“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
Sometimes lessons for life are learned when we’re really not expecting them and then there are those lessons for life that are learned when we’re looking for answers. The events of this week have revealed to this writer both lessons for life that were anticipated and lessons that have burst on the scene with such joy and delight that it can almost be more than can be expressed in just the few words of a blog post.
We are in the throes of a week-long Vacation Bible School that brings to fruition all the dynamics of months of creativity on the part of those planning, implementing and contributing to the overall effort. Efforts that can be described as herculean culminating in a visual and knowledgeable learning experience for everyone, but especially the children! The sheer joy, energy and excitement on their faces and the heightened sounds of their little voices trying to pronounce names of prophets and kings that can still challenge the adult … all of these factors add up to say “Thank you God for these moments!”
Out of the mouths of babes come words to songs like The B I B L E, yes, that’s the Book for me … to the demonstrative movements associated with Roll the Gospel Chariot Along … to the claims of happiness and confidence in the Lord found in the song I’m In-Right, Out-Right, Up-Right, Down-Right Happy All the Time.
Listening to those who are teaching these tender hearts … listening to the verbal responses of these children to which prophet is who … to where the prophet worked … to what he spoke about is just so encouraging to this older and hopefully more mature soldier in the Lord’s army! To see … to hear … to be a part of such an effort is a true privilege and honor! These little ones are the future of the Lord’s people if God in His will allows time to go on.
We wonder about these little ones and these younger almost-adult ones and their spiritual future. We wonder as we hug them, pray with them and for them, will these young ones grow up and remember what they have been taught and become strong, courageous soldiers in God’s army? Will they take the message of truth, salvation and hope to heart and treasure it there?
One of the prophets had questions for the Lord and his name was Habakkuk. He offered several questions to God which is just one of several features within this short little book which make it so relevant to us in the 21st century. This prophet was looking to God for some answers to the same kind of perplexing and troubling questions we often ask today. He got his answers! He received a word from the Lord that would prove to be reassuring, faith-building and have a calming effect on his own soul! Some Bible scholars and linguist believe Habakkuk’s name derives its origin in the phrase “to embrace” as one would take a troubled and weeping child and hold them close to comfort and reassure. Surely this prophet exemplified this in his own relationship to his beloved people and nation.
We close this blog post with the words of a prayer found in the closing verses of Habakkuk. The words and emotions of a troubled and perplexed prophet had been calmed by the words of the Lord! Although God doesn’t speak directly to any of us today, He speaks to us through His inspired and revealed word. May the words from an inspired man of God with an unusual name draw you closer to the One who made you, understands you and loves you so much that He was willing to send His Son to die for you and your sins! And may we all take a moment to embrace our children, our grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and tell them we love them and we are praying for them and their precious souls. Never miss a chance to do this … they are up, grown and gone before you know it!
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food, Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”
(Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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