Wood ... or just Trees?

A few years ago I visited a tiny cottage in rural Lincolnshire that had been preserved as nearly as possible in the same state as it's last occupant had left it when she'd died in the 1970s or ’80s.  In a chest in the bedroom, I spotted a small item that I recognised.  The curator observed, 'I don't expect you know what that is,' and was quite surprised when I told him, 'It's a promise box!'  

For the benefit of the many of whom he thought I was one, let me explain that this little box was about five inches by four, and not more than two inches high.  It was made of either stiff card or thin wood, and was covered by paper bearing a tiny floral pattern reminiscent of the wallpaper of the early 20th century.  The slightly tapered lid could be removed to reveal lots of little scrolls; each one bore a verse of scripture that announced one of God’s many promises to mankind.  They were a source of reassurance of our Lord’s presence and provision, particularly in times of sorrow or hardship.  These boxes can still be obtained in many different forms, but their heyday was about 100 years ago; often they would be a parting gift for a sweetheart left behind when her young man went off to war.

In that context, the young man's thoughts would be focused on the girl's fidelity, and the box might be a tangible reminder of him.  It might inspire her to trust that he would return.  Trust is, too, a feature in our own twenty-first century lives.  We hear much these days about recycling, a topic that quickly broadens out to include abandoning the use of fossil fuels, organic farming, and everything that is ‘green’.  God has provided all that this world needs for the good of man – if only we could trust Him for that, and follow His guidance in organising its proper use.  To that end, one of the aims of conservation or recycling is to ensure that the provided resources are available to people who would otherwise be without.

Another parallel with the simple idea of the promise box is the fact that much of the world’s news is of an alarming nature, and it is easy to worry about our own safety.  I read some while ago that “worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere”.  I'm inclined to think that, whether we are fearful for safety or resources, it’s all a matter of perception, like the illustration of the glass that is either half full or half empty.  We need to be reassured that we can trust in God for the blessings that He has promised.

Let me finish with yet another illustration.  Those promise boxes were but one example of the versatility of wood.  Look around: do you see the wood, with its great potential … or simply trees?

Pushing the Envelope

In what is termed by some a post-Christian world, we are confronted on every side by pride, hypocrisy, and a lack of concern about anything hinting at God.  We see around us all kinds of publicly-accepted sin and idolatry, exhibited by people who have no idea that that’s what it is.  In the face of this, it’s easy for us to become tongue-tied; to feel we cannot respond, and to believe it impossible to turn the tide and bring God back into our world.

We are in great need of rescue from the destructive effects of these fears.  A number of Bible passages that have come my way recently have some bearing on this thorny problem.  If pushed to provide a simple summary of their message I think I would say, “Try to see the big picture.” One by one, they are these. 

Isaiah’s prophecies brought comfort to those enduring exile in Babylon; but his message wasn’t just for the exiles, or indeed just for all of the Israelites, but for the whole world.  “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Is. 49:6-7).   Simeon recognised this promise as being fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 2:30-32).

Zechariah was part of the first wave of Israelites to return to Jerusalem after the exile.  Their aim was to rebuild the city.  In one of his visions Zechariah saw a man with a plumb-line about to measure the city in order to assess the materials required to rebuild the walls.  But an angel delivered a message from God for the man, that Jerusalem would be a city without walls.  God said that He would be the fire wall, as well as the glory within the city; there would be no need for walls (Zech. 2:1-5).  In succeeding chapters the scene becomes far broader; God speaks of bringing people in from across the world (8:6-8), and suddenly there are things far more important than merely the walls of one city.

By the time of Jesus, the Jews were once more hidebound by tradition, rules and religious habits.  The Pharisees were outraged at one of His healing miracles.  This woman had suffered for eighteen years, ran their logic; why was there any need for her to be healed just then, on the Sabbath?    Jesus’ concern overruled any man-made rules.  He simply saw her need, and reacted in love (Luke 13:10-17).

And finally, I offer you Romans 12:17-19, where Paul encourages us not to be petty in our thinking.  Rather than reacting in our limited strength to something that offends us, we are encouraged to be at peace, and leave it to God to take appropriate action.

When we are confronted by the world’s standards, and wonder how to react, we have a clear instruction in the final verse of that chapter, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (12:21).  We can also find encouragement in Jesus’ own words, “take heart - I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).