A Lenten Journey: The Wilderness Trail — Day Fourteen

Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19, the Message

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.

Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him—and this after he had already been told, “Your descendants shall come from Isaac.” Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that’s what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.

Shadows of Easter,
two weeks into Lent.

We can’t ever tell this story
without it, you know.
Like the fragrance of lilies,
it permeates all the
space inside.

And apparently,
God wanted to.

Raise the dead,
that is.

And here,
in the season 
where they’re banned,
I’m just gonna say it:

HALLELUJAH!!

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