Sunday, June 10, 2001
Sunday, June 10, 2001
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him
now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
To Ann her father is a stranger and yet not a stranger at all. He is really very dear to her even
though she has never laid eyes on him. Not having seen him, she still loves him.
Such was the situation of that second generation of Christian believers. They were very much like
young Ann. They were not among those who had walked with the Master personally. They were
not privileged to be witnesses to his post-resurrection appearances. They received all their
information about him second-hand. They heard about him from followers such as Simon Peter
whose experience of Christ was still fresh and vivid. Those who knew him personally spoke of his
gentleness, his kindness and his ability to forgive, even as he hung upon the cross. That was all but
that was enough. It was enough to convince many of them to leave everything they owned to
follow him. In Peter's First Epistle, they are accorded this word of praise, "Without having seen
Him, you love Him."
(1 Peter 1:8
NRSV)
They took her father captive months before young Ann was ever born. He was a prisoner of war.
For Ann, her father exists only in wrinkled snapshots and in the memories of her Mom and
grandparents. Ann has never seen him face-to-face, but she has heard about his smile, and his
agility as a high-school half-back. She has heard that he was looking forward to her birth with
great eagerness. The last thing he said to her Mom as the train pulled out of the station was,
"Look after our child real well."
Loving God, I cannot see you, Lord, but I love you. Amen.
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