To Risk it All

Sunday evening, August 18, after dark I walked outside and was immediately struck by an enormous full moon.  I found it hard to look away.  I kept looking back at it, thinking to myself, “What an awesome sight.”  Maybe you saw it also.  The longer I was out, the more I was drawn to a basic truth.  If the full moon was an awesome sight (which it was), how can I keep from thinking about the Creator.  There is so much around us that stirs our hearts, that begs our worship.  I remember the first time I saw the Northern Lights.  The experience of seeing the Northern Lights took my breath away, and like this evening’s full moon reminded me that the beauty I see in creation should prompt me to turn my worship towards God.

The temptation is to become so focused on creation that we begin to lose sight of the Creator.  In the same way, we too often get so consumed with God’s gifts that the gifts become more important to us than the Giver.  The apostle Paul wrote of “exchanging the truth of God for a lie and worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25) It is not that God’s gifts, the various elements of God’s creation are unimportant; it is that they should always speak to us of the One who is their source.  If we allow them to ease God to the periphery, they become dangerous even in their beauty.  The basic truth for people of faith is that God always comes first, that our worship is reserved for Him.  All that God provides becomes a call to gratitude, an opportunity to give God thanks from a worshipful heart.

This coming Sunday, April 25, our sermon text will be Genesis 22:1-14 which describes the danger Abraham and Sarah faced in receiving the great gift of Isaac.  They were reminded of the importance of not allowing Isaac to assume a place of greater importance in their lives than they gave to God.  The lesson is one that should not be lost on us, as the temptation to value the gift above the Giver remains present with us.

I look forward to being with you all one more Sunday.  The first Sunday in September Pastor Brian Johnson is scheduled to return from his sabbatical.  I give God thanks for the opportunities we have had to worship together, counting you all as among God’s many blessings to me and Sandy.

Giving God thanks for all His gifts,

Paul Walles

Scripture readings for August 25th

Genesis 22: 1-14