Today, I want to share a story with you about a time when I was young and made a lot of foolish mistakes. It was a beautiful June day in Newfoundland, and I had convinced two of my friends to join me on a canoeing trip down the river in my hometown of Corner Brook. Little did we know that the water in the rivers was always high at that time of year because of the snow melt in the mountains. To make matters worse, it was cold outside, and we all had to wear heavy clothes to keep warm. I was wearing a pair of coveralls lined with faux fur, which made me look like a giant teddy bear. Looking back, I can't believe how silly we were to think that canoeing down a fast-flowing river in cold weather was a good idea.  

As we got further down the river, the water became rougher and rougher. We were hit by some aggressive waves, and eventually, as we entered a section of rapids, we were turned sideways and capsized. The next few moments were some of the scariest of my life. I was thrown into the cold, fast-flowing water, and I was struggling to stay afloat. The current was so strong that I felt like I was being pulled under the water. I could hear my friends shouting for help, but I couldn't see them. All I could see was water, rushing around me like a whirlpool.       I remember trying to swim to shore as hard as I could, but my thick clothes made it almost impossible to move my arms and legs. With every stroke I took, I felt my head sinking lower and lower and I started to take in water with every breath. I felt so tired that I knew I couldn't go on. I did know that i was wearing a life jacket ( I would have been at the bottom by then if I have not) but I was just so focused on trying to swim my way to shore, I wasn't trusting in the life jacket to save me.  

It was right about that time I started to hear my Dad's voice in my head saying… “MICHAEL… you’re wearing a life jacket”  So I flipped over on my back and let the life jacket hold me above water. Suddenly, I was no longer fighting the current. Instead, I could use my arms and legs to slowly kick and propel myself towards the shore. It was a strange sensation, as if the life jacket had transformed my body into a different kind of swimming machine. I could now relax and breath. As I made my way towards the shore, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the life jacket that had saved my life. Without it, I would have been swept away by the river's currents, unable to reach the safety of the shore. But with the life jacket holding me up, I was able to use my own swimming power in a new and different way, one that allowed me to reach the shore and feel the solid ground beneath my feet once again.  

Looking back on that experience now, I realize that my trust in the life jacket was the key to my survival. Without that trust, I would have continued to struggle and fight against the current, eventually succumbing to exhaustion and drowning. But by letting go and trusting in the life jacket to hold me up, I was able to find a new way forward, one that allowed me to reach safety.  

As we just heard in the reading from Romans, Paul speaks about the faith of Abraham. But what does the word "faith" really mean? Nowadays, "faith" has been reduced to a simple belief in something, without any deeper meaning. But in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament and the Greek language of the New Testament, the word "faith" has a much deeper and more nuanced meaning.   In Hebrew, the word for "faith" is "emunah," which means trust or reliance. It is not simply believing in something, but rather it is an active, ongoing trust and reliance on someone or something. We can see this in the story of Abraham, who trusted in God's promise to make him a great nation, despite the many obstacles and challenges he faced.

Likewise, in the Greek language of the New Testament, the word for "faith" is "pistis," which also means trust and reliance. It is not just a passive belief in something, but an active trust in someone or something, even in the face of uncertainty or adversity. We can see this in the reading from Romans, where Paul speaks of Abraham's faith as a trust in God's promises, even though he could not see how they would be fulfilled.  

I have always believed in God, but for many years, I struggled with alcoholism. Despite praying to God for help, I never fully trusted that God could make a difference in my life. I tried everything in my power to change, even resorting to strange ritualized prayers to try and make God do what I wanted. It wasn't until God surrounded me with fantastic and loving people, who helped me on my journey to recovery, that I began to truly trust that God could make a difference in my life. And it was through this trust that I was finally able to break free from my addiction and turn my life around.  

Now, if we turn to the Gospel, we come across one of the most famous verses in the entire Bible. In fact, some people even make signs at sporting events with the chapter and verse on it, I think maybe its a secret code. You may already know which verse I'm talking about - John 3:16. But when we look closer at this verse, we see a deep connection to the concept of faith and trust that we find in the other reading. The verse states that "whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."    

But what does it really mean to believe in Jesus? As we explored earlier, the word "believe" in the original Greek language used in the New Testament is closely connected with the word for faith and carries a deeper meaning of trust and reliance. So, to believe in Jesus is not just a matter of acknowledging his existence or even accepting him as our savior. It is about placing our trust and confidence in him to guide and transform our lives.  

But what about the phrase "eternal life"? It's easy to assume that this is simply a reference to life after death, and yes I do believe it does. But try seeing it as something we are to experience in the here and now. It changes so much in its meaning.  As the theologian N T Wright says”Eternal life doesn't start when we die; it starts now, when we come to trust Jesus himself to guide us, to reshape us, and to lead us into fresh and life-giving ways of being human.”  

Another of my favourite authors Richard Rohr says "The biblical notion of eternal life is not about life after death, but rather about life beyond death. Eternal life is the quality of life that we experience when we are in right relationship with God and others. It is a life of love, joy, peace, and justice that begins now and continues into eternity."  

When we put all of this together, we see that the message of John 3:16 is not just about securing a spot in heaven. It's about living a transformed life of trust and reliance on Jesus, a life that is full and abundant in the present, and that will continue into eternity.  

So, what does all of this mean for us? How can we put our trust in God in a world that seems so out of control? I believe that we need to look to one another. Faith and trust are not just personal matters, although they are certainly that as well. They are also corporate. As Christians, we live out our love and faith together, encouraging one another in love and friendship to be our best selves in the light of God.  

It can be challenging to trust in God's plan for us, especially when the world around us seems so fractured. But we can find comfort and support in our Christian community. The author of Hebrews reminds us, "Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, NRSV).  

So, when we find it hard to trust in God's plan, let us look to our friends in Christ. Let us help support each other and build a faith and trust in God that can't be shaken by the world. Together, we can encourage one another to live a life of love and good deeds, and find hope and peace in the midst of life's challenges.