All Things New

            In Exodus 14, when the Israelites are at the Red Sea, they have no idea what is about to happen.  They see the Egyptian army on one side of them and the Red Sea on the other side, and they are afraid.  Then God steps in, parts the waters for them, and they walk through the sea on dry ground to the other side.  In spite of their fear, they experience the power of God for salvation.  But really, who can blame them for being afraid?  After all, God had never done this before.

            Much later, in the gospels, the disciples are full of sorrow and despair, and they, too, are afraid.  They have just witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, and they have no idea what is about to happen.  All they are able to see is that their hopes and dreams have come crashing down with the death of Jesus.  Then God steps in and raises Jesus from the dead, and he appears to them so many different times that they know beyond a doubt that he is alive and that he is the Messiah.  In spite of their confusion and fear, they experience the power of God for salvation.  But really, who can blame them for being afraid?  After all, God had never done this before.

            Still later, in the book of Acts, the disciples are challenged in their beliefs about the Gentiles.  They had always been taught not to enter the house of a Gentile or to eat with them.  However, then Peter has a vision and is called to the house of Cornelius, who is a Gentile (Acts 10).  Believing that God is directing him, Peter goes to Cornelius and shares the good news about Jesus with him and his household.  They believe Peter’s message, and as he is speaking the Holy Spirit is poured out on them.  Later, the other disciples are confused and afraid.  They don’t want to go against the teaching of their ancestors and associate with Gentiles.  However, in spite of their fear, they witness the power of God for salvation – even among the Gentiles.  But really, who can blame them for being afraid?  After all, God had never done this before.

            In our own time, the church is changing.  People are not coming to worship like they used to, and there is a general distrust of institutions.  There are whole generations that seem to be missing, and among those who do participate, often worshiping God and supporting the church is not a priority.  Many dedicated people are afraid and wonder what the future may hold.

            Are we going to experience, though, the power of God for salvation?  Is there something that God is about to do that God has never done before?  And what is God asking us to do in the midst of our fear?

            When we think about crossing the Red Sea, the people were asked to cultivate an inner stillness and to move forward into an unknown future.  They were also asked to pay attention to what God was about to do.

            As for the disciples after the death of Jesus, they continued to gather with each other and to pray, and it was in these gatherings that the risen Jesus often showed up.  They also waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had instructed them.

            When we think about the disciples grappling with whether and how the Gentiles were to be included, they paid attention to the Holy Spirit.  Peter paid attention to his vision.  Cornelius paid attention to the angel that visited him.  And all of them marveled at what God was doing when Peter shared with them what had happened.

            The power of God for salvation has not disappeared.  Neither has God’s ability to do a “new thing.”  What are we called to do at this time and in this place with the resources that God has given us?  After all, this is not just any god, but the God of resurrection and new life through Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to God!

                        In Christ,

                        Pastor Lynne Hutchison