You see, Pentecost was in some ways the start of the disciples beginning to go their separate ways in the Lord as the Holy Spirit directed them. For a bit the book of Acts tells us that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. But eventually one or two of them would move out and head in one direction while others went in other directions as the Spirit of the Lord led them. And when they did they must have had some kind of fear and trepidation of the places we read about today: the land of the Parthians, the Medes, the Elamites, the Mesopotamians – Cappadocia, Pontius, Phyrigia and all the rest. Some of these people didn’t speak the same language, although the Lord seemed to take care of that problem in today’s text from Acts. Some of these people lived in areas where these first disciples had never been. History tells us that Thomas the disciple made it all the way to India and you can be fairly certain that he had never been there before. Some of these people were not the most friendly on earth. Even in New Testament times Arabians were noted for their occasionally violent ways. Some people would be just as skeptical of the message they brought as were some in Jerusalem that day who merely thought the apostles were drunk and filled with new wine. It must have been exciting. It must have been intimidating; perhaps even frightening.

Have you ever had your life change like this? God has charted a new course for your life to take. It may involve a relocation, even to another country. It may involve new people. Life in the Lord’s hands may send you off to a place you never thought you would ever go. I know a lot of people who have gone through this kind of change; I have too. In fact, this week I was thinking of a hypothetical situation. It is the season for graduations. As I thought about this message today I envisioned a hypothetical child out there. Let’s call this child "Danielle" She has just graduated from a hypothetical college. Let’s call it "Plimpton State University." You can imagine the joy and the celebration of the graduation. Students on graduation day hugged each other; the days of learning in the classroom were now over. The final test had been taken. The excitement of the day was upon them. Yet then came that moment when it all was over and the journey beckoned them. Time to move on. Time to say goodbye, perhaps for the last time to some of your fellow learners. You’re not sure about everything to come. "What now? What now?"

The Lord Jesus has some words of comfort to that hypothetical graduate named "Danielle". He has some words for all of us who ever had stood at the precipice of life’s journey or the dawn of a change in life that can make us tingle and at the same time can make us shudder. And the message is as follows.

It is always God the Holy Spirit who leads you in your life. God said in His word: "I know the plans I have for you, plans for goodness and not for evil to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 A wise member at the Monday Night Bible Study this week reminded us all that when you are led by God the Holy Spirit life always turns out OK even if it takes detours we do not expect.

It is not exactly like the situation of a man who started a new diet. He decided to finally take things into his own hands and he committed to driving by McDonalds and Burger King and all the sources of temptation for him. But one morning he accidentally drove by the bakery; and when he did he saw in the window a pile of glazed donuts waiting there. And he felt it was no accident that this had happened. So he prayed, "Oh Lord, it’s up to you, if you want me to have a donut, then create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery." And as he later told what happened. "Sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was!" God the Holy Spirit leads us when we allow Him to do so. But so often we want control back of our lives. But the truth of Pentecost still remains that when our feet move out into a new adventure of life it is God the Holy Spirit who points the way. He will always lead you as you trust in Him.

And when we go out into the world we do it as a the most unique people on earth. Some people go out and say, "I am a doctor. I am a teacher. My calling in life is to be a laborer. I want to devote my life to defending my country and so I have joined the military." And each of those callings is noble and is given us by the Lord. Martin Luther once wrote that even the most menial task in life if it is done for the Lord is a wonderful calling. You could be a King or a Milkmaid; each calling had its wonderful place. But that does not define you. Something else does and we forget it. It is the lesson of Pentecost we need to hear again.

It says that above all when we go out into the world we go out as Christians. We go out as a representative of Jesus Christ. That is the greatest calling you have in life. That is what these disciples of Acts 2 were all about. Most of them by profession were fishermen. Some of them had lives in other areas before they came to know Jesus Christ. And we do know that Peter and the others did occasionally fish and do the things they needed to do to make a living. St. Paul tells us that by trade he was a tentmaker and in Acts he practiced that profession once in a while. But tentmaking did not define St. Paul – Jesus Christ did. Fishing did not define St. Peter – Jesus Christ did. You may have a wonderful job and a spectacular career. But that is not who you ultimately are. Jesus told you today that you have an intimate relationship with God that is the most important thing in your life. He also reminded you and me that not everyone in the world has it. There are those who have yet to "call upon the name of the Lord" and be saved as Acts reminds us today. Your greatest calling whatever you do in life and wherever you go in life is to be a Christian and a light in Jesus to those people.

