It was the birthday of...
Illustration
It was the birthday of a 95-year-old woman. She smiled as her church friends sang to her and presented her with various cards and gifts. At one point during the party I asked her, "Do you have any children?" With a bright twinkle in her eye, she answered, "Not yet." Although the woman did not expect to give birth at such a late age, nonetheless her response is similar to that of faith. God promised Abraham a son, but for the next 25 years Abraham would have to regard that promise as, "Not yet." God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land, but for the next 400 years they would have to regard that promise as, "Not yet." Christ said the Kingdom of God was already "at hand," but for 2,000 years his followers have regarded that promise as, "Not yet." Perhaps faith is best defined as confident expectation without the need for a timetable.
-- Bristow
-- Bristow
