Habakkuk 3:17, 18

 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour ~ Habakkuk 3:17, 18

 

Every single thing around this prophet has failed and his hopes in the provision of the earth are dashed in the dust. The end result is starvation and death to thousands of people. The afflictions of life are great, yet, he will not cease to rejoice and be joyful in his God. Our joy, he is saying, does not depend on outer prosperity, but on the inner joy of salvation. Though everything around him is perishing, those who look to God would not perish inside because of the joy within. How often are we unlike this prophet, placing our joy in objects and playthings. We think if we have enough in the bank, or if we have a fine house and a great paying job that we have it all together. But, what happens when it is lost? We are looking at times like this now with what is happening in our world. There has been serious loss of the material due to the closures of covid-19. I was just reading that Canadian Tire and the HBC (Hudsons Bay Company) may be the next companies in trouble. These companies and their employees have had a long-standing success rate, but soon, well, who knows in these times? We are not like the prophet, being carried off into a literal Babylon, but we are under the affects of a world issue which is devastating the “figs and vines” of many people. It comes down to this: in what do we trust? What is our source of immeasurable joy? Is it in the Lord, who is unchangeable, the One who is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow, no matter what the world is doing around us? Is our joy in the salvation we have received, the atoning of our sins in reconciliation by the saving grace of Jesus Christ? As the prophet, it is the time to draw closer to Christ, to stay in His Word, to be wrapped up in God. Though creation may cease around us, God is our source, our hope, our joy, for He is all Goodness and Love. 

Pastor Julia

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