, nitrogen in the air is absorbed and, over a long period of time, the molten lava becomes fertile soil in which vegetation can grow and thrive. The volcano that had been the picture of destruction will eventually help to produce a paradise where everything is productive once more.
This process teaches us something about the nature and goodness of God. The Bible reminds us again and again that God can and does create and find newness of life amid that which has been destroyed. In our passage this evening, God wasn’t finished with the work God began in the Israelites and, here in our Scripture Lesson, Isaiah begins to outline the reversal of the sad state of Israel. Isaiah does so by suggesting that the approaching glory of the Lord is literally bursting into life. Isaiah says, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom." The prophet continues by suggesting that all of those who are considered lowly in this life will be restored to wholeness. And, you know, friends, that’s the good news of our faith, isn’t it? From that which has been dry, springs of living water will break forth, and there will be new life! Isaiah envisions that day when there will be no more sorrow and sighing, for joy and gladness will break forth and the redeemed will walk on the highway called the "Holy Way." Advent invites us to envision what Isaiah envisioned and what God envisions for our world and to be partakers in that vision - to be those who work to bring such a vision to reality.
These words from Isaiah define the gospel. We only have to turn to the New Testament to see the difference Jesus made in the lives of those whom he encountered. Truly the blind did see, and the deaf did hear and those who were lame were able to leap like deer. Even the dead received new life. Whatever the deepest need people had, they found that need satisfied and met in Jesus. And certainly the same is true for our own lives. We, who were once spiritually blind and deaf, now see and hear good news of God’s love and grace. We, who were once crippled, and lame and paralyzed by sin have been set free and healed by Jesus. We, who were once spiritually dry and barren as a desert, now have the spring of Living Water flowing through us. Isaiah reminds us that we too can sing a new song, a song of victory, a song of deliverance, and that we need to become instruments of healing and new life to those around us. Yes! That involves getting out of our pews and going out into a dark, cold, lonely and dying world. Yes, it is challening - it is difficult, but it is our calling. That’s where the church has desperately failed. We expect the lost and lonely, the forsaken and broken, the hurting and dying to come to us. But we must go to them. That is what our God has done! Advent is the reminder that God has come to us - God is with us - Emmanuel!
God is a God of new life and new beginnings. God brings light into the darkness and life into that which was once death, dry and barren. God can change the destruction and devastation and death that is brought about by volcanoes into a paradise. Perhaps that’s why Jimmy Buffet is so loved and adorned by millions, because he sings songs about life - about food and drink, paradise, and parties. And so does Isaiah. May we embrace this vision and celebrate that God is the God who can make a paradise out of the destruction and devastation of a volcano! For this is what God has done and continues to do with our very lives and this is what God will do with our world.