Faith Renewed

As the Christmas season was approaching and familiar songs and scenes started to appear once again, my mind was taken back to earlier days of how we used to celebrate Christmas with family and friends at home.

Hearing again the story of Jesus Birth and the reason why it was that He came to this earth, “to save us from our sins”, it lead me to think about what might have happened to those amongst us, who in the past might have made a “Faith Commitment”, lived in it for a time, maybe were even baptized, but then the “coals got cold” due to the many factors that face each of us in this life. It reminded me of what Jesus said about the soil and the seed, as recorded in The Gospel of Mark Ch. 4: 14-20:

“¹⁴ The farmer sows the word. ¹⁵ Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. ¹⁶ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ¹⁸ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²⁰ Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (NIV)

We could ask, what then may be the remedy for us to renew that “withered faith”?  For the one who had the Word “stolen” away from them very early on in life,  perhaps that person felt no need in his or her heart, no desire for anything other than this life, and possibly no guilt for their sin or the need of forgiveness. Maybe that person needs once again willingly to hear the “Seed of the Good News and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you”.

And then there was the “one that heard and received the word with joy”, but, since no roots were formed, it shriveled and blew away because of troubles or persecution and ridicule that he may have received from family or peers (as happened to me!).

Or possibly, this person received the Good News of the Gospel, and because of the promises that were offered, they initially showed some signs of growth. This person may have understood some of the basics, but did not allow God’s truth to work its way into their souls and make a real difference in their lives.

 That person may need to look at that seed, “God’s Word” again, and have it planted firmly into a fertile heart, by studying and meditating on it, so that the roots can grow deep, and hold the plant from “blowing here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming”.

 Then we come to the one who had the seed planted but it was amongst a patch of weeds, which are the worries of life and the desires for all temporal things of this life, and it may just have choked the plant and so was not able to bear any fruit whatsoever.  Worldly cares, the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for material things, as well as daily routines and materialistic pursuits will distract believers.  There may be some “foliage” on the outside, but it is only a “said faith”, because the Holy Spirit has never been allowed to grow them up into an enduring faith, and so a crop is never produced.

This person may need to look at having a “replant” done, but this time into a patch of fertile ground, cleared of the weeds and tares that can siphon away all the energy and resources.  Now this plant, as it remains attached to the “Vine”, can and will produce a fruitful crop: who knows, maybe thirty, sixty or even a hundred fold: a “fruit of the Spirit”.

Having said all this, nothing can ever penetrate the soil of our hard hearts, until we ask the “Keeper of our souls” to prepare us, and work in us as we accept what He, Jesus, has already done for each one of us by paying in full the sin debt we owe. Only then we will be renewed in a real faith, one that will see us fully through this life and for all Eternity as well.

In the words of “Joel”: Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.  Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart.

And so to all of you who read this admonition, “May the Light that shone into the darkness to enlighten every man, woman and child”, may that flame once again be ignited into a renewed and enduring Faith in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May God bless each of you this Christmas and throughout the year.

Peter A. Kehler,  a Berliner Kehler, Pastors at Bow Valley Christian Church and resides in Calgary, AB.