“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Think for a second about the way that the ancient Israelites lived. For most of them, food and livelihood came from either farming or livestock. With that in mind, revisit this verse and think about what it’s really saying. I think it could be reasonably summarized as, “Even though I have no food to eat, no way to make money, and no prospects for improvement, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
What great faith!
Imagine for a moment that you were in such a dire and desolate situation. No money, no food, and no means to change it. Would you be joyful? Would be rejoicing in the Lord?
If I’m being honest, I would find it very difficult to be joyful in a situation like that. The truth is, though, that as Christians, we should be. We know that this world is fleeting, that the food we eat and the money we spend and the livelihood we make on this earth is all going away, it’s all temporary. The only eternal thing is God. The only thing that has any value is God. As people who have been redeemed by Christ and restored to right relationship with God through him, we should have no fear, no doubt, no worry about life on this earth. As Paul said, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
We have everything to rejoice over. If we live, we live for Christ and for the cause of the kingdom of God. If we die, we die only in the flesh, knowing that our souls have been saved through Jesus. We know that we will spend eternity in the presence of Almighty God.
There is no condemnation. There is no defeat. There is only victory through Jesus and assurance through the Holy Spirit that we have been chosen by God, made holy by Christ’s sacrifice, and given the inheritance of a child of God.
Prayer:
Father,
Even when things are grim on this earth and this life doesn’t seem very hopeful, help us to remember you, our savior, and be joyful for all that you have promised us. We know that one day this world will not be our home anymore and that we will be united with you. We take hope and we rejoice in that always.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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