A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers   

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” One night a house caught fire, and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof.  His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.” The young man leaped into the waiting arms of his father. Look at our Scripture lesson today. Paul writes a simple yet profound verse: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” The walk of faith is an acknowledgement of our total dependency upon God to lead us and guide us even when we cannot see the way. So often, our eyes get clouded with the obstructions of uncertainty, doubt, fear, and simply the unknown of what lies ahead. Perhaps today you are faced with similar issues of uncertainty. Like the little boy standing on the roof of his burning home, the flames, smoke and blackness of present issues obscure your vision. Through the smoke, through the fire, you may not be able to see Him, but you hear His voice from a distance, beckoning you to trust Him—beckoning you to put all of your faith in Him. At the moment you may be reluctant, but friend, there comes a time in all of our lives when we stand on the edge of nothing and must take the next step, not based on what we know, or see, or feel, but based solely on our complete faith and trust in One who has promised He will never fail us. Up to this point in your life, your prayer may have been, “God, I can’t see you. I need to see you present in my circumstances so I can trust you.” But right now, through the blackness, hear His reply: “But I can see you, and that’s all that matters.” Hear His voice today, and allow new faith to arise in your life, bringing you from the edge of despair, into His loving arms with this new day.