‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen.’ Hebrews 11:1
Good isn’t it? I am glad that God chose people who could put such meaningful summaries together in the Bible. In a former life I used to have a large picture on a wall in my office, facing my desk. The picture had a somewhat bemused, large long necked bird – eyes almost popping out of its head – as a large monkey had both hands squeezing tight around its scrawny neck, clearly strangling it to death. Beneath was the caption which is my simplified version of Hebrews 11:
‘Never ever give up!’
Funny thing faith; it is best experienced in the midst of trauma or confusion. We get some good pictures of Jesus’ faith when all appear to be going well with him personally but others are a little confused. As a kid he was surprised that mum and dad were concerned about him when he was lost one time. He was a bit surprised that they didn’t know where to find him and said words along the line of, ‘didn’t you know I’d be about my Father’s business?’ Stuff didn’t faze him all that much. He was having a nap on the boat one night while all hell was breaking loose around him and again couldn’t quite see what all the fuss was about.
It is good to know that someone has a sense of control and certainty when everything around you is falling.
Of course Jesus knew many moments in his life that we would have cause to call a crisis of faith. At the very beginning of his ministry he was sent into the wilderness and there tested for forty days by the Devil. There were moments throughout his ministry where he was challenged by friend, family and enemies and of course at the end of his ministry we witness betrayal, injustice, brutality and death.
I’ve been thinking a lot about faith this past week or so. Sometimes you just have to keep doing the stuff even when nothing much is happening. Faith is about remembering that we serve an ‘audience of one’ and as I was reminded last night; we may not know the future, but we do know the one who holds the future. Faith is less about dreaming great dreams and more about just getting up every day and giving it another go, secure in the knowledge that we don’t walk the road alone, even if it seems quite lonely out there!
Coming back to Jesus – As I like to do – what were some key faith points that might help us out as we walk the road?
‘It is written.’ Jesus knew his Bible and when the enemy tried to knock him off the path he responded by ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”’ Lots of people will contort the words of God to suit their short term goals. We need to be Biblically literate enough not to be scared off by people who are in fact much more afraid than we are. We need to know what is written.
‘I have prayed for you Simon..’ As the whole darned plan seemed to be unravelling in front of the disciples, Jesus gave a word of prophecy and a word of eternal hope. My translation? ‘Simon, you’re really going to stuff up and when you do you will be so down on yourself that giving up will seem your best option. But I have prayed for you.’ Prayer – for him or for others – kept Jesus focused. The news gets better! Paul assures us that: ‘Who is it to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.’ Jesus still prays for us!
‘Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.’ At the point of abandonment and apparent defeat, Jesus had every reason to retreat inwards and begin the pity party. Instead, at the height of his pain and desolation he turned outward rather than in. As the cross of Christ is open and reaching out to all people, everywhere; so the crucified Christ reminds us that in the midst of our pain and loss, there is yet hope.
‘Never ever give up!’
Cheers - John
No comments:
Post a Comment