The Love of God

The Love Of God by Pastor Gary

It is always a challenge to reconcile difficult or tragic circumstances with the love of God. As a parent, one realizes that he cannot always shield his child from difficulty or harm. In Finding Nemo, Marlin and Dory are discussing Marlin's promise that he would never let anything happen to Nemo. Dory makes the statement, "That's a funny promise. You cant' never let anything happen to him, or nothing would ever happen to him." It is true that to make room for the good sometimes means making room for the bad. Although one would not purposefully put a loved one in harms way, life can be a risky business.

Is it God's responsibility to always keep us from harm? In Luke 4:9-12 we read, "The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, 'It says: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."'" Do we sometimes take unnecessary risks? Much of our culture is driven by an adrenaline high. Theme parks are constantly needing to build bigger and more death-defying roller coasters to satisfy the need for that next adrenaline high. People are often driven to take unnecessary risks in sports, hobbies, business, and relationships. Even failure can bring a certain excitement because of the uncertainty of the future. What now?

This obsession, one might even call it an addiction, for the next adrenaline high has wreaked havoc in every sector of our society. Are there risks that one can feel compelled to take against one's better judgment? Certainly in our dog-eat-dog capitalist society, people can feel that it is necessary to take certain risks if they are going to provide for themselves. Have we, as a culture, raised the bar too high? Are, what we call needs, really needs, or are they wants? It takes a huge amount of money just to eek out, what most would consider, a meager existence. When a retail store spends 41 million dollars to build a facility, have we not, perhaps, set our standards a little too high?

The poorest American is rich by the rest of the world's standards. That reality should make every American grateful to live in such a great country. Has, however, the "American dream" reached beyond all that is practical and appropriate and become the American fantasy? As a loving Father should, God sets appropriate boundaries for us. Like typical spoiled children, we resent those boundaries and are constantly "putting God to the test." When we reap the consequences of our inappropriate behavior, we turn on God and call Him names. We accuse Him of being unloving and narrow-minded. When all the while the real issue is that we want our way without consequence.

One has to wonder at the amazing grace in which we, as Americans, walk. We want God out of our government, schools and finances, then, turn and ask His blessing on our Nation. God has not dropped the ball. He is not to blame. Much of our demise is self-made. We are reaping a harvest of greed, need, and testing the limits. Setting boundaries is a loving thing to do. God is a good father. It is difficult and painful for Him, but if we insist, He will let us have our own way. We, then, will reap the consequences. As much as we accuse and complain, consequences really are a demonstration of the love of God.

D here: I like the statement that we want our way without consequences; that is so true. We want just enough God that He doesn't infringe on our personal enjoyment. We want His help when it suits us. When what He desires from us makes us a bit uncomfortable, we ditch Him. Yet, while we were (and are) sinners, Christ died for us.

Hmmm.
Derrick