Thoughts for another day

Oct. 10, 2012.

Today's verse: John 11:15. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What do you think my friend; is God always there?  Is He there in good and bad times?  Does He see our happiness interspersed with our sorrow?  Is He there in every facet of our lives?  Does He care about us?  There're these and many other questions particularly when we look into the deep dark hole, from which we know not how to escape.  You know, we may not be bothered about God being with us when things are good and there's peace in the meadow of our lives as we sing to the strains of the wind and mimic the moves of the swaying grass.  But the question of God's Presence arises when bad times hit; and when they refuse to move away like a juggernaut of brute force.

I look back at the face of Christ, a frail man on the Cross when He uttered, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?'  I think, if God can forsake His Own Son, what about me?'  Many religious ones may want to slap my mouth shut, but believe me, the question lingers for when a man is in misery, it's simply too much to accept that even God isn't there.  I ask, isn't it incredible that God isn't there in the darkest moments of life, particularly when you need Him most?  But, deep inside, my spirit may be in pain, yet it knows, 'what God says, God will do…' And God says, 'I AM with you always.'  Moses, a man who knew God said it, Deut. 31:6. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews repeated it, Heb. 13:5.  Above all the Master said it just as He was to ascend to where He came from, Matt. 28:20.

Now another doubt, when Lazarus was unwell, about to die, where was the Master?  He was aware of his illness, so why did He not go to Bethany?  The answer lies in our Scripture above.  For God to do a great deed in your life, He needs a desperate situation.  Without it, can you know how great He is?  Think of all the great works of God in the bible and even in the lives of people around you.   They were manifest when the situation seemed beyond repair.  My friend, God waits in silence when you suffer most for He wants to show His mighty hand in a manner you never expected or thought was possible.  Remember, God is always there; He is never away on a vacation.  Because you are His child, He wants to reward awesomely and He allows you to suffer a bit so then He can step in; just as Jesus stepped in four days after Lazarus died and raised him up!  Imagine the sight near the tomb and the disbelief as Lazarus walked out in burial cloths.  So too, know that God will work greatly only when you trust Him the utmost.  Don't dither between the fear the world will put in you and the fledgling faith you have, rather like Job say, 'My Redeemer lives' Job 19:25.