5/15/2021 Ecclesiastes 11:5 [NIV]

 

5/15/2021 Ecclesiastes 11:5 [NIV]

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

…And even if you do understand the science of weather or childbirth, this still does not allow you to understand God or His ways. That is the problem with the very concept of God, the creator of existence itself. We do not know what we do not know, and only have a shaky understanding of what we think we know, as evidenced by all the arguments arising to challenge even that.

We live in a world being torn apart by ideas.

If God exists – and he does; and if he has made himself known – and he has even to the point of entering into his own creation as a human being; what are we to do about that? Our own best religious efforts have contributed to the chaos and suffering of our world, as evidenced by the anger and blowback that now threatens to silence us. If we are honest, we must admit that some of the reaction to what some religious people have said and done is justified.

It is not enough to know about God or form our own ideas and project them on others (as I seem to be doing here). Jesus was clear about his expectations for us: Love. Don’t judge. That includes those we see as ‘enemies’ or ‘others’. Especially those. Our only job is to be good witnesses of Jesus and what he has done for us. Of all that we know, that is what is most certain to us and most needed by others.

God expects us to speak out and act, not sit helplessly by overwhelmed by spiritual forces determined to silence our witness. They lost. Jesus won. It isn’t our words that will bring life to those lost in the shadows, but God Himself speaking through us with life-giving words to those who seek him, and bring the smell of death to those determined to deny him and live in the darkness. We can do no more than that and must live with the consequences of God’s plan to redeem both heaven and earth.

Joyfully, fearlessly, and with Love.

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