Most of us will probably remember watching Star Trek with our children. The crew got into so many difficulties with strange lifeforms and other frightening creatures chasing them – Captain Kirk is supposed to have said those immortal words “Beam us up Scotty” and they were transported as if by magic back to the safety of the Starship Enterprise. Of course Captain Kirk didn’t use those exact words, but it is what was probably meant.
How many of us, when we go through difficulties, times of crisis, times of change would love to be able to say “Beam us up Scotty!”
In times of crisis and change – and let’s face it none of us really likes change – it’s as if we feel we are in an alien place, an uncomfortable place – a valley where there’s not so much sunlight. We are moving on from the security of the known to the insecurity of the unknown. Wouldn’t it be great to just say “Beam us up Scotty!”
Out of our insecurity we can make important decisions based on what we are feeling. Maybe we can all think of people who shortly after the loss of a partner, decide to move away from everything they are familiar with and they live to regret this hasty decision.
We who know and love the Lord Jesus believe He is with us always, but more so in times of crisis and change. Everything around us may change, but He is always the changeless one. There is an old hymn which says “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life” and goes on to say:
“We have an anchor that keeps the soul,
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the rock which will not move,
Anchored firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.”
One of the Bible verses God gave us as a Church at the beginning of the year was:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
A great promise from the Book of Proverbs which has been such a comfort and a guide to many of us this year. It was written by King Solomon who knew the difference between the known and the unknown, trusting God for what he could not see.
There are two different words in Hebrew for ‘trust’. One means when you are in danger and you trust someone, they will protect you.
The word used here for trust is like the picture of a young child learning to ride a bike for the first time – very wobbly when he gets on with a mixture of fear and trepidation and excitement. His father holds him and guides him saying “Daddy’s got you. I won’t let you fall. I won’t let you down. You’re completely safe with me guiding you.”
Our word here for ‘trust’ means to rely on someone, to have confidence in them, to lean on and to trust wholeheartedly (no matter how difficult or foolish it may seem). We can trust wholeheartedly in our Heavenly Father to guide us and support us and He will never let us fall and never let us down.
Maybe you are going through a difficult time at the moment. We all have them. Why not come along and join us one Sunday morning at 11am upstairs in the Trevi Bar, Camposol B? Just grab a coffee and come up and join us and let us introduce you to Jesus our forever friend and the anchor which keeps us safe and secure in all the seasons of our lives.
