Recently we visited the Colorado Railroad Museum. We read about tremendous changes the railroad brought to society and commerce, as well as the eventual use of train travel for entertainment. The museum houses working and decommissioned locomotives, passenger cars, container cars, and cabooses. They even refurbish trains there–a job I never knew still existed. I found the impact the railroad had on Colorado’s history fascinating.
Historically and scientifically, one fact in all of railroad history never changed. Wherever a train’s locomotive headed, the cars and caboose followed! Years ago, someone at church taught us that facts act as a train’s locomotive, faith is the box car that follows those facts, and feelings are the caboose. I still believe this description. When we learn the facts of Christ’s death and resurrection, we put our faith in those facts, and then enjoy feelings of peace, joy, and gratitude for God’s forgiveness and grace!
But what happens if we focus on the wrong facts? After decades of captivity in Persia, a small percentage of Jews returned in three groups to restore what had been destroyed in their capital city. In Nehemiah 8 the Jews had completed rebuilding the temple and walls of Jerusalem. Under Ezra and Nehemiah, the priestly system had been restored and now the people wanted to hear God’s Word–something they’d never been able to do in captivity. Upon hearing the first five books of the Old Testament read aloud, the people began to mourn and weep for their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They realized how faithful God had been to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses–for generations–and how unfaithful and ungrateful and disobedient they had been in response. It broke their hearts to realize these facts. And they deeply regretted their personal and national sins.
The cold, hard facts were evident to all and their mourning made sense in that context. However, God saw bigger, higher, more important facts. He commanded them through Nehemiah and the priests to stop mourning and instead to celebrate! Why? Because the walls and temple were rebuilt, the priests were now able to return to their original calling, and the people were freed from captivity! Most importantly, they had heard the Word of God and restored it to its rightful place of prominence. In verse 10 (NLT) Nehemiah proclaimed, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
The people obediently stopped mourning, brought out their best food, and then held the Feast of Tabernacles for eight days! After turning their focus to the facts God highlighted, their feelings changed from mourning to rejoicing!
Feelings can deceive us. Sometimes we should feel sorrow or anger. But we need to remember that emotions are temporary and sometimes fickle. If we find our feelings counterproductive, let’s ask God to show us what truths we need to focus on and where to exercise our faith. Only then can we trust our feelings.
Thank, Carrie. I helpful reminder for those of us who “feel” too much!