View from Waitakere Resort towards Auckland and the North Shore
This week brings us news of the death of well known German theologian Jurgen Moltmann at age 98. Not that I'm well versed in his books, I find theology translated from German very hard going for some reason. Yet throughout my time as a theological librarian and minister, he's always been part of the conversation. There's something about a long life in the service of God and church that seems noteworthy.
I suppose a person of faith, but also of great age, realizes that more lies behind than in front of them. Hopefully, there is much to be thankful for in that evaluation. Also this week, I've once again been hearing of old friends living with dementia, as my parents are. I was heartened to once again hear my father express words of faith in the Lord, the last time we were with him. So whether we can remember many decades, or struggle to remember what dinner consisted of, we can see and speak of our home in the Lord.
Having been married so recently, one hopes for a good and long future of life and faith, with blessings and fun among the challenges of life. Moltmann emerged from the challenges of World War Two as a POW, then made a significant theological contribution for more than half a century. Truth is, none of us know what time is available to us, so we'd best live in the light of our home with God right now. Faith can be such an afterthought to many, but it's relevance is now! In 2 Corinthians 5, Apostle Paul articulates the tension between life in the body and life in the Lord, and claims (v1); "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." May we see our true home, as we live the life of faith together in the present.
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