Expressions of Faith
Choose to walk into the light

By A. Lee Totten
Special to The Advertiser

In light of the World Trade Center, I pondered over what exactly "Expressions of Faith" as a Christian meant to me. What did I think would be appropriate to express now, when we are going through such emotional turmoils of our faith.

Then I remembered the first time that I was introduced to our Lord.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son" (John 3:16). For God so loved, that was my first impression of faith. It is often difficult to express that now. But to walk with our Lord is always to walk with a choice, his call has always been for whom so ever is willing, and we have it in us now to choose.

"It is mine to avenge, I will repay" (Hebrews 10:30) is what his word teaches us. Vengeance is God-given; like the sun and the rain, it will come. But I believe he is looking for a people who will beg and plead for his mercy. A people who "will humble themselves and pray ... then will I hear from heaven ... and forgive ... and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Sept. 11 has caused a great sifting of the attitudes of our hearts and our minds. We are called his temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). Can vengeance, anger and hatred really be found in the heart of God's temple? If we acknowledge what we are feeling is not pleasing to him, then we can change that thought, and choose to: "Bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8).

"You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Where we may not hear the voice of the one that is calling to us, "Let there be light!"

He is faithful and will enable us to walk the way of his son, who when stretched out upon the cross cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

This was his expression of faith. Through love, we must find a way to make it ours.

A. Lee Totten, a Kane'ohe resident, belongs to the Missing Pieces ministry and is a certified Christian wellness counselor.