Into the Fire

The crisis of soul. That moment when you decide if you do, still, desire to, and/or believe in the God of the Bible. The God who points you to His Son Jesus Christ. The God who IS, WAS, and WILL ALWAYS BE who He says He is. Not who you say He is or who you think you want Him to be, or who someone else says He is, but who He says He is. Unreachable except through His Son. Not untouchable, not unavailable, not without mercy, kindness, love, or compassion, but unreachable in the sense that without Jesus there is no eternal access.

Why? So many ask our obvious number one question about so many attributes, conditions, events, and circumstances concerning the majestic matters of a God too big for the human mind to fully grasp. Supernatural to our natural. Extravagant to our meagerness. Massive to our mini. So far outside our mainstream as to be unimaginable in many ways.

I would guess the number one stumbling block for unbelievers is the condition of evil in this world. One of the all time most frequently asked questions concerning God is (paraphrased): How can a good God who can do anything allow all these horrid things to happen in this world? The most accepted answers offered by unbelievers are (paraphrased) that He doesn’t care enough to intervene, He couldn’t exist and be this cruel, and/or He isn’t a loving God.

But what about when a Christian experiences the ugliest of situations? Murder, rape, abuse, to name a few. What then? How “good” is God then? How many times do we cringe in the midst of some tragic event or ongoing serious, painful illness or injury, when we read in the Word that these “light and momentary afflictions/sufferings/struggles” will be replaced by perfection when our life is over? Well, hurray! Only we don’t really consider them “light and momentary” when they’re horrendous and overwhelming and consume our every waking moment. What then?

The crisis of soul. Is it easier to not engage faith? Is it easier to abandon faith than sustain it in times of extreme trials? I do believe it depends on our experience with the Lord. Are we shallow Christians? Is our faith based on a “What have you done for me lately, God?” mentality? Do we not expect hardship, pain, and suffering in our walk down life’s road? Are we naïve enough to think that we, ourselves, won’t complicate our lives enough at times to cause our own pain? Do we secretly think those who suffer are being punished by God?

I marvel at the fortitude, love, and servitude of third world Christians, of the underground church in China. These people have found the realization. God is good. He is who He says He is. He’s not here to snap to our beck and call. He will provide a place where the first and only results of choosing sin at the invention of our creation will no longer bring us suffering and will end the quandary of choosing the Spirit’s way over the flesh. But this is it for now. A broken world where sin abounds, pain persists, evil flourishes and gains ground heading to the end, and horrible things do happen to “good” people, even Christians.

One of the choices Christians face, along with all other people, is the death of loved ones. Infants, children, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends. Who doesn’t die? Some die the ugliest of deaths. Why? I don’t know. I also don’t know why some others close their eyes and drift off quietly into eternity.

I do know death wasn’t in the original provision for humankind, even for animals. Eden was destined for eternity.

I have read several novels in recent months which deal with estranged believers due to the deaths of loved ones. It’s very difficult to make these characters likable. They’re bitter and resentful and somehow reason that their particular loved one(s) should’ve been spared over all others who die daily. I know the pain of losing loved ones, and it can be crippling. Especially if it’s a child or a spouse. The pain feels insurmountable and if allowed can ruin life. And it most certainly will for some time. Grief is a prominent part of this life on earth. But it, too, will be replaced with joy. Hard to conceive of that when in the middle of sorrow.

So, what’s it going to be? The realization that God is good? Or the conclusion that He’s not. It comes down to that basic question for everyone. I believe Him or I don’t. I believe He sacrificed His Son for us, a gesture of pure love and forgiveness, or I think it’s all a farce. A sham because this world is filled with evil and ugly people and wicked events and hurts and sorrows. Yeah, that’s what the curse of sin does.

At some point, the realization that this place is not permanent for any of us hits. During that flash of focus, the decision about the eternal destination must be viewed. Is God real?

Father, you are more real than all we see. You are close, everywhere, in the suffering and pain, and in the laughter and celebration. You weep, you enjoy. You provide, you remove. You are love. You are truth. You are life. You are the way, Jesus. I have been without you and now I am with you. Help me to remain forever yours. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.