Pastor’s Corner: “Heavenly Cycle”
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT) – 10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Our world consists of a series of patterns. There are physical patterns. Example: the world goes around the sun in an unending orbit; it spins on its axis with tireless regularity. There are chemical and biological patterns: Example: there is the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide between plants with photosynthesis and mammals with respiration. And there is the cycle of the seasons: The passing of a year can bring a marked change in the weather and the surrounding environment caused by a change in the tilt of the earth’s axis (yes I can be a science geek).
But when I read Isaiah 55:10-11, it reminds me of when I first learned about the water cycle. I remember the chart with big arrows showing how water falls from the sky, then collects, then evaporates, then goes back up into the sky to form clouds . . . a process that repeats itself over and over again, supporting life on Earth.
That’s how the Word of God operates. It doesn’t fall once on human ears and stay there. It becomes part of a larger process, a cycle, enriching those who receive it as well as those who pass it on. In other words, this life of faith is not just about getting but about giving. What we receive from God doesn’t end with us. As Christians, we are part of a larger cycle of blessing, and we are key players in keeping those blessings flowing.
While there are good cycles and patterns, there are also bad cycles and patterns. Like evil and sin. But what I love about the Word of God is that it has the power to break these damaging cycles of evil, sin, pain and suffering on earth and personally in our lives. Specifically through Jesus who is the Word. God has broken this cycle and pattern forever by the sacrifice of His beautiful Son Jesus if we believe and are willing to receive this gift! John 1:1-4 (NLT) – In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He (Jesus) existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Since we have received this beautiful blessing by God’s mercy love and grace, we have been forgiven and freed from this cycle of sin and death…….this is something to celebrate! In the Gospel (Matthew 6:7-15), Jesus teaches to pray to Our Father, and gently reminds us that we are not just passive receivers but also givers. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are not receptacles collecting God’s mercy and keeping it to ourselves; if we let ourselves become that, we’ll bring the cycle to a halt. We’re called to forgive others, constantly and freely, as we ourselves are forgiven.
So what would a diagram of the Christian life look like? I picture arrows coming from Jesus in Heaven, arrows of forgiveness and grace and gifts. The arrows point to Earth, where we receive gifts (Holy Spirit) when we put our faith and trust in Him. Then more arrows point to others as we take the fruits of God’s blessings and pass it on. We forgive others; we welcome the stranger; we serve, love and give; We share the Word of God (Jesus) with others and God’s Word breaks the cycle of sin and death….forever. The enemy cannot keep up
When we really live this Christian life, it’s a cycle. We receive and we give, in a beautifully dynamic process that never ends. Think about and Draw a diagram of this “Cycle” in your own life. Identify what you’ve received from God, what you pass on to others, and what they pass on to you.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton