Hope 10/14/14

Recently, I wrote something from Jeremiah 32 and would like to share it again because it captures my heart tonight for this place.

In Sierra Leone tonight, just like in Jerusalem of Jeremiah's time, things do not look good. Hope is in short supply.

But Jeremiah 32 has a powerful answer to those of us who are now discouraged. In this story, God sends a releative to the imprisoned prophet with an improbably request, "Buy land of your uncle." This was a crazy request because Jeremiah was in jail, broke, and the land in question was presently under control of the invading Babylonians. God knew this land would be burned, devastated, and destroyed for generations. And yet, Jeremiah was asked to buy it!

He did buy it. He took the deed for the land and placed it in a clay jar to save it for later and he proclaimed that someday God would restore the land to his people. The singular and preposterous act brought hope against all odds.

Back to Sierra Leone. I believe that Phebian's courageous decision to stay in Sierra Leone and the completion of the medical clinic stands as a mighty symbol to the people of Kono and to all of us that there is still hope. Hope that this Ebola crisis will also pass and confirmation to the people of Kono that God has not forgotten them. Phebian, like the biblical Jeremiah, is saying that against all odds, that the land will be restored, Ebola will be conquered, and our clinic will someday bring healing to the people.

So I challenge each of us to pray as the prophet Jeremiah did and apply his prayer to the situation in Sierra Leone.

"Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR YOU."

Even Ebola.

Thanks to all of you for your faithful prayers.

Myron.