A Saint Who Steps Up and Stands Through Difficulty(Isaiah 41:8-16)
As you know we had a presidential election last Tuesday and for the first time in the history of the U.S.A., a black man was elected president. (Electoral votes: McCain 163, Obama 349) I’m not interested whether he will do well or not in politics, but my wife and I had a chance to see presidential candidate Obama’s conversation about his past life experiences on CNN News a few days ago. Now that he is elected president and I reflect on his life, I think he is one who represents many who step and stand through adversity. He was born from a marriage between a black father and a white mother but he never saw his father until he was 10 years old. However after this his father left for Kenya and then at the age of young his mother died of cancer. He was raised by his mother’s parents, his grandparents, who were white. It was during this time that he went to Punahou school (located here in Honolulu) where the majority of the students are white. In this experience, he lost his identity and even experimented (tried, dealt) with drugs. He said some how he met Jesus Christ and was completely changed in newness at the college he attended (Occidental College).
As I listened to this (story I realized) the difficulty in men’s lives can be rather good in the Lord. We see in today’s text, God says for us not to fear. Nowadays in this world we hear the rumor of war, famine, difficulty in the economy, and all kinds of dismal news. However, the Lord says to us, “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10A) Therefore today we receive grace from a sermon titled “A Saint Who Steps Up and Stands Through Difficulty.” May the grace of God fill your hearts and minds.
First, we must believe and trust that God is with us. God is almighty. Why do we fear when the Lord of Hosts is with us? Verse 10 in today’s text says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” What does this mean? This doesn’t mean that we have no tribulation, it means even in tribulation God is with us, therefore have faith and do not fear that tribulation. In Deuteronomy 32:11 we see, when God was leading His people out of Egypt, God put them on His back and crossed as an eagle carrying its young on its wings. God trained His people 40 years in the wilderness as an eagle trains its young (Deut. 8:1-6). An eagle is a strong bird with strong wings and has an eye that can see far and watches the land from high in the air. An eagle always makes its nest in a high cliff or a tree that is on the edge of a high cliff. She lays her eggs in it and waits and then feeds her babies for sometime while they grow. When the babies are grown enough the mother eagle brakes up the nest and pushes the babies out of the nest. The baby eagle falls to the ground in surprise. As mother is watching she flies quickly and spreads her wings for her baby and flies high up in the air with it. Then she turns upside down and drops her baby, she does this repeatedly until her baby becomes strong and learns to trust that the mother is with it and it does not fear anything as it learns to be bold. Its wings gain strength and later on it becomes a most strong and fast bird among all the birds of the world. We saints are the same way in our life. One who believes that almighty God is with him will not fear no matter what difficulty, trial, or adversity may come. Why is this? It is because in the process of training he believes that God will help him to be a strong and mature Christian. I believe we must always believe, with a strong and courageous mind, that God is with us.
Secondly, we must understand the trials we face mature us in our faith and character. Those who have gone through many trials are matured in their personality and have a pure heart and are not drown in dangerous self-illusions. They rather follow after Jesus. Jesus was complete from the beginning and grew up as a man. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” He was a complete man with intellect, emotion, and will. Intellect: is to know God (knowledge of God). Emotion: is the heart to love human life. Will: is to bear as Jesus Christ did even till death on the cross. In Philippians 2:5 it says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” I give you Joseph in the Old Testament as an example. Joseph was sold by his brothers when he was of a young age. He had so many difficulties and wounds as a slave in Egypt. However, it was because he trusted God that he matured beautifully in his faith and character. So he was able to show mercy to his brothers and forgive their sins. He became a mature Christian. In Genesis 45:3A it says, “Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?"” (45:4B-5) “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” How religious he is before God and how mature before his brothers! This kind of adversity is a tool that will mold and shape our faith and character by making us grow. The adversity is not good but through it I believe we become more beautifully blessed.
Thirdly, we need to believe God who helps us and gives us strength. In Isaiah 41:10B it says, “I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” God is the God of help providing help to us. God is our power and He strengthens us. We see in today’s text it says, “I will . . . you, I will . . . you, I will . . . you.” This word ‘you’ is not plural but singular. Therefore God is my God and your God and our personal Savior and Lord. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, not only saves individual’s souls, but also saves nations which believe in the salvation of God. As long as we believe in God, I believe the U.S.A., where we live will never be destroyed. As you well know in the past there was this kind of difficult time. For example, there was the Great Depression in 1930. At that time, 1800 banks claimed bankruptcy and closed their business. The rates of unemployment rose to 50 percent. Everyone was anxious and thought in their mind that if this continued it may cause the end of capitalism. It was much more difficult than today. Do you know who the president was that saved the nation from this crisis? It was President Roosevelt. He was lame from infantile paralysis (Polio) so he used a wheelchair to get around. He gave a famous speech during his inaugural address and said that, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” that is to say a fearful heart. I believe that faith in God will cast out fear in our hearts. I believe those in Christ should not have fear. God saved Daniel from the lion’s den. God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace. God strengthens and keeps His people who trust Him. Beloved saints! When you were young you experienced stomachaches. At that time your mother or grandmother might have rubbed your stomach with a warm hand saying, “Tummy, tummy get better, my hand is a medicine hand.” Then amazingly your tummy felt better and you fell asleep. Did you have that experience? Then how much more is our God’s hand able with great power? Our God’s hand is a powerful hand, holding up the universe in His hand. It is the same hand which bled on the cross for our sins. The Lord’s hand is a hand of power. Whenever His hand touched those who were about to die they came back to life just like the daughter of the synagogue ruler Jairus. When our Lord’s hand touches, the blind open their eyes and the deaf open their ears. The Lord’s hand is the hand that orchestrates history. With a powerful hand He holds us, you and me today.
The one who believes this will not fear but will receive strength among the trials. I believe as much as we meet the time of difficulty, we must have more faith to trust God. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I believe today’s difficult tribulation will be changed into blessings for good. Our U.S. is a nation which believes in Jesus Christ. I believe the U.S. will go through this difficult crisis that will bring great blessings and it will become a stronger nation. I believe you and I will become saints who are held by the Lord’s hand and will overcome and win over this difficulty. God’s grace be with your hearts and minds.
By: Rev: Samuel Choi
