Lots of sadness going around these days. Lots of tragedy and deep wells of sorrow and fear that sometimes threaten to swamp our hope, our peace, our trust.
Horrific atrocities in Iraq, with innocents dying by the score as the world seems helpless to do anything to stop this genocide. Ebola rampaging across Africa, reaping inevitable death and terror in it's wake. And again, the world seems shocked, stunned and stumbling in it's response. Death, rioting and looting in a town in our nation--are we coming apart at the seams? And then the sad, senseless suicide of a man who made us all laugh…and we wonder: did the laughter merely camouflage a chasm of tortured pain and loneliness? And then there's dear, dear friends valiantly fighting battles against cancer and other diseases.
And all we can do is cry out: "Help us, Lord Jesus! Save us."
In the gospel of John, Jesus comes to the tomb of one of His dearest friends--Lazarus--now dead four long days. And Jesus does something remarkable--He wept. Yes that's a totally natural response in the face of death. But here's the thing: Jesus knew that in a matter of moments, He would raise this man to new life. The Lord fully understood that wonder, joy, and celebration would be breaking out in mere seconds when He commanded, "Lazarus, come out!" And a dead man, still wrapped in his linen shroud, would shuffle out.
Jesus knew every bit of this…and yet He wept.
Why the tears? Because that's the heart of God on display for all of us. Not only His tender love and compassion for His grieving children, but also His sorrow and hatred of the putrid effects of sin on this broken planet. All that sickness, sorrow, death, despair, isolation, hatred, fear. Jesus grieved, even as He prepared to redeem and resurrect. What a Savior.
I know I'm not alone in looking around me and feeling both terribly sad as well as fearful, wondering where this is all headed. Asking God to move and show forth His power in a mighty, redeeming way in this world that so desperately needs Him…yet so stridently rejects Him. Oh Father, we need not only Your supernatural power and healing…we urgently need Your grace.
But even as I pondered these sorrows, the Lord's Word spoke into the sadness and confusion--
"I have said these things to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
He overcame not by the power of tyrants…or the intimidation of radicals …or the solutions of government…or the wisdom of the experts…or the butchery of extremists.
No, He overcame by stretching His arms out wide and saying, "I love you this much. Come, all who will come…and be saved by the blood of the Lamb."
The gentle, sinless, perfect Lamb of God…who is the omnipotent, awesome, glorious Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And He will not be defeated or deterred by any person or power, visible or invisible.
And so on this day in August of 2014, we proclaim that our God is great, good, and glorious, and in Him, and Him alone, we place our trust. We join with the Psalmist:
"But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteous of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." (Ps.71:14-18)
Yes, Lord, cancer…and death…and disease…and terrorism…and depravity may seem to shake the foundations of this earth. But they will not win. You will conquer them all, for You have already overcome the world and sin and death.
When fear threatens to overwhelm us…remind us of Your greatness and glory, Father. When despair rocks us…remind us of Your sovereign control over all, all, all things. When sadness wants to swallow us…remind us of Your unconquerable joy, hope and peace.
And when any lesser power, thing, or person steals our security…remind us, in the words of Joshua, to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
If we go to the killing streets of Iraq…You are there. If we go to the bloody dust of Africa…You are there. If we go to the cancer ward…You are there.
And You will never, ever leave us nor forsake us.
You will overcome.
And we--praise God--are in You.
To God--the Lamb who washes away sin and the Lion who destroys every enemy--be all the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment