At my college, we had what was called “The Big 3.” It was three activities that, if you were caught doing them on campus, you could be expelled from school. I’ll let you guess what they were.
Today I want to talk about a different “Big 3.” These are three things that are so important and so essential to life that they will last forever. That’s right— these are things that are so critical to the success of our universe that God has made them everlasting.
Ok— enough of the build up. Want to know what they are?
The Big Three
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
-1 Corinthians 13:13
I find it deeply encouraging that God cares so much for these three attributes that God will make them last forever. Over the next three weeks, I’ll write about each one.
Today, let’s talk about faith.
When I think about faith, I think about this quote from C.S. Lewis.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen — not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
-C.S. Lewis
I believe in faith not only because I see faith in action within the world, but more importantly, because I see everything else through the eyes of faith.
You have a choice about how you see the world.
You can take the world at face value, or you can experience the world through faith.
I choose to believe that there is more going on in the world then meets the eye. God is at work in and through those who trust in God. The world is not a place of random chaos. By faith, I believe the world is telling an unfolding story of redemption and grace.
By faith, I choose to see people not as they are, but by what they could be. Individuals are bearers of the image of God and dwelling places of the very presence of God— not merely a collection of cells. My town is not just the place that I live but the place where God wants to reign.
Are you beginning to see how faith profoundly affects how a person views the world, their neighbors, and themselves?
This week, I encourage you to live by faith. Richard Rohr teaches about a practice that will help us live by faith. He calls it the second gaze. Richard explains that our first gaze towards ourself or others is often critical, judgmental and calculating. Your first gaze is like a gut reaction toward a person or event. It is seldom compassionate or accurate. Therefore, Richard encourages us to practice a second gaze. Allow yourself to have your first impression or gut reaction (after all, you can’t really avoid these)! But then, take a moment and look again. And this time, look at the situation through faith.
The second gaze is an opportunity to experience a situation with God at your side. This practice is a way to live by faith.
Choose to live by faith. After all, faith will last forever.
On Sunday we will continue our series titled GO as we explore the experience when people were first called Christians.
See you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
