Reading 15: Has God rejected or abandoned us?
When I worked in Brooklyn I used to commute by subway. One day I was on the last car of the train and the lights went out. This by itself was not unusual, the lights always went on and off. But this time, the lights didn’t come right back on and the train came to a stop.
At first, everyone just sat quietly in the darkness waiting for the conductor to tell us what was happening.
Soon people began talking to one another.
Some were irritated at the delay
Some were beginning to become afraid.
Some speculated about the problem.
But throughout it we remained calm…
Until a small boy looked out the front doors of the car and shouted.
“WHERE’S THE REST OF THE TRAIN? WE’RE ALL ALONE!”
And with that, all hell broke loose.
some began to cry
some to curse,
one man moved towards the closed doors to try to pry them open. “We have to get out of here,” he said.
Folks, there are times in our lives, especially during times of crisis, or grief, or illness, when we feel scared, alone, rejected. When we feel like we have to save ourselves because no one else is going to help us.
In this Romans text we are comforted knowing that God has NOT rejected or abandoned us and ALWAYS has a plan.
The people in the train’s control room knew exactly where we were, and there was already a plan to help and assist us. An engineer came with a flashlight, because he knew that some would be afraid. He came to assure us that we were safe and cared for and protected.
In this life things around us can seem uncertain, and lonely and, sometimes scary, but always remember that God has never rejected or abandoned us and sent Christ as proof that Salvation is for All.
When have you felt that you had to take matters into your own hands because God is not working fast enough?
What does it mean for us to rely on the Grace of God rather than the works of our hands?
God of Grace and Glory, we know that your plans for us are for our salvation, and for our protection. Forgive us when we forget and seek by our own deeds to save ourselves, and remind us that you have loved us from the beginning, know exactly where we are and are constantly working for our good. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–The Rev. Timothy Taylor is the pastor/redeveloper at Abiding Savior, Durham. He has just completed his first year in that ministry. Pastor Taylor is married to the Rev. Sharon Taylor (Holy Trinity, Raleigh). Pastor Tim comes with a vast history in youth ministry, outdoor ministry, and redevelopment ministry. He and his wife Sharon have developed workshops that are designed to help people explore “isms” in our society and how we can overcome them.
