Between The Already and The Not Yet
(Read Ezekiel 37 and Hebrews 11)
“Nothing works unless God is part of it,” he told me. “It connected me through my faith life and gave me a sense of belonging.” A friend of the family spoke with me this week about his life, his faith, his highs, and lows. This guy can quote scripture like I can baseball stats of my favorite players. More importantly, he knows how God’s words fit into his life.
(J) was the leader of my son’s mission team from a now defunct ministry called CTI (Carpenter’s Tools International). CTI’s main mission was to send people around the U.S and to foreign countries to spread the message of the gospel through music. “Music really ministers to people,” (J) added. “Music speaks to people in a deeper way, it connects them.”
I remember first meeting him when we hosted the team at our house one cold week in March. That experience was a true revelation to me. I was so moved by the commitment and passion of these young adults in their mission, not to mention how incredibly talented they all were musically. We had many conversations about music, Jesus, family, hopes, and dreams. They led our church service that Sunday morning and ended the day with testimonies and a concert. (J) was the oldest and the main van driver. He played lead guitar and sang backup vocals even though his voice was a perfectly adequate brand of southern smooth.
“I was studying to be an Engineer. I grew up in a traditional Lutheran church, and in my sophomore year in high school I attended church camp. At that time, I decided to give my life to Jesus.” I love hearing these moments from people. Some have no clear benchmark they can point to while others can detail what they were doing, the exact location, and time. This was something he wanted to do, it wasn’t peer pressure. He wasn’t going along for the ride. “It was a conscious decision,” he said.
Mozambique
While a junior in college, he joined a CTI summer team. They were sent to the African country of Mozambique. “I became immersed in the ministry. The local community was great. Mozambique was a truly formative experience that had a giant impact on me and my life.” This fascinated me. I asked if he could recall anything that jumped out from the mission. “The camp was really close to the Indian Ocean,” he described. “Electricity was fed by generators, so at night, there was nothing. I looked up and saw so many stars, I had never seen so many in one place — it was so serene. It’s the first place in my life I was captivated by the beauty of creation.”
Studying engineering in college, wasn’t doing it for him. He opened up, “I had gotten out of a bad relationship. I struggled with a sense of belonging.” It was during his senior year in college, he considered a year-long mission trip. If you have ever talked with someone on a mission, they are some of the most engaging and interesting people you will ever meet. They have such intentionality to who they are, where they are, and where they’re going. They’re purpose comes through their surrender to God’s calling. (J) said, “I was actually a disciple through the music that connected with people and God was glorified through it.” At the end of every year-long mission, they would have a farewell concert. (J) continued, “We kind of randomly created this musical transition, blending David Crowder’s ‘Shine’ with Natalie Grant’s ‘Your Great Name.’ It was supernatural.” I wasn’t as familiar with “Shine” but after listening to it, I was blown away by the potential glory and power of the blend. It reminded me that often the sum of the parts is superior to the parts themselves. It also reminded me that nothing is random.
More Transitions
“As a leader, I learned to appreciate what a leading role means. It was difficult when CTI ended.” Our son had a similar experience after his year-long mission. You can never be the same person after serving Christ for a year. “I was shocked when I got home. I couldn’t really share or relate it with my family and friends at home. The transition was hard.”
After CTI, (J) attended and graduated with a degree from a regional Seminary. “I was struggling with behaviors. God was and is working on this,” he admitted.
I asked (J) how he navigates through the low valleys in his life. “I used journaling. I journaled as a prayer, not in the traditional sense. It was like a letter to God.” The way this guy talks and thinks, I would love to see this letter! (J)’s intelligence matches his ability to communicate. He cited Ezekiel 37 to me as one of his references for hope.
(J) explained, “The way I am isn’t the way I was destined to be. God won’t allow anything less. Dry bones. We were dead. God looked at us. God didn’t challenge that view, He will open graves.”
‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 37:4-6
God’s breath in restored bones means much more than the breath of human life. It meant the Spirit of the living God. Seeing the completed work of Jesus, we now have all the reasons we need to cling to our faith in Christ and not let discouragement defeat us. In his own life, (J) pointed out that even with all God’s promises and words about what He can do, “He alone has the power to do things he says he will do.” That’s hope!
Onward and Upward
The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought all kinds of changes on our earthly world. No matter where you stand in terms of vaccinations and real vs. perceived threat of the virus, there is no denying some of the emotional hardships that have developed. This period of time has been especially difficult for people already struggling with connection issues. “I’ve been dealing with loneliness, personal struggles, and isolation. God has more for me,” (J) shared. One night, while driving home after life group, crying, feeling alone, he heard God talking to him. “God said He would bring forth what I need.” Wow.
(J) joined Celebrate Recovery (a Christian 12-step recovery program) to help him with his behavior patterns. “I am friends with men and women and I’m so much more self-confident than I was.”
On several occasions, (J) mentioned the life-giving hope that Hebrews 11 also provides him. In Hebrews, the writer is reminding people following Jesus whose lives have gotten difficult, that in faith, there is a source of light to seek.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
Hebrews 11:1-2
Many people look at faith as something that requires a positive mental attitude. Something to just believe and it will happen. Faith is a conclusion. It is trust in God, God’s promises, and then backing it up by how we live. (J) said so eloquently, “In Him, there won’t be doubt and shame anymore. He is preparing a city.”
The writer of Hebrews mentioned the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Rahab.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
Hebrews 11:13
We dug deeper into this chapter. “All of them were commended,” (J) said. “You keep your eyes on God. Despite all of our stumbling, God is always more; more patient, more gracious, and more loving than we hope He will be. He not only talks about renewal and has it in His word, He actually does it.”
Talking with People About God
(J) is such an articulate communicator. This world has much to learn from him. He explains the Gospel so genuinely and authentically. I see this beautiful disciple in him that I’m not sure he recognizes. I was really curious if he’d had any pivotal interactions with non-believers. “I had a conversation with a co-worker who was going through hard times. She used to attend church as a kid but is not a believer. After listening, I suggested that she could always go back to church.” He told me that it was half tongue-in-cheek. (J) added, “People are hesitant about asking God to show up, because He just might. Jesus didn’t just sweep up one room.”
Faith is a Response to God’s Revelation
“So, what is your church life like now?” I asked.
“I teach adult Sunday school classes. One church leader told me he’s glad I’m teaching, because he feels I’m knowledgeable about the Word and I’m much younger than the other teachers.” I love my life group, the terrific conversations, and what I can contribute,” he concluded.
God sought us when we were strangers to Him. When we were His enemy, He reconciled us to Him. Through our conversation, (J) reminded me that since God has not withheld Jesus Christ from us, He promises us more than we can ever imagine.
If you haven’t gotten the idea yet, I’ve always been moved by (J) as a man. I’m even more awed by the Holy Spirit working through him. He’s a better man than he gives himself credit for. He knows that he’s still not the best version of himself yet but that God is still working.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40
Key Applications:
- How does the example of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Rahab encourage you to show and share your faith? How can you use their examples to keep your eyes fixed on God?
- Pray about your struggles. You don’t have to share them with anyone except God. He already knows anyway. Unload your burdens to Him. He won’t promise you a quick fix or a lengthy resolution. He will promise that He is with you through the entire journey. He will promise that there is a better version of you, a perfect version of you in the making. With each day you place your trust in God, you are one step closer to that goal.
- Read Hebrews 11. Do you see perseverance? In your mind, how does this point to Jesus Christ? When you pray, remember that Faith requires a response — like when Noah listened and obeyed God in building an ark; Faith is persistent — Moses led his people in the desert for 40 years to get to the land of Canaan; and Faith is dependent —apart from the promise of the perfect Savior who is the only One who can save us.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.