Losing ground

Fellow Labourers-

This article brings three questions to mind:

1. Why did God take the children of Israel through the wilderness?
2. What does independence means to us?
3. Where is home for us?

As a people I get the sense sometimes that all we value is the moment at hand. Let's take our independence for example. People born on the left side of 1962 may remember what it means, but those on the right side of 1962 seem not to care. I can well remember the chills I felt as a student at George's Plain primary school as we were given our little green cups and chalk tea cups with the national emblem and motto along with our little black green and gold flags. But, who is to blame? Let us take the government, they use our independence as an occasion to give out awards and medals. Some use it for fun and frolic whilst others use it as a time to get a way from the humdrum called living.


Where is home for us? Recently I was talking to a young lady who has a name which is unusual for the part of Jamaica she was born. She is so proud of that name because it has some Scottish root. Her remark to me was I am so proud of my Scottish heritage that I don't care about Africa.

What about Israel? God took them through the wilderness to avoid them seeing the Philistines which meeting could have caused them to prefer going back to Egypt.

Something in me yearns for home. This home I now see by faith but am convinced that it is better than any other home. I concur with the writer of the Hebrews when he said in Hebrews 11: 16 "But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." I recommend the reading of verses 13-16 of the same chapter to all those who long for a place to call home. Please don't lose ground.

Pax Vobiscum

Robert A. Stewart