One of the most fascinating things we got to do in
Ireland was to take a boat ride out to an island called Skellig Michael. On
this island is the UNESCO world heritage site of a Gaelic Augustinian Monastery
circa the 600’s. (Yes, you read that right -- the 600's)
To get to the site you must climb up the side of a cliff using
a staircase built with dry set rocks. On occasion I review the trip on this clip because all I
remember from my hike up and my hike down was watching my husband’s shoes a
few steps ahead of me.
Apparently I have issues with 1,400 year old
staircases offering precipitous, possibly fatal falls. Who knew? Here is the only photograph of the climb I had the courage to take.
In my defense, we started this ascent shortly after reading the sign below -- note the phrase "fatalities have occurred."
Not even on the top of a barely accessible island
mountain can we protect ourselves from the sin of our world.
But
I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt you know no God but Me and
besides Me there is no savior. Hosea 13:4
I like this verse for describing the monk’s
knowledge of God because my study Bible tells me that the meaning for “know” in
this instance is an “evidential, experimental knowledge.” The monks that lived in this monastery up
through the 12th century not only saw daily evidence of God’s power,
but likely experienced God’s presence in ways we cannot understand. They understood our Savior as a deliverer in
a very real and present way. God provided for their needs and their protection
just as He provided for their Salvation. There was no government, no medical organization,
no police, fire, rescue crew, no military – not even a storm warning system.
They were in God’s care, alone. They had the law of their harsh existence and
they had the grace of their fellowship with each other.
Think for a minute, about how different our view is.
We are blessed to have all of the protective systems that the monks lacked, yet
instead of being grateful we turn from trust in God toward trust in the
protection of our own making.
The left-hand kingdom (government) will do what it decides it
will do. We are to be an influence on the government but we are not to allow ourselves to be lost
in it – or lost because of it. We are wrong to store the treasure of our faith in
the government of man. We must not only remember – but live in a way that shows
we do not put our trust in guns, walls, repeals of laws, politicians, government programs, political
party platforms, or SCOTUS picks.
We are not democrats or republicans, conservatives
or liberals, rich or poor, citizens or immigrants. We are children of God. Our trust must be in Him, alone.
So
you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait
continuously for your God. Hosea 12:6
Luther tells us that the word “love” in this verse
can be seen as goodness in action -- grace. Because the monks
knew God’s love, protection, forgiveness, and grace they were able to share these
things with each other. When we are able to share the same it is evidence of
our trust in God. A trust He gives us, that becomes something so easy for us to
ignore when we pretend we can build a fortress of any type to protect
ourselves.
Here is one more poignant verse from Hosea. God
speaks to us through words intended for the Children of Israel who had ignored the gift
of trust to worship other gods, make alliances with other countries, and depend
on their own might for protection. We are not so different.
Take
with you words and return to the LORD. Hosea 14:2
“Take with you words” In other words – confess.
Take that confession and return to the LORD, our Protector
and Savior.
