September 29, 2019 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

This I Know…

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
    and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
    My heart faints within me!

(ESV, Job 19:25-27)

This week, young Greta Thunberg made worldwide headlines with a passionate speech to world leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit saying: "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean… You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words [on environmental policies].”  Growing sentiments such as these have allowed for the development of a new term – ‘eco-anxiety’ and given credence to Chicken Little’s famous last words.

While it is not my intention to discuss environmental perspectives, I did want to highlight the fear of (un)certainty.  As children of God, there are many uncertainties in life but there are two assurances: (1) that death visits us all, and (2) that in life or death, we belong to God.  Therefore, we can truly live (not in fear of tomorrow) but with the assurance that tomorrow brings us closer to God’s presence.  For Job, who had experienced many highs and incredible lows in life, this fundamental truth helped him navigate the uncertainties of life.

How do the uncertainties of your life affect your Christian faith?  Does it drive you to hopelessness and despair or does it motivate you to seek God’s face?  As you read this, may you be encouraged with this truth, that in all life’s circumstances “know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”  He lives and is waiting for you, (amidst the pain of yesterday and the troubles of tomorrow) how will you step out in faith and meet him today?