An Encouraging Word: Trailblazers of faith and thanks
We all have faith in something or in someone. Even those who do not believe in God have faith in what God provides: the air we breathe; the rising of the sun; springtime and harvest.
But it’s particularly hard to maintain faith when we have been let down. Who hoped that this would be the year that the Detroit Lions would have a winning season? Who hoped that this year’s election process would be civil?
This past week we celebrated Halloween. Before anyone complains about its emphasis on evil and death, let’s recall the origin of the holiday. Halloween is a condensed word for “All Hallows Eve.” It is the day before All Saints Day on Nov. 1. The Roman Catholic Church set that day aside to remember those who were sainted by the church.
But way back in the fourth century, the early church held feasts to remember Christians who had been martyred. That precedent was set even earlier by the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews. Hebrews 11 paints a picture of the Old Testament’s trailblazers of faith.
Against all human odds, these people committed themselves to the only One who could see them through: God. We need to do the same. We can give thanks for their examples of how faith is the basis of hope. This is stated at the very beginning of this passage: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Because of their strong faith, our spiritual ancestors received a good report from God.
It is only through faith that we understand anything about this world, which was framed by God.
None of the universe was created by happenchance. Everything we see — and even what is being discovered by current space exploration — attests to a master plan.
The other day I came across my uncle’s watch. Except for an occasional new car, it was probably the most expensive personal item he ever bought. In 1971, Uncle Bob was wearing that watch when he died while driving. The car crashed; the driver’s door was torn off; he was ejected; and his watch was flung off his wrist.
The next day my other uncles stopped at the crash scene. One of them found Bob’s watch, many yards from where the car came to a stop. Because I was traveling with Bob when he died, my Dad and my uncles gave it to me.
It is a self-winding watch. I wore it for a number of years, but eventually set it aside when I supposedly updated to a more modern battery-powered watch. Uncle Bob’s watch was placed in a watch box, which was placed in a basket, which eventually went to the garage.
After decades of being stored, I rediscovered that watch. I gave it a good shake, and the second hand once again started sweeping the dial! Why do I tell this story? My uncle’s watch started to run because it has a design; it has a designer. There is no happenchance about it. Neither is there any in our lives or in this world.
The lives of the men and women in Hebrews 11 remind us of the importance of faith. They endured. But that kind of faith is not natural. Human nature does not change. For many, faith is misdirected, focusing on people or things that cannot satisfy.
It is important to note that Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Faith is our basis of hope! In a world that increasingly grows dark and is full of despair, it’s time for us — today’s believers — to be today’s trailblazers; to point people to God; to practice and live our thanks!
Tom Cash is the senior minister at First Church of Christ in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: An Encouraging Word: Trailblazers of faith and thanks
