“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love” -I Corinthians 13:13
It’s amazing how little you are left with when everything unnecessary is taken away. We live in a world with corrupt desires. Wealth has become an obsession. Entertainment has been sexualized. Athletes and movie stars have become our idols. We have lost sight of what really matters. What would we be left with if all of the “unnecessary” was gone? The answer is that we would be left with faith, hope, and love. Simple yet profound things that will never pass away. Jesus said in Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Many things are changing and may continue to change, but we can be sure that every promise of God will come to pass. This means that our source of comfort, our firm foundation, our constant hope, and our undying strength at all times should be God’s word.
As you watch the news and process this pandemic never fail to remember this one important truth: God has not changed and God will not change.
Other faithful Christians before us have held fast to this eternal truth. In the 19th century, there was a young man named Russell Carter who was both an athlete and musician. When he was 15 years old, he became a Christian. As he grew up, he became a military instructor, preacher, and doctor. When he was 30, however, he faced death because of a critical heart condition. During this time, he promised God that he would consecrate the rest of his life to God. He would end up living an additional 49 years during which time he studied the Scripture and held on tight to the promises of God. He wrote this song that you may have grown up singing:
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the Living Word of God I shall prevail
Standing in the promises of God.”
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the Living Word of God I shall prevail
Standing in the promises of God.”