1 Thessalonians 3

 


“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

The Condors are only found in the American continent. In the north there are the California Condor and, in the south, the much larger Andean Condor. The Andean Condor is the largest bird capable of flight. Weighing 15kg, with a wingspan of 3.2m, its size is relative to a 1.8m tall man. This bird defies common science in its ability to fly. Any bird of this size and weight should be flightless, yet these Andean Condors are famous in soaring in high altitudes over the Andes. So how do they fly?

They need strong winds common in high Andean altitudes, strong coastal winds from the ocean and thermal air current to help them lift and glide using their enormous wings. When you see them jump off the high cleaves on the Andes mountain on a leap faith to catch the winds to soar, it is breathtakingly picturesque. The Condor knows that the wind will catch it when it jumps off. Its faith is in the wind. We must have faith in the sovereignty of God just like the condor does with the wind. And we should be praying that god will continue to exercise his sovereignty in all things. 

“For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8

How do we live? What is our anchor in our life that grounds us in safety? Who do we trust our life with? Paul knew his firm foundation is in the Lord. He says that he stands fast in the lord and urges the Thessalonians to do so too. For now we live, if we stand fast in the lord. If we place our faith in the lord, we live now. God is sovereign in all things, we have to place our faith in the lord and stand fast to his will like the condor who have no naturally ability to fly but trust in God’s providence to soar in the sky confidently.

Our faith in not in a transcendent God who does not participate in our lives. We have a God who took on flesh and made tabernacle on earth to redeem us and reconcile us undeserving sinners to God. Christ Jesus gave us an opportunity to approach the high throne of Grace of God with confidence as blood bought children. He abounds us with his love and increases his love in us to love one another in the same mind and same spirit. What was invisible was made visible and became no longer a hidden mystery in our known history, our lord Christ Jesus. He promised to return with his saints one day so that we can establish our faith in him by looking forward to the communion with him. The looking forward in hope of his coming increases and sustains our faith and the holy spirit is the strong wind that catches us, and we soar like we mount up with wings as  eagles.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

We wait upon the Lord for his coming and we pray that God will exercise his sovereignty to bring all things for good for those who love him. The Lord’s coming with all his saints is our hope and we standfast in faith in him who is all sovereign. 


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