Into the Fire

Getting outside oneself to take a clearer perspective requires us to look away from immediate circumstances to things much larger than the limited capacity of the here and now. Sometimes this is necessary to alleviate the current difficulties, thereby realizing "the plan" is so much bigger than our singular lives. Sometimes it's necessary to escape the boredom of routine and the consternation resulting from trying to accentuate life in general. And sometimes it's simply to realize this huge space above and beyond us and even all around us isn't random, unstructured, or even simplistic. It's far greater than the most gifted, the most intelligent, and the most imaginative minds in our world can create.

God built this world, the universes, and all that occupy them. In all the years of human life as we know it, mankind still cannot cure the common cold, has not discovered all the diseases and certainly not how to cure them, has never learned how to get along for any length of time without resorting to war over the most noble of causes and the most absurd. God did not build the sin into us. He gave us a choice. We made the wrong one and continue to do so on a daily basis.

There is one remedy, one solution, one answer to all the ills and sorrows of this life. His Name is Jesus. He gave His life that we could have that perfect life in eternity that we can never attain or achieve in our humanity on earth. No matter what we do, we will never be perfect. We won't even be good for long stretches of time. We're sinners. And Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life for us.

He's mocked. He's lied about. His followers make terrible mistakes and often demonstrate extreme hypocrisies, but He is faultless. He is the deliverer of mankind. The only one offered. The only one needed. He's the Savior of the world.

If you look up into the far off skies and wonder about who, how, and when, ask God to speak to you. Really. Ask Him to tell you about Himself. But don't ask if you don't want to know the answer, the reality of who He is. He knows your heart and your mind. He sees into your soul. He doesn't mess around.

As mad and evil as the world is leaning, we ache for justice and truth. There's only One place to find them. He's never been gone or absent. He's always been present. However, He doesn't impose His will. He offers it. Through Jesus. Don't delay. Wickedness increases. Ugliness is grabbing hold of hearts. Accept salvation while you can.

Father, hear the cries of empty hearts. Turn the Holy Spirit loose to call out to the lost. Let Jesus show them what real love looks like and wrap them in His arms when they surrender their wicked ways to His perfect ones. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.