from Ron Rose
March 10, 2008

Preparation

I’ve seen a lot of sadness in my lifetime, lived through some of it, confused by much of it, but somehow strengthened by all of it. I’ve experienced the sudden death of a close friend, an alcoholic father, getting fired from a job, a sister in a same-sex relationship, stillbirth of a grandchild, three heart events in one day, and a 90 year-old mother with dementia.

Through it all, I’ve found the truth that sets me free. I discovered somewhere in each experience the fingerprints of God. The truth was simple: each time I found that his spirit, his agents, his voice blessed me with renewed courage and unexpected confidence.

God has given me a faith perspective. I am no longer afraid to face whatever comes my way; he has opened my eyes to see past the experience into the future. If I want to be in the Book of Life, I am going to experience crisis, God’s plotline requires it. Faith demands it.

Remember… the famous words from Hebrews 11 … “It was by faith that…” you fill-in the name and the crisis. Well, God is still writing a book and this one is about your life. It might begin…

By faith… Mel knew how to ask questions, the questions that could not be easily answered, the ones that encouraged young men to listen carefully for the voice of God.

By faith… Edwin even in his younger years could see the future in others before they could see it in themselves.

By faith… Sandy lived through her mother’s suicide and now works as a comforting agent who has a gift for encouraging and healing the brokenhearted.

By faith… Kathy reached out to a troubled imprisoned friend with compassion and forgiveness while all around her “good church people” judged and shunned her for doing so.

Without faith, when the plot thickens and danger surrounds us, fear and legalism and blame take over.

With faith, we see the future… we see what’s needed, what’s redemptive, what’s missing; we become agents of his mercy and grace and forgiveness.

And, in the process we discover the truth that sets us free.

Inspiration

In 1910 Bertalan Gabor took his 10 year-old son, Dennis, to a carnival where Dennis road a merry-go-round filled with little wooden airplanes. Later, when he got home Dennis drew an amusement park ride with real airplanes tethered to a pole by a wire. It was his vision.

His Papa smiled and saw the future in his boy. He did more than put the drawing on a wall; he helped his son develop “blueprints” and showed his son how to file them with the Hungarian Patent Office.

Denise was awarded Patent No. 54, 703 for the airplane merry-go-round.

At 27, Dennis Gabor invented the mercury-vapor lamp used in millions of streetlights around the world.

Then, at 47, Dennis began working on another “little boy” idea that produced the first hologram, which has given us the technology needed for bar-code scanners, 'heads-up' displays in aircraft and automobiles, and security for millions of credit cards.
In 1971 Dennis Gabor won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

In 1910, by faith, Bertalan Gabor saw the future in his son.

Motivation

Faith giants are gifted by God to see the future in others; because somewhere along the way the truth has set them free—someone has helped them find their future. This may be your week for a “by faith” experience. Are you ready for it?

Take a deep breath, tap the brakes and wait for God to bless you with insight into the life of someone you know. Perhaps someone who is experiencing deep sadness at this very moment.

God is still writing his Book of Life and the truth still sets us free. So, by faith _______, encouraged _________ and…