By The Rev. Marianne Nichols
In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah wants to give hope to the people as they experience suffering, so he explains how they will feel once God’s judgment has passed and they again live in righteousness.
After enduring hardship and allowing it to reshape them, they will be relieved and grateful for what God has accomplished to transform them. Their natural response will be to break out in praise to God!
Scripture says at least 360 times, “Do not fear.”
“Trust …,” says Isaiah, “trust.” The people of that time had only Isaiah’s words to guide them, but they trusted. They trusted in a God who was their strength and the source of all good in their lives. Their faith was rewarded, and they once again knew joy.
Today we have the Word of God as a reference tool. Hebrews 11 refers to a roll call of the faithful, from Abel to Samuel and the prophets.
Let’s try to do a visual here, if we can. The oval race track, the spectator stands … the passion and excitement of the crowd at a large sporting event.
But a little different spin on things … those spectators. Well, my goodness, there’s Sarah and Rahab clapping like crazy, Abraham, Moses and David shouting loud encouragement. It’s a race … an exciting race, the most exciting race ever witnessed on earth!
Look! It’s us! We are running it! As we run the race of our lives, these who have run before us are watching and cheering us on.
The coach! Oh, I love the coach! It’s Jesus! There’s no way we can’t win! Oh, Hallelujah!
Can you picture all that? What we are able to fathom is just a minute fraction of the power behind us. As we actively live out our faith, the historical record we have in God’s word cheers us on daily. It’s so simple. We just open the Bible and it’s all there. Everything we need to know … about God, about life, about ourselves. God will take us wherever we want to go.
Friends, the journey awaits.
The Rev. Marianne Nichols, a Hancock County resident, is pastor of Cambridge City First United Methodist Church and Milton United Methodist Church. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to [email protected].
