Receiving God's gifts with awe and joy
If you read last week’s Call To Worship, you may recall that I mentioned my dog Jingles was experiencing some health issues. Unfortunately, we had to put her down on the last day of July. For all of you who have gone through that with a pet (as we have done five times before), it’s not an easy thing. And while it’s not at the same level as having a loved one such as a spouse, child, grandchild, grandparent, or friend die, there still is grief. I find myself coming home at lunch wanting to take my dog out, and even miss her trying to beg for food. Our dog loved food, as do I.
This got me thinking about heaven and wondering what the food will be like. This weekend’s Old Testament reading from Isaiah 55 includes this invitation from our Lord: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” What will “the richest of fare” include? Will there be a wide variety of foods to satisfy various tastes? Or, in fact, will everyone have the same taste in food and drink?
I have no idea what it will be like. All I know is it will be excellent. But what is interesting to consider is this weekend’s Gospel reading, Matthew’s account of the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus did not offer a wide variety of food, but only fish and bread. Everyone was satisfied with what was offered. In a sense, everyone’s taste was the same: Whatever Jesus chose to miraculously provide was received with awe and joy. If only all our days on this earth could receive whatever our Lord chooses to give with awe and joy. Instead, we do have a tendency to question and complain, just like the people of Israel started to do about the manna and quail Almighty God had miraculously provided for them in the wilderness.
If only I could perfectly learn this lesson from my dog. She wasn’t a fussy eater. Whatever came from my hand was received with joy. And she always came back for more, expecting that I would oblige. And that’s how it should always be in my walk with my Lord as I look forward to the perfect non-complaint zone of heaven. If God would give His Son on the cross that I might have forgiveness and eternal life, He will give me, and you, whatever is best. As the hymn says: What God ordains is always good: This truth remains unshaken. Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, I shall not be forsaken. I fear no harm, For with His arm He shall embrace and shield me; So to my God I yield me. LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK #760, V. 6