Approaching the new millenium: Response to the article "Does God Exist?"

By Lydia P. Istomina, Methodist Pastor from Russia and the author of "Bringing Hidden Things to Light"

Once I read the words of Kant, "Two things always amaze me: the stars above my head and the moral law within myself." What is a way to save that moral law we have within us? How to be faithful to this law and how to learn to say "NO" to all temptations we face in our lives? How to refuse things that are damaging to our spirit? How to leave our laziness and selfishness, irritability and apathy behind? How great it could be to have a prescription!

When we want to learn English we look for a way to learn it as fast as possible. We look for a speedy way to study languages. We are very impatient! We always want to get what we are looking for immediately. Is it not the same impatient approach we have toward our souls? After deciding to come to God we search for instant results. We collect our vices for years and decades but desire to become saints in an instant. Thinking about God, we look forward for immediate proof of His existence without doing anything from our side. The truth is that this process of communication with our Creator is twofold.

The end of the millennium could take us closer to God than ever before. I urge you to try. Try to spend some time face to face with our Creator at the edge of the new millennium. How many things we have to think about! How many things should be remembered and reconsidered!

Try to address God with your prayer even if you never did it before. This time of the year is the time of Hope! You probably will smile ironically: what kind of hope is she talking about?! The world is such a disaster! How much blood is shed, how much violence exists. The hunger is endless! As for our internal peace, we have so much disappointment and emptiness, so much pain and devastation that we do not have any more hope left. We want to be healed, but we are not capable of doing it ourselves. Only God could be so patient! The Lord knows us neither for a year, nor for two. How much love and care we experience when we go through the healing of our souls.

And again, we always have a tendency to underestimate it because we want to be healed not part by part but immediately. It is like after gaining extra weight for years we are dreaming about losing it all at once. Learn to be patient from God! Try to find time for God every day of your life. Try to find a peaceful moment during this time at the edge of the millenium. If the mystery does not happen now, then when? When will be another moment like this?

After the New Year starts, we will find ourselves in the same busy rhythm and we will be in danger of losing ourselves again. God tells us "Yes" today. Let's try to recognize this invitation and treasure this "Yes" every day.

Look at yourself in a mirror carefully today. Try to see the changes that are happening within you. Ask yourself, "Could I say 'Yes' to my God?" Try to overcome yourself and say it out loud, do it in your own way. Do not be shy: God knows you better than anybody and talks to you all your life. Our creator does not need any promises or vows, just one word, "Yes." You may say: "Here I am, Lord, as I am. I am here with all my mistakes and vices... Heal me! Come to me, change me and forgive me." You may say nothing out loud, but the Lord will hear you anyway. The only thing God expects from you is to be sincere to get into relationships with Him. It will happen because now is God's time. The Lord was so patient waiting for this moment and He is ready to bring the Light into your life.

We all approached this moment with a different speed to give to God our pain and our hopes. We understand now who is the author of the moral law we have within us. We want this law to be eternal. Give us, O Lord, the strength and courage to live according your law.