"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."
While in the city of Smolensk in the Soviet Union in 1983, my husband and I were on our tour bus listening to our guide Nadia speak to us on the history of the city as she was pointing out the various parks, monuments and the churches (90% of which were closed. . .due to repairs. . .we were told). So imagine our surprise and curiosity when, on passing the beautiful green and white Assumption Cathedral with the Epiphany Cathedral below, we saw a long line of parents with little children waiting to enter. We asked Nadia what was happening and she told us they were all waiting to have their children baptized. This was surprising as we all knew that the Communist Party barely tolerated any religion. But Nadia said the parents were doing this. . . "not that they necessarily believed, but just in case."
Over the years I have thought of this incident many times. I still believe that most of these parents did truly believe, whether their government wanted them to or not. But it also made me wonder "how sincere are we?" Are we involved in our religion "just in case," or are we firm in our faith? At this special time of remembrance, we should search our hearts for the truth, remembering the promise of Easter.
Dear God, You ask so little of us for all that you give. Help us renew our faith, live as Christ would want us to live, and stand firm in our faith and love of God. Amen
Reprinted with WS's permission from St. Mark Presbyterian's 2001 Lenten book Two Weeks to Jerusalem
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