Title: Look at the Sky
There is this passage in the diary of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who is ill-fated, when she was persecuted by the Germans. “But I believe that if you look up to the sky, everything will return to normal, this cruelty will end, and peace and stillness will dwell in the world.”
Abraham is anxious that God's promises are not being fulfilled and almost gives up. Then he looks up to the night sky and reconfirms the fulfillment of the promise. God justified that faith.
In Tolstoy's "War and Peace," the main character, Colonel Andrei, is wounded in battle and falls off his horse, looking up at the sky and making this monologue.
"Why haven't I seen that high sky until now? I'm really happy that I've finally come to my senses!" Colonel Andr takes a resolute attitude toward Napoleon who appears in front of him. When we are lonely, when we have doubts, when our faith is shaken, let's look to the sky.
There is the breath of God the Creator and unchanging love, mercy, and peace. As we go through life, there are times when our front and back are clogged and we are faced with a dilemma. Our alleys may be so tight, but the heavens will be open. Let's quietly look up to the sky at this time. God will show his providence.
"Lord in heaven! I lift up my eyes to you" (Psalm 123:1).
We should not despair at the hill in front of us, but we should look at the wide green meadow behind it, and not just the rain clouds, but the sunlight behind it. It is foolish to place one's hopes upon creatures or men.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where will my help come? My help is from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth” (Psalm 121:2).
South Africa, at the southernmost tip of Africa, is a British Commonwealth territory and has long been dominated by white people, monopolizing economic power and living a prosperous life. Although blacks make up over 70% of the population, their lives were miserable. Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned for 26 years by the white government while fighting for independence, went to prison as a young man and was released only with gray hair. But he looked very healthy.
“What is the secret to maintaining good health in a long prison life?” Mandela described the secret in his autobiography:
“When I went out to do hard labor in prison, people were dragged away with resentment. However, I waited for the hours of labor for the pleasure of going out to a wide nature rather than a narrow prison.
“Looking at the blue sky, listening to the birdsong, and working with a happy heart were the secret to good health. When people were spending their time of frustration and anger in the cell, he enjoyed the novelty of creating a new life while growing vegetables in the backyard of the cell."
This is the heart a Christian should have. A believer must look to Jesus in the midst of any hardship and adversity.
Even in the face of death, we must look to the sky.
Stephen, a faithful deacon of the early church, looked up to the sky just before his martyrdom.
"When Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven, he saw the glory of God and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. So he said, "Look, the heavens are open, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." and said.” (Acts 7:54-55)
In some villages, children had to cross a closed iron bridge to get to school. There were also incidents where children fell into the river due to dizziness while crossing a railway bridge. However, the plump and bulging child crossed the iron bridge without hesitation.
When I found out the reason, other children crossed the iron bridge and looked down, they felt dizzy and fell down, but this child with a convex belly couldn't look down, so he looked straight ahead and walked straight ahead and did not fall. When you see the waves, you fall into the waves.
However, if you only look to Jesus and walk, you will be able to walk on the waves. I can trample on the evil Satan who comes to devour me, and I can also trample over the waves of trials. We can destroy the wall of Jericho that stands in our way.
“Let us look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Finally, I will close by introducing one gospel hymn.
look at the sky
The vast sea is the work of the Lord who made the whole world.
Even if dark clouds come and cover the sun
The providence of the Lord over all things
Everyone raise their heads and open their dark hearts
Behold the power of the great Lord
The amazing hand of the Lord who made you and me
All things in heaven and on earth, all together
Kneel humbly and worship before the majesty of the Lord
look at the flowers in the field
Even the birds that fly in the sky are the work of the Lord who made all things.
Even if a blizzard comes and covers the whole land
The providence of the Lord over all things
Raise your head and open your dark heart
Behold the power of the great Lord
The wonderful hand of you and me
Let's all praise the Lord together
* Prayer: Lord, who is our hope and life, we believe that those who wait for you will be saved. When we are discouraged, we look to the Lord. Lord be my hope and be my inheritance. Let me always look to God and live, and always live satisfied with God alone. Help us to look only to you in any circumstance. Know the Lord first and follow Him. Pray for us not to be content with our long history of faith and not to boast of ourselves, but to learn the Word of God humbly in order to know the Lord and to follow Him by obedience. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen