The Deep Things of God

I think nearly everyone is struck by the question, "Why?" Let's face it, there are a lot of things that happen in life that simply do not make sense: the tragic death of a child (Steven Curtis Chapman's recent loss), the wealth and extended life of the wicked (Hugh Hefner 82, founder of Playboy magazine), cataclysmic natural disasters (the cyclone of Myanmar or tornadoes of our own Midwest) and the constant rise of evil.

In the midst of all these issues man is left with the uneasy task of finding balance and stability in our personal belief systems. If I contend for the notion that the disasters of China and Bangladesh come to bring God's judgment on the wicked, how do I then explain tornadoes in small town USA where people of deep faith live and strive to hold onto basic moral values and Biblical truths. The reality that we live in a fallen world is all around us. What we sometimes fail to remember is that with the fall of Adam, came the "fall" of all of creation. Paul tells us that the whole earth waits in "birth pangs" for the final chapter of God's present work. We (the Church), as a faith community have to realize that much of what we see in the world today is simply the outcome of the fact that we live in a fallen world infected by sin and spoiled from the beauty in which it was first created.

It is faith in a Sovereign and all powerful (omnipotent) God that we can look at even the catastrophes of this life and still proclaim that God IS on His throne and His Kingdom will not be shaken by temporary events. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, Paul speaks about the "deep things of God". These are things that cannot be understood in the flesh, but can only be understood in the spirit. They are things which God only sometimes reveals to us. In chapter 13:12 he speaks about the fact that right now we all look through a foggy glass into the things of God, but that one day we will know and understand even the tragedies of our life from God's viewpoint.

Have there been tragedies in your life that you are currently or have struggled with? Would you like to dialogue about your situation? How did God see you through the issues of life? Is there still questions that are left unanswered?

Think about it, pray about it, let's talk about it. Click on the comment link below and let me know what your thinking in this area.

Blessings,

pd

The Words of Zechariah

This morning my reading was in Zechariah 14. It is a passage that speaks of the end of times when Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives and the mountain "shall be split in two." The particular passage ends with the statement "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be - 'The Lord is one, and His name is one (14:9)."



One of the things we know for certain is that this is not a prophetic passage that has already been fulfilled. It has yet to be accomplished. It is a prophetic message that speaks of the certainty of the End Times yet to come. As the fulfillment of so much of prophecy proves the validity of the Scriptures, the prophetic messages that have yet to be fulfilled ought to cause us to respond in at least two ways.



1) Knowing that these things will come to pass, what matter of persons ought we to be (2 Peter 3:11)? My question to you is, does the reality of prophecy cause you to respond differently to the world and events in the world than you would other wise? If so, how? If not, why not?



2) Because of the reality of prophecy and it's fulfillment in the past and certainty of the future, are you "looking forward to and hastening the day" of the Lord's coming? Do you look with excitement towards the Lord's coming or with uncertainty?



Think about it, pray about it and then comment about it.

Blessings,
pd