Zion Lutheran

  Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord our God is the everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth…” (Isaiah 40:28 and following)

Many times in my life these words and the ones that follow have brought me peace.  There is nothing magical about them – nothing magical about my saying them.  But there is a deep and enduring truth that Isaiah proclaims: if God is such as this, why should I worry?  Why should I fear?   For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear (to paraphrase Jesus) it would seem as though there are many things to fear in our life: global warming, terrorism and war, economies that threaten collapse, guns and drugs in places that destroy our community, interpersonal division that weakens our collective strength…you know the list, both personal and public.   What you may not know is that there is nothing on that list – yours or mine, personal or public – that God is unable to handle.  It troubles me that as a church we don’t proclaim that truth more often and more clearly.  The truth of the resurrection of Jesus is the truth that Isaiah shouts from the chapters of history – Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  God is the everlasting Creator…and you shall not fear!  The last words in that sentence are mine; but read the chapter for yourself and see if you don’t agree that Isaiah proclaims a freedom and a peace in the midst of a tumultuous and uncertain world.   Jesus has won this freedom for us.  The Father gives it to us as a gift.  If the uncertainty of our times has been gnawing at the edges of your mind lately, perhaps we have gone too far; far enough at least that Isaiah’s voice grows faint.  Come back.  Come back to a habit of regular worship where that voice is clear.  Come back to a practice of personal/family devotion and prayer where that voice draws you into relationship with God.  Come back to a lifestyle of generosity and giving where that voice is experienced as the material goodness of a generous God.   Are you looking for peace?  I know where it is found; and now so do you.  It’s not magic, it’s more powerful than that.  It is truth.  Only the word of God, and the truth of that word has the power to bring real peace.  Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  Then it’s time we remembered! God’s peace to you, Pr Steve