As Christians, we are children of the Most High, and we face numerous painful situations daily. We must deny ourselves many things to demonstrate our detachment from the world and live differently from the world’s system. Many people may view us as lunatics, hateful, or intolerant, but we persevere, knowing we have a promise and should only wait and be steadfast in the midst of social chaos.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians:
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Galatians 4:28-31
We recall the story of Abraham, who received a promise from God that his son would have as many descendants as the sand of the sea or the stars of heaven. However, Sarah became desperate and had Abraham have a child with the slave, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. The promise God made to Abraham was for a son of Sarah and Abraham, not Ishmael.
Dear brothers, the promise God made was not for Ishmael, but for Isaac, the son of Sarah and Abraham. Sarah was sterile, but the slave was not. We must understand that we serve the God who can transform impossible things into possible ones, who can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, and who can put flesh on dry bones. Our God is capable of doing wonders beyond human comprehension, and that was the promise given to Abraham, which was not easy to achieve humanly speaking. That is where God does feats, when we think everything is lost.
The apostle Paul emphasizes that we are children of the promise like Isaac. My brethren, we are truly children of the promise, raised up with Christ at the time of His resurrection, baptized in His death, and firmly awaiting our glorious hope that Christ will come for His beloved church.
We must not despair while waiting for God’s promise. We must not deviate from God’s plan, which is wonderful and wants the best for us. We must be perseverant.
A significant sign that God fulfills His promises is that God gave them the promised Isaac, even when they truly despaired for a moment. This is something that happens to us too, but we must never turn our eyes away from the giver of life, Jesus Christ. So, let us continue toward our target and keep our faith firm in the promise.
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