I always love attending the three chapel services that we have each week. At the middle school chapel last week, Bible teacher and chaplain, Cristian Pana, spoke about “fact, faith, and feelings.” He reminded us that Christianity is based on facts – of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. He then went on to tell us that our faith is based on these facts, and that our feelings will follow our faith. Middle school is such a time of emotions that his words were a great reminder to the students that even when we can’t trust what we are feeling on any particular day, we can trust God’s promises to us.
In an article by Ney Bailey called “Faith is Not a Feeling,” he defines faith as “taking God at His Word.” In Hebrews 11, the chapter usually known as “Faith’s Hall of Fame,” God lists numerous believers who had demonstrated a deep faith in God. Two of those mentioned that we would recognize are Noah and Abraham. God told Noah to build an ark when the world didn’t even know what rain was. Because of his faith, he and his family were saved from death. Abraham was asked to leave his homeland, not knowing where he was to go. Later, he was asked to offer up his son, Isaac, who was to be the means by which he would become the father of many nations. He obeyed, and God provided a substitute ram.
So what does this mean for me and you? Sometimes our emotions lead us to believe that God doesn’t love us or that He doesn’t care about us. This is so untrue. Sometimes when I feel discouraged, I reflect on all that I have received when I accepted Christ as my Savior. The Bible is full of God’s promises to us. Here is just a partial list of what we gain by becoming a Christian:
• We are forgiven of our sins (Luke 7:48)
• We are given eternal life (John 10:28)
• We are adopted into the family of God as God’s children (Galatians 4:5)
• We receive Heavenly citizenship (Ephesians 2:19)
• We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• We are baptized into the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13)
• We have peace with God (Philippians 4:7)
• We have a mansion prepared for us in Heaven (John 14:2)
And the one promise that I often cling to when I find myself unhappy with my circumstances is the promise that we are “seated with Christ in Heavenly places.” I encourage you to read Ephesians chapter 2 this weekend. We are reminded here that even while we were sinners, God reached out to us because of His great mercy and love. He extended His grace to us so that we are saved and seated with His own Son, Christ Jesus. So while I may be seated at my desk typing this, I am really seated in the Heavenlies. That is my position in Christ. This sure puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it? I wish you all a most blessed weekend.
Because of His Faithfulness,
Sharon Brobst, Ed.D.
Director