I'm puzzled (and a bit incredulous) when I hear people say miracles don't happen anymore. I've lost count of those I've witnessed, quite honestly. Every day I find so much evidence of a loving, personal, present, and concerned God that I'm a bit embarrassed I didn't see Him or his handiwork for the better part of 30 years.
I certainly understand and respect atheists and agnostics, for I was one for many years. I mean that I knew what I had been told, but it did little or nothing to affect my day-to-day life. When people spoke of "a personal relationship with God" and "your personal lord and savior," my skin crawled. It sounded insipid and weak. TV evangelists reminded me more of Amway salesmen than they did spiritually-enlightened people who had any clue about life and its goings-on. So I get it. I have always loved science and have found myself entranced by theories involving dark matter and differential space/time. Still, I have yet to find anything that trumps what I have witnessed with my own senses and tried to explain away -- only to run dry when it came to 'reasonable explanation'. I have become the butt of my previous jokes, and I couldn't be happier.
Science may explain much of what God has done on an elementary level, but most have no concept of the complexity of the design He has wrought -- and how it all flows together seamlessly. What causes the biggest problem is when an arrogant person seeks god-like power and tries to reproduce or duplicate -- or improve on God's creation. That is what causes all the strife, disease, murder, starvation, and war. It is arrogant self-will run riot that is to blame for these things -- not God. Why does He let it happen? He must if He is to allow us to have our own free will. Without free will, there would be none of these. Without free will, however, none could CHOOSE Him. All evil in the world is a product of that free will given to a people capable of unspeakable beauty -- and horror.
I hope that someone might read my blog and reconsider the God they wrote off long ago -- or if a believer already finds this a 'chicken soup for the soul' sort of sanctuary -- where God is praised and celebrated. Let us share stories of God's triumphs over the enemy and encourage each other with them!
In our home group this week, we participated in an activity where we first listed all that God has saved us FROM, and secondly, all God has saved us FOR. What I thought would be a simple, short list of items turned into an EPIC story of redemption.. after redemption.. after redemption. Looking back through my life, I saw myriad instances where my Father's loving, sovereign hand scooped me up from the whirlpool of events (many of which I created) that threatened to snuff out my life. It happened again... and again... and again.
Take a look at your own life. What instances in your life was your welfare threatened? How many narrow misses happened? How many times did you fall ill? Where if you were born at an earlier point in time, would you have died? How many different times did events or circumstances prevent you from being in perhaps a horrific accident -- which would have taken you out of the game if you had been on time?
One of the ways I envision God is as a superhero. Like the first Superman movie, many see him as a careless, absent-minded buffoon -- because no one knows what he's doing anonymously or what he is doing in the background when he's not trying to people-please. But imagine, if you will, that God is a superhero. Not only is He a superhero -- but THE Superhero that saves not one person at a time... but hundreds....no, THOUSANDS at a time. He fights the fiery attacks by multiple servants of his nemesis simultaneously while trying to protect those He loves from the worst of them. Imagine, at the same time, that this Superhero is the natural Father of every child under attack. Imagine the fierce love and anger hurled at the attackers. And imagine, if you will, the heartache when those who He told to stay clear ignore His warnings and wander into the line of fire to their doom. After all, how could their loving Father actually know that servant they like (sex, drugs, video games, porn, alcohol, gambling, homosexuality, lying, cheating, stealing) REALLY intends to hurt them?? How could He possibly know for sure?? And so they cleave to their naive attachments and fall into the line of fire by the Hero who is battling with the enemies of His Beloved Children. And they die. They get wounded. Some even blame him for the natural consequences of their own choices. Some become so angry they disown Him, curse Him, and publicly denounce and defame him. Imagine the pain and heartache of the Superhero who gives his last breath to save and defend his children. Speaking of children, think of every temper tantrum by a child who doesn't like being told "No" by a parent who knows the consequences of what they want to do. Think of how they dig their heels in defiantly and say, "You're not the boss of me!!" Sound familiar?
A close friend says there's nothing we can do or give that God needs. I understand what she is saying -- we can't earn brownie points from God or garnish favor with Him. There is nothing we can do out in the world that He can't do alone. He doesn't NEED us for His will to be done. However, there is a most precious gift we could give Him: minister to HIS heart. Do things for his other children in love. Stop fighting and make peace. Practice some self-control. Grow up and put your "big kid" breeches on. Graduate from nursing on spiritual milk to feeding yourself solids. How?
Be grateful even when others seem better off. Trust that not all is as it seems. Be mindful when the world works to lull you to sleep. Remember who He is: The creator of the universe and the author of our individual stories. Thank Him for being who He is -- and for doing what He does. Spread the word that you know His true identity and give Him credit where credit is due. Refute the words of those spreading lies. Defend him with your mouth -- in discourse. Defend him with your actions -- by letting your actions demonstrate that you get it. Do this with your heart -- not out of guilt, but out of sincere appreciation and love. Listen for his voice. Listen to his warnings. Heed them. Obey them. Share them with those who will listen if He prompts you to do so, but remember His admonishments are almost always JUST FOR YOU. Mind the log in your own eye before criticizing others because God is at work in their lives, and to judge them is to judge God's timeline. Pray for those who are still mid-tantrum.
Stop playing God, holding grudges that poison your heart. Let the hurts go and let your own heart heal. Forgive and let God work out His perfect justice on all people and things; He knows all circumstances, motives, and agendas. Only He can sift the ignorant from the willful and assess what truly needs to come to pass. If we pass judgment on another, we interfere and complicate and frustrate God's plan -- which is ALWAYS for the good of those who love Him. (Oooooh...am I embarrassed about all the time I wasted getting in His way!)
