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A recent guest to MCC San Diego was Rev. Elder Don Eastman, former vice moderator of our denomination, consultant and longtime friend of our church. He imparted some ideas to us on finding joy, having a vision and the advantages of adversity and persistence which I think speak to all people of faith, and that I am happy to share. This concludes his remarks begun in my previous article.
On a journey of faith there are always times when you will be dwelling in the realms of doubt.
The journey will be uncertain; Abraham and Sarah “set out for a land not knowing where they were going”
There will be times of unexpected adversity. Within three days of the miracle at the Red Sea the Israelites came to a place where the water was too bitter to drink. They would encounter adversity again and again on their journey to the Promised Land
There will be times of complaining and conflict among God’s people. Not everyone will be excited or happy about the vision
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness sometimes even the miracles were not enough for some of them to trust in God’s promise. When they did not have food God supplied them every morning with a sticky sweet substance that tasted like cakes baked with oil. They called it “manna” which was the Hebrew word meaning “what is it?” Well, some of them were not happy with the daily diet of “what is it?” Within a month of leaving Egypt an angry mob confronted Moses. They were complaining, “If we were back in Egypt we could have free fish, and we would have onions and melons, and cucumbers and garlic.” Some of them were ready to go back to Egypt for a kosher pickle. This pattern of murmuring and complaining would be repeated many times on their journey through the wilderness.
I’ve seen the same thing happen in churches. Not everyone gets excited about a great vision for a better future. People who do not want change are often willing to become part of a “Back to Egypt Committee.” “We like our church just the way it is.” It’s the comfort zone of the status quo. Their idea for the future is a better yesterday.
Adversity can come in many forms. Unfortunate circumstances, personal tragedies, financial problems, broken relationships, natural disasters, complaining people; and the list goes on.
But adversity is not the end of the story. God’s purposes and promises are your destiny. Here is the great truth about adversity: God is with us in adversity. God will bring you through it! The experience of adversity can make you stronger. From the crossing of the Red Sea to the crossing of the Jordan River the people of Israel were shaped and strengthened by the times of adversity. What makes us stronger is how God meets us and sustains us in times of adversity and brings us through.
Vision always takes you into the dimension of things called impossible. Think again about Abraham and Sarah.
Hebrews 11 says, “Therefore, from Abraham and Sarah, who were as good as dead, descendents were born, as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable sands by the seashore.”
God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah was that they would have many descendents in whom all the families of the Earth would be blessed. When they first said yes to the promise and purpose of God Abraham was 75 years old. Sarah was 65 and she was barren. They were childless. But God said, “I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing.” The fulfillment of that promise and purpose required and guaranteed that they would have children. By every human measure it was impossible. But they trusted God and acted as though the promise was true. That was their first step of faith. Every journey of faith begins with a step of faith by saying yes to a promise and purpose that seems impossible.
Abraham and Sarah continued to follow God faithfully year after year even though the promise for a child remained unfulfilled. You can read their full story in Genesis 12 through 21. When Abraham is 99 years old three men appear before him at the entrance to his tent. One of the men is the voice of God and informs Abraham that Sarah will soon conceive the promised child. Sarah is inside the tent listening to the conversation. She starts laughing. The voice of God says, why is Sarah laughing? Sarah says, I wasn’t laughing. God says oh yes you were laughing. One translation of this passage says that Sarah was saying, “At this old age of 90 I am beyond the ability to have children anymore, and Abraham is so old he isn’t even interested in trying.”
Well, obviously they did try. Later that year Isaac was born. The impossible promise came true. The vision became a reality. God’s purpose was fulfilled through their faith and their faithfulness.
Faith does not become faith until it encounters hopelessness. Faith always takes the long view. When you reach a place of hopelessness, don’t give up! Never lose sight of God’s promise and purpose for you. Never lose hope for the promise to come true. Never lose commitment to the purpose of your calling. Never give up!
We have not reached the destination. We have not arrived yet. We are not finished. God is still calling us to a destiny where we will be blessed and many others will be blessed through us.
Today, when we say yes to God’s promises and purposes, God looks upon you and says as was said of Abraham and Sarah, “I am not ashamed to be called your God.”
For each of you and for all of you together I offer this blessing:
May you catch a vision of God’s purposes and promises for your life
As you say yes to God, may your life be filled with joy and may you discover day by day that the joy of our God is your strength
And I echo for you the blessing of Moses on the people of God ready to enter the Promised Land, “As are your days, so shall your strength be.”
