Everything Has A Reason! 4-5–26

Welcome to the word for the week. I often think about the story of Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac. It is not simply the actual act that I think about but it is the journey. You have to really understand that Abraham was fully aware of what the journey was for. He even attempted to try to persuade God to change His mind. To be clear about this, it is the one thing Abraham did not want to do. Yet, we see him on this journey and he seems calm about it. You have to now imagine all of the thoughts you and I would have had the night before to realize that Abraham probably had those same thoughts. Yet, the next morning he wakes up and sets out on the journey as commanded by God. Every step had to be agonizing and yet he continued. We do not even know if he slept the night before with such a heavy weight upon him. Yet, we see him taking the journey in obedience to God.

The faith of Abraham cannot be overlooked. He even told his servants to wait and that he and the lad would be back. We see him arrive at the assigned destination and Isaac sees everything they need except for the sacrifice. When he asks Abraham about it he tells Isaac that God will provide for Himself the sacrifice. Now imagine the moment that he has to tie his son down and then he actually lifts that knife. We can look at this from a humanity perspective because Abraham was just like you and I. There are times when we do things that we do not want to do. There are times when we must go where we do want to go. But can any of us say there was ever a time like that in our lives? God did not change His mind. He knew all along it was a test and when Abraham was about to follow through with it he was stopped and shown a ram in the bush. It was at that point when God told him that now He knew Abraham would not hold any good thing back from him.

There is a point in this. Can you pass the test? Can God count on your willingness to do what He tells you? It was not that He wanted Abraham to actually kill his own son. He wanted to see would he be willing to let go of something he really loved for the sake of God. That means that there are times when the point is not for you to lose something. The point is to see do you have it or does it have you. It is easy to say we would not hold anything back from God. When we say that we never think it will be anything drastic. But what happens when God tests you according to your own words? You say there is nothing you would not do for God but is that true? You say you would give up everything for God but is that true? You say you would never leave God but is that true? Everything is easy to answer when there is no pressure. What will answer be when the pressure cooker of life is turned up?

There is some good news in all of this though and we find it in several passages of the bible. The sickness of Lazarus was not unto death but for the glory of God. The trying of Abraham was a test of his obedience. The point of Israel wandering in the wilderness for forty years was to see what was in their hearts. Paul and Silas were never going to stay in that prison. Their purpose was for the saving of all of the other souls in there with them. l am convinced that God does everything for a specific reason and purpose. Nothing is just because. Even when you and I do not know why we need to assured that God knows exactly why. Yes, it hurts at times and we cry at others. But which one of us would trade the glory of God that showed up afterwards? When we see a rainbow it is really a thing of beauty. But if there was no storm beforehand then that rainbow would not be there as a reminder that God is still with us. So the next time the storms are heading your way ask yourself what is God up when this is all over!

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon