Cross View Blog

Since mid-February, we are expected to carry on with evermore uncertainty. The experts keep telling us, " We really don't know.  We think this is probable, but we can't know for certain."

But we want to know for certain what we can expect in the coming weeks and months.  Careful scientists answer cautiously and speak of probability, not certainty. Besides, so many experts have been proven wrong that people have grown skeptical about so-called "scientific facts."

In the digital age, we have more facts, figures, and data than ever.  Despite all this knowledge, we live in uncertainty about what the day will bring and the purpose of our lives. "Man cannot live on data alone."

The fact remains that human beings are created for certainty.

Some things we need to know for sure: the purpose of our lives, forgiveness, acceptance, love, etc. We all need "a North Star," something constant in the midst of the constant changes of life.

Otherwise, we become paralyzed by anxiety and fear. Fearful and anxious people are vulnerable to believe anything that calms their uncertainty, even false and misleading ideas.

For me, the answer is faith/trust. I do not mean "blind faith," where we close our eyes to reality and rationality, but faith-based upon what Our Creator has already revealed about Himself, His ways, and His disposition.

 I can think of at least three areas of certainty:

1 ) God's promise of His presence with us.
2) God's promise of His love toward us.
3) God's promise of His protection for us.

These promises are not based upon something vague in the future, but His promises stem from His past behavior. In history, God has demonstrated faithfulness and reliability in the life of Jesus and His followers. He always backs up His promises with deeds. He does what He says. He has proved Himself as worthy of our trust, again and again. He has not and will not disappoint us.

Yes, it requires a degree of faith to believe this. But even faith is a gift when we ask for it. Faith in God's promises yields certainty, enough certainty to carry us through days when we lack certainty about everything else.

When we can't see our viral enemy, when we don't know exactly what tomorrow may bring or how long this will last, at least we always have His solid promises. With His Word we have enough certainty for today and enough hope for tomorrow.!

To this, all God's people say, "Amen! This is certainly true!"

Paul Emmel
Minneapolis
April 30, 2020

Paul Emmel is a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having served as a parish pastor, a correctional chaplain for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and a hospital chaplain and a community counselor. As a retired pastor, Paul continues to serve the Lord and His people, including establishing the Minnesota South District’s “Pastors to Prisoners” ministry.