Most people, most believers, and even most Pastors forget this fact because we are so comfortable and content in our Christian lives that we often take it all for granted. But if you want to be reminded of what a life without God is like then just look at our Genesis passage this morning from Genesis 11. It is the famous tower of Babel account. What you see there is a people who do not have the presence of God in their lives. The Lord was excluded from their day to day affairs; perhaps they even intended it to be that way – that when it came to building their city they didn’t need God or even dared to think of themselves as gods. Why were they building a tower in the first place? It was because they wanted to climb all the way to heaven all by themselves. They wanted to make their own name for themselves rather than live under the name of the Lord God. And they thought that in this way they would be immortal and always together and always a success with a history that would be remembered for all the ages.

But what happened from this arrogance and ambition was exactly the opposite. The Lord Himself knew that a life apart from Him is no life. Division and confusion came about. The people could not even understand one another anymore. Even the words they spoke could not be grasped. And this division has led to all the wars and disagreements that have plagued mankind since the Tower of Babel. And the great project of their ambition was left unfinished. Is that was you want for your life in the end? All your hopes and dreams unaccomplished and unfulfilled; surrounded by people who don’t understand you and so you scatter to all ends of the earth trying to find meaning and purpose out there somewhere?

St. John today tells you and me about a life in Jesus that is different. It is our Gospel reading this morning. And to that hypothetical graduate named "Danielle" and all the rest of us too I would like to offer you the alternative to Babel. It is the life that accompanies the journey the Holy Spirit sends you on.

First, it is a life surrounded by and immersed in God’s love. It is a life where we love God and His Son and the Father love us. And it is based upon the truth St. John spoken of in his New Testament Epistles when he wrote: "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:8-12 The Christian life is above all a life of God’s love.

But Jesus also reminded us that it is a life based in God’s Word. If you love God you cannot help but keep God’s Word. The saddest thing I find about the modern Church is that so many Christians do not act any differently in the way they live life than the pagan down the street. At times there does not seem to be any difference. And maybe that is because Christians today do not have a life centered in God’s Word. And Jesus could not have stressed this point more than when He said to us believers, "The word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me." The Christian life is centered in the Word of God.

A Christian is also aware all the time of God’s presence. There are moments for every believer when the feeling is not there and even believers are heard on occasion to ask God where He is. But Jesus reminded us that He and the Father come to us every day and make their home with us. St. John once wrote of the life of Jesus long ago: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) Now He says that He dwells within our hearts. We are His home and God feels "at home" with you. That is an awesome wonder to think about!

And as Jesus again reminded us that as the Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us and leads us He will bring us God’s peace. It is a peace that cannot be found in the world because the world cannot give what only God can give. It is the peace that Jesus made for us with the Father by His life, death, resurrection, ascension and reign in heaven.

It is pictured in the story of a six year old boy who one Saturday morning decided to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and a spoon and pulled a chair to the counter. He opened the cupboard, pulled out the heavy flour canister and spilled flour all over the floor. So he picked up some of the flower with his hands and put it in the bowl and with his hands mixed in a cup of milk and he threw in some sugar. By now he had made tracks with his shoes through the flour on the floor. While trying to figure out how to turn on the stove he saw the cat licking from the bowl of mix and when he reached to push her away he knocked the egg carton to the floor. He frantically knelt to pick up the mess but instead slipped in it and his pajamas became covered in the sticky white goo. Then he looked up and saw his father standing in the door. All he wanted to do was something good and he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming or even worse. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him and he got his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That’s how God deals with us. With all our messes Jesus says, "Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." He picks us up and loves us and forgives us even though our mess gets all over Him!

And He says to every believer, those on the journey and those just starting out, these hypothetical Danielle’s who are facing life after leaving the comfort and security of what they have known: "Rise, let us go from here!" He says that to you now to let you know that you don’t go out on the journey without Him. He didn’t say "Go"… He said, "Let us go!" And someday He will say those words to us when it is our turn to go to heaven. He’ll open the door and He’ll take our hand in His nail scarred one and He’ll say to you and me, "Rise, let us go from here."

Until then, it is an adventure. And you are not alone. And you have His presence. And You have His Word and you have His peace and you have His life and death as your own. And He goes with you, Christian child of God, wherever He calls you to go. What awesome things you will find in Him! Amen.