Hebrews 11:5-6
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped
death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because
God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that
before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God
apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must
believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to
those who seek him.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
When I was a child, the
Young Business Men’s Club (YBMC) held an Easter egg hunt each year in
our city park. Among what must have been thousands of dyed boiled eggs
were some “prize” eggs that could be redeemed for a baby chick – or a
live rabbit if you found a “gold” one! Little did my siblings and I know
that my mother had threatened those YBMC members within an inch of
their lives if any of us came home with a live animal! So we eagerly
picked up the colored eggs and hoped against hope that we would somehow
stumble onto one that could be redeemed for a prize…but we never found
one!
We firmly believed that it was possible for us to find the
prize egg. We knew that these bunnies and chicks existed…and we had
seen other children “win” them. So we forged ahead, confident that WE
could also find a golden egg. And while we were disappointed, we still
enjoyed the hunt. We were happy with what we got…and we spent the next
several days hiding and “finding” those eggs in our own yard. And we
did this year after year!
This is a loose analogy for today’s
scripture passage. But consider this…we cannot physically “see” God,
which is why it has been so hard for me to explain Him to little
children. They operate in the “tangible” world of
“I-find-a-prize-egg-and-you-give-me-the-chick-or-bunny!” But we are not
children…and life is not an Easter egg hunt.
At the core of
our Christian faith, we have to believe that God exists – and trust that
He will care for us just as He promised. We have to keep “hunting for
the eggs” and serving God in whatever capacity He
designates…understanding full well that the “prize” we seek may not be
something we can hold in our hands like a “golden egg.”
Our
“prize” is salvation through Jesus Christ…and the promise of Eternity
spent in His presence. And getting there may be bumpy – even rocky at
times. For some of us, every day will be something of a struggle in
some way. Does this mean God doesn’t love us and care about our
well-being or happiness? Absolutely not! In some ways, I believe that
God holds a special place in His heart for those who struggle, yet
continue to serve with a joyful, faith-filled attitude.
Let
today’s scripture passage soak into your soul. It is impossible to
please God without faith. You cannot serve Him and do His will if you
aren’t confident that He exists and will fulfill His promises. What do you
believe today? Who do you trust? Are you willing to continue to
“hunt” – and serve – even if you never get a tangible “prize” in this
earthly lifetime?
Do you truly believe that God exists…and that
He has great things in store for you? Isn’t it time you got a handle
on this, once and for all? Will this be the day you begin?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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