FIND US FAITHFUL …

by Dr. Randy Tompkins

We, as members of earth’s inhabitants, have just come through one of the darkest and most emotional times in over a century. The question before humanity at this point in time is not how we are doing now that we have the vaccine; the question we should be asking is how did we do in the middle of this plague?

Most of us are probably familiar with the song, “Find Us Faithful.” It is a beautiful song written by John Mohr. The words alone present to us a great message that we should all try to follow.

However I had the opportunity to hear John Mohr tell the story of the development of this song.

The song was not written from the perspective of wanting to tell people to be faithful so that those who come behind us would be lifted up and continue in the faith. The story grew out of a set of situations that occurred in John’s life that were devastating and destructive. John’s hope in penning the song was to hope that people who came after he was gone would find his life faithful in the good times and in the difficult times.

It is easy, as we all know, to be faithful when things are going well. Most of us think when we come to those most difficult times and get through them, the testimony should be how we exited those times being faithful. I totally agree with both of those statements. However, I think neither of them completely states what we should be striving for. I think our striving should be to be faithful in the middle of the struggle that surrounds us. It is easy to Praise God when we are through the darkened tunnel. But what did we do while we were in the tunnel?

I think that is why I am drawn to Paul’s introduction to the letter to the church at Colossae.

To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: – Col 1:2 (NIV)

Paul had just received a report from Epaphras, fellow believer and the founding pastor of the church at Colosse and was pointing out that through the trials and tribulations the church had endured, they were faithful to learn and execute that learning by doing what was faithful do, even in the face of conflict. It wasn’t what they were doing after everything had settled down but what they did during the conflict.

When that bad day hits or that illness strikes or the layoffs are announced, what will you do? We can question God during difficult times and still be faithful. We can shout, cry and bang our fists and still be faithful. What we cannot do is question, shout, cry or bang our fists, turn away from being faithful, and then when it’s over, put a smile on our faces and return to our faithful actions. What happens in the tunnel is more important than what happens after the tunnel.

In Christ’s Service,