Walking by Faith, Looking at the Stars
| Genesis 15:1–6; Psalm 33:12–22; Hebrews 11:1–3, 8–16; Luke 12:32–40 We live in uncertain times. Economic troubles, climate change, war, and global instability make us ask hard questions: “Where is God? Do God’s promises still matter?” The future feels foggy, and even the present is hard to endure. In Genesis chapter 15, Abraham had just won a battle, but he was still anxious. He had no children, and this made him worry about the meaning and future of his life. In the ancient world, having no heir meant more than personal sorrow, it meant that the family name would disappear, the legacy would vanish, and there would be no one to carry on the memory or protect the household. Then God spoke: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great” (Genesis 15:1). In Genesis chapter 15 verse 1, God says to Abram, “Do not be afraid.” The Hebrew for this phrase is “Al-Tira,” which means more than comfort—it is a declaration of God’s presence. God does not deny Abraham’s fear, but shows a greater reality beyond it. Abraham brings his honest worry to God: “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless…?” (v.2) This is both a cry and a prayer. Faith is not about always being certain, it includes the courage to bring doubts and fears before God. God then takes Abraham outside and says, “Look toward heaven and count the stars… So shall your descendants be” (v.5). This is not just a vision, it shifts Abraham’s eyes from a limited view to the infinite promise of God. God shows Abraham a future beyond what he can calculate, inviting him to trust in the creative power of the divine. Then the Bible says: “And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness” (v.6). The Hebrew word for “believed,” aman, means deep trust—not just mental agreement, but placing one’s whole life in God’s hands. Abraham did not understand everything, but he trusted the One who made the promise. We, too, live with anxiety about work, health, family, and the future. But just like God showed Abraham the stars, God also says to us: “It is as if God were saying, look at the stars. I am with you.” Faith is not denying reality. It is living in reality while holding on to God’s promise. 1 Psalm chapter 33 expands faith from a personal matter to a communal one: “Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” (v.18). God’s gaze is not fixed on the powerful, but on the humble and those who trust Him. Ancient Israel lived under constant threat from stronger nations. In those days, survival often depended on military strength and political alliances. But the psalmist declares: “A king is not saved by his great army… the war horse is a vain hope for victory” (vv.16–17). True salvation lies not in power, but in God’s faithfulness. Those who wait for God’s love are the ones with real hope. Today, we also face fears and want to rely on wealth, power, or technology. But the psalm reminds us again: “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield” (v.20). A community of faith is not built on worldly strength, but on trust in the promises of our faithful God. Hebrews chapter 11 gives this powerful definition of faith: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (v.1). Faith is not just a feeling or optimism, it is a commitment to walk toward what is not yet visible, trusting that it is real. Abraham left his home “not knowing where he was going” (v.8). He lived as a stranger in the promised land. He died without seeing the full promise, but the text says: “They saw and greeted them from afar” (v.13). Faith is not about whether we reach the destination—it is about who we walk with. Hebrews says that Abraham and Sarah longed for “a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (v.16). This is not just about the afterlife, but a desire for a world where God’s justice and love are fully realized. People of faith do not settle for the present world, they live as pilgrims, walking toward the values of heaven. We, too, are strangers on this earth. We do not live for comfort or success alone, but aim our lives toward God’s kingdom. Even when the promise seems far, we live with joy and hope, waiting in faith. Jesus says: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (v.32). 2 This echoes God’s words to Abraham: “Do not be afraid.” The disciples were small and weak in the world’s eyes, but they were cared for by God. Jesus continues: “Sell your possessions, and give alms” (v.33). This is not just charity, it is a way of life that reflects God’s economy. The world says to gather more, but Jesus says to give more. That is how we store up treasures in heaven. What does it mean to “make purses… in heaven” (v.33)? It is not only about rewards after death. The heavens are different from the earth. We can say “this land is mine,” but we cannot say “the sky is mine.” The sky cannot be owned. It is a space without borders, where no one can say, “This is mine alone.” So to store treasure in heaven means to shift the center of our lives from ownership to sharing, from selfishness to solidarity. It is a call to live under the same sky, looking up together, living for a shared hope. Jesus also says: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit” (v.35). This is not just future readiness, it is a call to live faithfully today. Faith is not a feeling, it is a life that stays awake to God’s will, right now. Those who trust God live that trust through their money, their time, and their actions. To store treasure in heaven means to align your life with something you can never claim as your own—the open sky of God’s kingdom. It is about letting love and justice guide your steps. God showed Abraham the stars. Those stars were the promise and the light in the darkness. Today, we are invited to look at the stars too. But remember, the sky above is not mine or yours. And the heaven toward which it points is not “my heaven,” it is our heaven. So we walk together under that sky, toward that heaven. The world is still hard. The future is still uncertain. But God’s promise stands. God walks with us. God calls us to walk forward toward what we cannot see. Faith is walking through the night while looking at the stars. It is living today with love and justice, guided by God’s promise. And that life opens us up, not just to “my land” but to the values of heaven that belong to no one and yet welcome everyone. So do not be afraid. Look up. Walk by faith. You are not alone on this journey with God. Amen. 3 |