Last month’s communion message focused on revelation—God showing Himself in the world so people can know and have fellowship with Him. God reveals His love and Person through the Bible, nature and the physical world, the unfolding of history, supernatural intervention, and through the people around us. The majesty and handiwork of a good Creator and His love for His creation is clearly evident to those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and the faith to believe and follow.

Two of my favorite contemporary Christian songs speak to this evidence of God that we see and sense all around us every day and throughout our lives. Consider these excerpts from “Evidence” by Josh Baldwin:

“All throughout my history
Your faithfulness has walked beside me
The winter storms made way for spring
In every season
From where I’m standing

I see the evidence of Your goodness
All over my life, all over my life
I see Your promises in fulfillment
All over my life, all over my life.

Help me remember when I’m weak
Fear may come but fear will leave
You lead my heart to victory
You are my strength
And You always will be.”

And these lyrics from “How Can You Not” by Leanna Crawford:

“I see the sun rise in the morning
And a million stars at night
I hear the birds they can’t stop singing
Hallelujah
I see his goodness
When I fall down
And his grace that picks me up
Every day I can’t stop singing
Hallelujah

I see the sunset and I wonder
If He paints it just for me
Nobody else could make a world so beautiful
How could I question his love when
It’s everywhere I go
Wherever I look I find another miracle

How can you not see God
In every little thing
In every little moment
How can you not feel loved
How can you not
How can you not.”

Reflecting on the sure evidence of God in your own life is a great spiritual practice, a time for personal worship and thanksgiving that provides joy and meaning and renewal. Our individual life histories and experiences will differ somewhat, but each of us can recall the significant people, places and events—large and small—that have helped define and shape our lives. We can see it in the love and shared dreams with families, including our church family. We can see it in the beauty, diversity, intricacy and interdependencies of nature. We can feel it in the manifold blessings and mercies we receive each day and in those God-sightings all around us, if we choose to look. The evidence of God deepens and our faith strengthens as we participate in vibrant worship, Christian fellowship and, perhaps most of all, in the study and discernment of Scripture. At the beginning of life, one can hear this evidence in the soft murmur of a newborn babe and, at life’s end, feel it in the bittersweet passing of a loved one who lived life well.

At this time of year, we look backward at the beautiful life-affirming Lenten season just ended and look forward to Pentecost—the unleashing of the Holy Spirit that continues today in the hearts, minds, and souls of believers. We can see the empty tomb, hear the eyewitness reports of the resurrection, feel the onrushing Spirit, and join with the Disciples in spreading the good news. In communion, we affirm the revelation of God revealed in Jesus Christ, thankfully receive the new covenant expressed in His body and blood, and move forward in our lives with the assurance and comfort of the indwelling Spirit. As Josh Baldwin’s song concludes:

See the cross, the empty grave
the evidence is endless
All my sin rolled away
Because of You, oh Jesus.”

Bruce Fairbairn, Elder