There are unseen assets in the life of a Christian. This is because we live by faith and not by sight. The world around us screams messages of temptation, hate, and despair. Our God whispers peace, love, and joy. This Sunday we celebrated the vision of faith shared by two young members of our congregation on this Confirmation Sunday. Addison and Emmerson shared their confessions of faith with our congregation to start the worship service.
If you look at the last page of the worship folder, and if you didn’t know already, Addison and Emmerson are twins. They share a birthday, just three minutes apart. They also share a baptismal birthday – the same day as their birth. On that day they received the washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit. They were washed clean spiritually and God made them part of his family. That is the first time they were given clothes, their second unseen asset Paul touches on in our text – call it a robe of righteousness.
But let’s get down to business. If you have attended a worship service at Star of Bethlehem, you would have taken a close look at the seats. Yes, I’m talking about the pews! If you’re wondering, those are original. We’ve been working towards replacing them for more than a year now. We have reached out to the vendor our church has chosen and they are scheduling jobs 90 days out. That means in September after we put down our deposit and turn in our signed contract, they will start the work. Why do tradesmen, and other businesses require a deposit? It’s proof – more than a good gesture that you will keep your promise. For our final unseen asset we’ll consider verse five from Paul’s second letter to the Church in Corinth. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
The same Spirit the burns in your heart and prompted confessions of faith from our confirmands is the one who is your guarantee of your inheritance in heaven. The word confirmation means to strengthen faith. How? Faith comes by hearing the message. For three years our young people study what our God says, who he his, and they apply those truths to life.
I broke it gently to our two confirmands, but the truth is there are few guarantees in life. Over and over again, people, friends, family members, maybe family as close as sisters will let each other down. That’s what sinners do. That’s where your God is different. He will never let you down.
Want to hear about the first unseen asset and take a look at one of our Great American jewels of our national park system? Watch this week’s message taken from 2 Corinthians 5: Unseen Assets.
Book(s): 2 Corinthians
Tag(s): Confirmation
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg