God Did What???

Tonight’s topic while undoubtedly very sensitive and personal speaks to a broader misconception that prevails in the minds of men. Not much time goes by without hearing some testimony bared concerning understanding amidst a great tragedy. Often the thesis being how God did something quite terrible or else allowed something disastrous to happen in order to present a deeper lesson. One man proclaimed how God did this to him (this being terrible physical disfigurement) in order for Him to finally listen to God, while laying in a hospital bed clinging to life. And, far be it from me to not relate on a deep heart level to anyone trying to make sense after some terrible cruelty. How our hearts search for some good reason that makes sense or else lessens the pain for a reportedly nobler cause. But, here’s the thing. The misunderstanding comes from assuming all that we receive in life comes from the hand of God. As in, one force doling out both bad and good, sometimes at whim. Now, if that were true and I shudder at the thought of it, how frightful this life would become. At any random time, in the midst of any blissful moment, no matter what you did or did not do, God could ruin your life in a moment of time in order to teach a “better” lesson or teach “you” a lesson. Thank God that is not God! There is a distinct cruelty and a hatred in these awful things that happen to people. This great wickedness that besieges people at will remains wholly unknown to the masses. A God of love who is love could never do anything to a person that fell outside of love. To even think so feels sacrileges. Instead there is another force at work in the world today and it is responsible for every horrible thing that ever happened to you (and me). Being unaware of the source does not get rid of the source. Assigning evil’s bad intent to God does not make God’s intent bad. I often thank God that He is always a good God and that I’m so grateful He isn’t mean or harsh. Yet people would consider it more plausible to believe that God would actually inflict some horrendous tragedy upon for them for a lesson’s sake or because of some greater purpose. Oh my God people! God would never hurt you for any reason. None loves you more than He does. So you have to ask yourself, God did what???

In a world of reason, created by a God of reason, there always has to be a reason. There always has to be a reason. There is no good in bad and there is no bad in good. While people may be a mixture of both, in the spiritual realm there is no mixture. One hurts, One heals. One helps, one hinders. One blesses, one curses. One afflicts, One delivers. One is love and one is pure hate. There is no admixture. If something hurt you, took from you, afflicted you with disease, or stole your life and enthusiasm it did not come from God. Thinking it did is what allows it to continue. But, it came from somewhere. It came from evil, ultimately from the devil. Not because you are so bad but because he is. He is darkness, the absence of light. In that he is also the absence of everything you ever wanted in your life. Where he prevails your life suffers. Where God prevails your life heals. God said His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. It is what you do not know that gets you. Or worse, thinking evil comes at the hand of God in any capacity is the very height of ignorance. It is an absolute lie. It is a mistruth that seeks to cut at the heart of who God is to us. How can we ever hope to get His help in cleaning up the messes we have participated in, thinking He may have a dark side? Trying to comprehend the depth of whatever happened to you for whatever reason is a pursuit that has no end point because the end point is hidden from view. Suffice it to say it did not come from God. God does not abuse His children. God does not hurt His children. God does not deal harshly with His children. Some of what has been attributed to God would make Him the greatest child abuser of all time. Can God save you and heal you no matter what happened to you? Absolutely. Did He make it happen or as people foolishly conclude, allow it to happen? Never. God does not over rule your free will. Again, God did what?

Follow your reason. The things that don’t make sense aren’t supposed to make sense. See them for what they are, evil. Things only begin to make sense when God makes them make sense. You don’t need to get better, do better or be better. You need the illumination that God gives. You need some light on your path. When the light shines you can finally see things for what they are and begin to understand why things happen the way they do. You can learn of God and begin to experience His love. You can access His great power that rights every wrong if you can believe it. We have all endured our share of trauma and pain, some much more than others. But, throughout it all, God is here and a very present help in time of danger. You won’t have to wrestle with what God supposedly did. Instead, you will know what God did because it will bring joy and peace and deliverance to your life. God loves you very much and so do I…

Just some good thoughts…