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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
As I write this newsletter article, it’s been a busy Monday! My tasks this morning have bounced back and forth between this Sunday’s Harvest celebration, our Interfaith Thanksgiving Service next Tuesday, and Advent, which begins one week after that.
At this time of year, planning at the church is a little like playing with scattered pieces to a puzzle that, when completed, will become a beautiful, indelible picture in the memories of children and adults alike. But while you’re in the midst of it, it’s also like having a foot in two different worlds at the same time.
"Wait… a foot in two worlds… Shouldn’t you be comfortable with that?” you may be asking. After all, as Christians, we are always living with a foot in two worlds!
By faith in Christ, you and I have been welcomed into the beautiful, indelible picture of God’s Kingdom. We live with a foot in this “already” Kingdom—a place where peace reigns, all are welcomed with open arms, and our unique human characteristics are celebrated. This is life in Christ’s church, a small glimpse of God’s ultimate redeeming, healing and wholeness.
And then there’s our other foot. As Christians, we also live in the reality that even while God’s glorious Kingdom has already come, we still live with a foot in this beautiful, yet broken world, so loved by God.
Faith is confidence in the assurances of God’s promises. It is being able to see the Kingdom and live into its reality of love, while living in the midst of pain and brokenness. It is claiming the good news and teachings of Jesus in a world that tells us everything is suspect and there is little worth celebrating. But by faith, we believe that God is busy working out God’s healing plan, putting the pieces of a beautiful puzzle together right here, in our midst. And God is moving us, piece by piece, closer to completion!
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