By Jerry Donovan, First United Methodist Church —
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things
not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 In the Bible's Letter to the Hebrews 11:1-3;
8-16, Abraham's faith and that of “the ancestors” is shown as actions
over time all leading in the same direction, even when the final
destination wasn't known or seemed impossible to reach. It's not a
heroic, once for all decision.
It's an ongoing commitment seeking a homeland, as the writer puts it,
day by day, year by year, as part of the very fabric of their lives.
That means faith is something that happens in the real world of our
actual lives.
It also means that faith isn't something that happens the way “the
world” typically depicts it as some rash, “heroic” decision that changes
everything from that moment onOur faith is constantly tested in the
world we live in. Having faith in God is not an easy thing in our own
lives because we have learned that we need to be in control.
Today, people have fallen into the devil's trap much like Adam and
Eve did in God's garden before sin existed. They were tricked then and
we are being tricked now into believing that we can decide and control
our own future and destiny and “BE JUST LIKE GOD.” Let me ask you this;
where do you put your faith; in your money and yourself or in God? A
person can't serve two masters because eventually they will love one and
hate the other.
I have heard many times about leaving a legacy to our family after we
die so that we can have peace of mind. It's about having a comfortable
life style and leaving money to our children and grandchildren to enrich
their lives.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived their lives in a tent and were nomads
in the land of the Canaanites. Compare their legacy of faith that they
left to those who followed with the wealthy Romans, Jews, and Gentiles
of Jesus' day. Who left a legacy that stands the test of time? What is
your legacy? How will you be remembered? Will your life have made a
difference in the world?
