In the middle of the night in a small farming community, the two-story house of a young family caught fire. Quickly everyone made their way through the smoke-filled house out to the front yard. Everyone except a five-year-old boy. The father looked up to the boy’s room and saw his son crying at the window, rubbing his eyes.
The house was aflame. The father knew better than to run in and ascend the stairs. So, he yelled, “Son, jump! I’ll catch you!” Between sobs, the boy responded to the voice he knew so well. “But I can’t see you.”
The father answered with a commanding presence. “No, Son, you can’t. But I can see you!” The boy jumped. He fell into the safety of his father’s arms.
Was this boy faithful? Absolutely. How did he display his faith? In a living hope that his father would catch him, even though he could not be seen. He stepped out into nothingness, as far as he could tell.
Faith in God is belief that He is real and present, even though He cannot be seen by our eyes. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)” Stepping out into nothing, by definition – faith is reliance upon what (or better yet, whom) we cannot see.
I hope you know that God became incarnate in Jesus to save you. I hope you are nurtured by His Word of life. I hope the Holy Spirit leads you to cross paths with someone who is hurting and lost. I hope you are surprised that you felt no reservation in sharing the hope you have in Jesus. And, of utmost importance, I hope you see how God chooses to do the impossible through very improbable people like you and me – to His glory.
Are we jumping out into nothingness? No. Is God testing our faith? Absolutely. He always does. By faith, Noah believed that God was going to bring a flood. By faith, Abraham, believed his descendants would be like stars in the sky. By faith, Sarah believed she would be a mother in her old age. All these saints went before us “not receiving the things promised…but greeted them from afar…acknowledging they were strangers and exiles on earth. (Hebrews 11:13)”
Then, when God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully. Because two things can happen. Either He will catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly.
And yes, we’re good at falling. We mess up. We stumble. We fail. But, “…He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)” Your Lord Jesus is present to catch you when you fall – always. He’s always present to forgive you. And, the Holy Spirit is always present – in that you can fly with courage, peace, and joy.
And, like Abraham, look forward “to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10)”
Abraham was a nomad. All of his life was spent living in a tent. Many did this as a summer venture. It has some appeal. The fresh air. Smores around the fire. Without street lights, looking up into a star filled galaxy. But, if this is how you always lived, out in the wind and the rain and the mosquitoes, there would be a longing for a permanent solid home, with a screen on your window.
We are but travellers upon this earth, strangers and aliens really, in a foreign land. This is not our permanent home. And, when the time comes, there will be a willingness to jump out of it, and into, the heavenly home prepared for us by our Savior. He is our hope. He is our present joy. He is our promise keeper. All in the faith worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to you Lord Jesus. •
— Pastor Neil Stern
Grace Lutheran Church, Edmonton AB