Burning Hearts: Earl Raue
The following homily was shared at our Sunday Evening Eucharist service 4/19/26.
Scripture Reading:
“He was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”
I've been struggling with doubt a good bit lately. I doubt many things, God's love, His promises, His existence even. I become afraid from these doubts. If God isn't real, then what do I have? If I don't have Jesus, then what could this world possibly offer me that is of lasting value?
And you know? I honestly think that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were having the same questions bouncing around their melons. They were afraid to hope- that much can be told from their words, “But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”
Like I said with my doubts, I find myself in a similar situation of struggling. When I hear the promise of salvation, I hope that all my burdens will be taken from me and my fears blown away. Of course, Jesus promised that we will suffer; that is the nature of this fallen world. The Bible does, however, promise that we can be unafraid. We can have assurance of God and of our Salvation. As long as we believe that Jesus is our lord, confess this for ourselves, believe that He died for our sins and rose back to life, then that's it. That's the assurance of the Resurrection, the salvation of the world.
Now that we're all caught up, this is where I've been stuck. If this is how I know that I'm saved and loved and held by God, then why do I still feel the same way as before? Aren't I sure that Jesus is my lord? That He died for my sins? That He rose from the grave? Well see, that's exactly what has the two disciples on the road caught up in grief and disbelief. They were already told that morning by the women who ran home from the empty tomb that a vision of angels informed them that Jesus had risen. The two disciples going to Emmaus couldn't believe it! I mean, they actually refused to believe it, because they still left.
While on the road, Jesus rightfully rebukes them by calling them foolish for not accepting the testimonies of their peers. The evidence, the promise, their salvation was right before their very eyes. Seriously, Jesus was right there walking with them, and they still didn't see. Like I was saying before, I can't help but relate. The testimonies of my peers, of the people who love Jesus and strive to be more like him, these should be evidence enough for me to believe. Unfortunately, in our fallen world, it's possible to doubt your own belief. That's what those two were doing, and yet that night when Jesus broke the bread before them, their eyes were opened by the blessing, and they realized something, something truly wonderful! They recognized that they did believe the entire time.
When I doubt, I am filled with fear because one of the requirements of being saved is that you have to believe. I have to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. I have to believe that in His dying and rising, all my sins were taken to the grave. I often become afraid here because, well, what if I don't believe? If I don't believe, then I must not be saved, and if I am not saved, then I'm doomed. This is precisely what the devil wants, did you know that?
Even in our faith, in our strongest beliefs, the devil wants us to be afraid, to doubt, to wonder if God is really Who He says He is. First of all, God is Who He says He is. That's a fact.
The disciples, when Jesus broke the bread, say those incredible words, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” I love that question, that question that dispels all fear, all of my doubting, and that awakens in me my own belief. When I talk about God, when I recount everything He has done for me, when I witness to everything that God has been working in the lives of others, I feel a burning in my heart. I truly believe. What a blessing it is that God, knowing we'd struggle by doubting even our own faith, gives us the opportunity to speak aloud and testify to His Goodness, feeling a burning in our hearts.
Assurance of love, of faith, assurance of my own belief is never stronger than in the moments that I find myself talking about God. It's an excitement that builds on itself until my heart is racing and I feel like I am full to bursting. The power of testimony is that good. The Bible tells us we have all the evidence we need already, we just have to believe.
I want to let you know that it's okay to be like the two disciples. They were upset, and quite understandably. They didn't fully understand, not yet. Just know that you don't have to remain in your doubting. It's as easy as opening your mouth. Just speak, just testify to what God has done already. If we actually did try to testify to everything that God has done in our lives, we'd pass out long before we finished recounting.
One last thing here, the two disciples were made aware of Jesus’s presence in the breaking of bread. Jesus blessed them so that they'd see through their own haze. And then they realized, “Were not our hearts burning within us?”
So when we come to this table here and break bread, sharing amongst each other the Body and the Blood, let your eyes be opened to God's presence. He is here with us; that is something He promised to us. Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and if you struggle to know that with your mind, then know it in your heart. Amen.
Earl is a devoted disciple of Christ and a good friend here at LA Tech ACF. He is always available for an adventure or a good joke. A recent LA Tech graduate, as well as a member of our Discipleship Team, we look forward to having Earl’s kind and gentle spirit around for years to come.