"Faith at Work"

 

“Faith at Work”

 

When my father went for his physical exam during World War II he was classified as 4-F due to a minor medical condition. (Long after his Homegoing I learned he was very disappointed over not being able to serve his country.) During this time he was active in the Young People’s Baptist Union of Brooklyn and Long Island (YPBU for short) which operated a camp for disadvantaged children called Sunshine Acres. He and several other “4-F’s” worked hard in keeping the ministry open and serving the needs of “the kids” during those difficult times. For a couple of years he was President of the organization which gave him the responsibility of choosing a theme hymn for his tenure. He chose “Faith Is the Victory”, written by John Yates and Ira Sankey in 1882, based on 1 John 5:4: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” By faith Dad and many others prayed, worked and gave to fulfill the ministry’s God-given purpose during the War and for many years afterwards.

My scriptural journaling recently took me to Joshua 3-5. Chapter 3 relates the Israelites’ entering Canaan when God made a dry path through the Jordan River. Chapter 4 tells of the nation’s arrival at Gilgal which became the base of operations for the military campaign to take possession of the land God had promised them. Then in Chapter 5 we read of the restoration of the Passover and rite of circumcision as well as the cessation of God’s provision of manna. So Gilgal was a key place of transition for His people.

Because of their previous disobedience God told the Jewish nation, “…You…will be…here (i.e. in the wilderness) for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness….” (Numbers 14:32-33, emphasis added). Fast forward about 40 years. At the eastern shore of the Jordan Joshua relayed God’s instructions that the priests “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” (Joshua 3:6). When by faith the priests stepped into the river “…the water from upstream stopped flowing…So the people crossed over….” (Joshua 3:16). So the Israelites wandered aimlessly for 40 years due to their lack of faith but entered the Promised Land because of their practice of faith. Truly, faith was (and is) the victory! The truth of this great hymn which Dad chose some 80 years ago was as relevant then as it was with Joshua 3000+ years before and still is today. Thank God that His truth that faith is the victory never changes!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(To see how Gilgal impacted me personally see “Life Changes” and “A Personal Gilgal.”)