Faith of Our Ancestors
Vern Verhoef | Please Read Today’s Passage: Hebrews 11:1-12
Meditation
Hebrews 11:6 says that “. . . whoever would approach God must believe that he exists . . .” That is a tough call when one is steeped in Western rationalism and self-sufficiency. I was raised in a rich legacy of “faith” – church, home, and school – steeped in the Christian Reformed tradition. God existed – no question! Until I walked through the doors of St Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN, past the kids with shaved heads for radiation or those who had lost their hair as a side-effect of chemotherapy. As I walked up the stairs to the third floor to begin my post-doctoral training, I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. If God were good, how could he allow the suffering of children? Perhaps God, as I know God, does not exist. Alongside my laboratory work, I began a year-long process trying to prove God’s existence by immersing myself in the ancient writings of philosophers and theologians. Needless to say, I found no scientific proof. I came to the conclusion that to believe that God exists requires a leap of faith – acceptance without rational proof. I let go of the struggle to define God on my terms. Although many questions still persist, this I believe: God exists.
Subscribe to receive Daily Lenten Devotionals delivered right to your inbox.
