Pie in the Sky

There is a metaphor “Pie in the sky”. It means though it looks as realistic as a picture,that pie cannot actually be eaten, so it is nothing more than words on paper which lacks practicality.

For the people on the mission field that we will visit in June, God's love is like arestaurant menu: it looks so delicious and wonderful that they want to eat it, but they don't think they can really eat it. That’s because they have been told about it and shown it all their lives, but they have never really eaten it and tasted it. So, they no longer believe that God's Agape love is real. They have knowledge of God's love. Some of them even teach their children about God's love with that knowledge. Are we going to introduce them to the "Pie in the sky"?

The love of God that was demonstrated on the cross is something that anyone can receive through faith, so now the witnesses are very needed. Are the Kingdom of God and His righteousness just a pie in the sky? Is the actual “Pie” in our church or is it just a drawing? How will we church answer? Indeed, we have it! Because it is real, there are people who draw it. That is the sole existence of our church.

So then, how can we actually receive, eat and taste it? Just listening to good sermons, lectures and explanations aren’t enough. The answer is given and tasted as a church puts Jesus' commands into our practice. That is, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us. As we ourselves receive, taste, and live in this love through, we are used by God as a vessel that can carry it and share it.

Pastor Takeshi