When Our Faith Has Expired
By Rev. Frank Anderson

One night on Sixty Minutes, Andy Rooney talked about all the medicines we have in our home cabinets that have past their date of expiration. Are they still good to use? He remarked that a lot of them are, but that some ought to be discarded at once. The expiration date on the container does not always represent the facts of the case, he said.

I think sometimes our Christian faith is like so many prescriptions that we hang on to that may have lost their effect or benefit. People move and have their being in God. And so, faith has its ups and downs. We cool off, and wonder why we are not inspired. Suppose a heart medicine expires. Should it be used? One time in Jamaica, a parishioner got sick and needed some tetanus antitoxin serum. There was none to be had—until I carried on a quick search in town. I found some and took it to the hospital. A nurse received it but said, "This is old and has expired. We can't use it." The patient died several days later. I often wondered about that incident.

Aren't there some of us who THINK our life is barren and void of faith, but in fact, our faith is simply "old" and not so lively? I don't mean old in years. Where can we go for an up-to-date serum to keep our faith alive? Look about you. It could be closer to you than you think. God never forsakes us.


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