Just A Thought

 I don’t know about you, but I am a little weary of one-sided and short-sighted comments like, “How could there be a good God when so many bad things happen?” None of us are that simplistic in our philosophy when it comes to everyday logic. We don’t say, “How could there be any good parents with all the teen opioid addiction in the world?” We don’t settle for a silly  philosophy like: “If my father really loved me, he would protect me from ever getting hurt, and he would give me everything I ask for, so I can live a relaxed and blessed life - without putting much effort into anything myself.”

If one is going to be a fair philosopher, why not give faith an equal chance?  Why not ask, “With all the good that happens in the world, how could there not be a God?”  Why don’t we say, “Since God is a good Heavenly Father, I would expect Him to let me push against a few things in life. I don’t expect Him to move every obstacle or eradicate every enemy.” Those concepts carry just as much credibility and evidence as the one offered in the first paragraph. 

Once someone humbly removes themselves from the presumptuous role of “judge of the universe” (including judge of God) they may be able to embrace life for what it is, and see the hand of God in so many situations. One of the primary reasons for all the Bible stories is so we can see how, historically, God is involved in the lives of believers in miraculous ways. But, we can also quickly see that those believers sometimes experienced the full effect of pain, suffering and injustice. The Bible is His-story; It is about a God who made mankind knowing that their life on earth would be a testing ground. It is a story about a merciful Savior who came into time and died, to give every person an opportunity to be a part of His Kingdom. It is a story that reveals that most human beings will reject His generous offer and live by “their own truths”, and then blame the fallout on an absent God. But it is also a story of a great multitude of people who will quit giving power to evil, allow God to live in their hearts, and let God do good things – using them.

This life is but the vestibule of the real abundant life that takes place in the “great beyond.” Heaven will remain pure and happy because things like selfishness, cynicism and unbelief sift out those who are too proud or rebellious to live under the sovereign rule of God. What a revelation it is to realize we do not write the laws of the universe! How freeing to ignore the foolish questions posed by those trying to justify their personally designed philosophies. The kind of questions we entertain will dictate the lens through which we see life  - and God. We should be careful, because our questions will eventually affect our eternal destiny. 

One more tip: the people you choose to share life with will make all the difference in your journey. When you share life with people of faith,  even difficulties and evil can be redeemed. When you are humble enough to accept God’s rules, you will find grace to navigate a messy world, while on your way to a place where there will be no more tears. 

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Saturday, September 25, 2021