Faded Photographs

Don’t you love looking at old photographs? They are precious reflections of close familial connections. They record events and gatherings that give our memories glimpses into the past.

In today’s world, we can quickly send photographs to each other via our phones of experiences, a new grandchild, a simple piece of gorgeous nature. Photographs pull us close: they spring forth from our universal experiences — the challenges and the joys.

The welcoming family of God encompasses humanity. And I feel sure that many of you honor the concept of your church congregation as a family community. No matter our origin, many Christians feel bonded together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We acknowledge God as our Father and Jesus as the Son of God.

Family can mean different things to different people, but it is central to our lives from the moment we are born through the years as we grow and mature and start our own family units. Sharing those images or spending the time looking through albums or pictures on our phones remind us of the sublime feeling of family support and connectivity.

So what would it be like if we were looking through God’s photographs? Of course, we would find the beautiful vestiges of sunrises and sunsets. There would be amazing photographs of rock formations and the special way that light sometimes filters through the trees. There would be snapshots of oceans and lakes and maybe some silly cloud formations.

On His mantle would be all the children of God lined up in the most unique frames. He never forgets who they are but can call each one by name. I feel He looks at those photos with love pouring from His eyes.

And then the albums: just stuffed full of memories. The amazing night of birth in Bethlehem. The lighting from the star shining brightly down on the most precious babe ever born. The look on Mary’s face as she held Jesus for the first time and realized that the Son who came to save the world would also save her. But tonight He belonged to her alone.

There are so many animal pictures as they filed two by two into the ark. Noah and his family praying before they closed the door, knowing they were giving all control to God, and He would bring them safely through the flood.

Beautiful, loving Ruth taking care of her mother in law, Naomi, making her home with Naomi so that she could care for her. You can tell how much they care for each other by the love flowing from their eyes.

Moses, Elizabeth, Sarah and Abraham…so many photographs to look through….

And the wonderful remembrances of the years when Jesus was here on earth. So many miracles to look back and remember. I love the group photo of the ten lepers. The Samaritan looks a little scared when Jesus tells them to show themselves to the priest. He is the only one who turned back to show his gratitude to Jesus. In that photo the glow on his face says it all.

There are many pictures of all the disciples who never seemed to get the message Jesus was imparting. But you can see in Jesus’s face how much He loved them, and He never tired of teaching them and trying to make them understand why He was here on earth.

Of course, He has pictures of Mary and Martha and His good friend Lazarus. There was even one taken the day Lazarus rose from the dead, four days after his death. Joy merely flows from that picture as Mary and Martha realize they have more time to spend with their brother.

Looking through photos evokes wonderful emotions and helps us remember all those who have walked before us in faith. They serve as reminders of our family’s divine importance. We are all created in the image of God. We have been put here on earth to spread His good news, to strive each day to live in His word, to challenge ourselves to love as He loves us.

We are the family of God connected by our Lord. Keep taking photos, remembering with each one that you are a beloved child of God, living daily in His grace.