Faith Beyond Sight: Embracing the Promise
Have any of you ever seen the Angel Oak in Charleston, South Carolina? It is 65 feet high, has a circumference of 25 and a half feet, and shades 17,000 square feet. Its roots grow deep into the earth, while its branches stretch towards the heavens. Thought to be three to four hundred years old, this oak is a silent witness to centuries of change, its resilience a testament not to the visible strength of its trunk and branches, but to the unseen depth of its roots. Similarly, our faith journey, especially during the reflective season of Lent, calls us to anchor our trust not in what we see but in the eternal promises of God, as exemplified in Romans 4:13-25.
Paul’s letter to the Romans is a call to a faith that defies human logic and sight. In Romans 4, Paul recounts the story of Abraham, a narrative not just of historical significance but one that holds deep relevance to each of us today. Abraham’s journey was marked not by unerring certainty but by a faith that looked beyond the visible. It is this ‘faith beyond sight’ that forms the core of the message today, inviting us to explore the depth of trust Abraham had in God’s promises, even when everything that was happening around him seemed to contradict them.
Lent is a season of introspection and spiritual renewal, a period where we should be reflecting on our personal walk with Christ. It challenges us to consider the foundation of our faith: Is it built on the shifting sands of human assurance, or is it rooted in the unshakeable promises of God? The faith Abraham showed is a reminder to us of the power of believing in what we cannot see and the transformative impact this belief can have on our lives.
Abraham’s story is an invitation to journey through Lent with a renewed perspective on faith. It beckons us to look beyond our current circumstances and to trust in God’s promises even when we can’t see the path ahead. This message is vital in today’s world, where uncertainty often clouds our vision, and fear can overshadow our faith. Yet, like the angel oak, our strength lies not in what is visible but in the depth of our trust in God’s word.
