Saturday, January 14, 2012
~ 6:03 PM
~
I've been rotting at home, doing nothing besides reading and reading. And guess what I finished another book, entitled " When God Doesn't Make Sense"
It was quite interesting and addictive.
This is a really good question to ask, "Does God really make sense?"
I have a friend that told me that religious belief is merely a kind of psychological effect that somewhat bring calmness and assurance to the mind. Is it true?
Is religion real? Or is it just another successful propaganda which lasted for centuries?
And if God really does exist, why are there countless catastrophes, disasters and wars happening throughout the globe?
Why are there sickness, death, divorce, suffering?
Does religion make sense when you're looking from this perspective?
Why do good people suffer, while the evil one prevail and live long?
It's really quite contradicting to the promises of God and the Scriptures, isn't it?
Proverbs 28 : 25 says, He who trust in the Lord will prosper. But many are suffering, many are dying, and there are many more who are in between.
Is it time for us to question God, and come to Him with all sorts of questions, demanding complete and reasonable explanations from Him? Many have done so, many have been blaming God, questioning Him when something is their lives started to go out of control.
I've seen many injustice in this world, or should I say the world around me.
A good friend of mine. Filial, hardworking, health-concious, diligent, selfless, and handsome of course. But out of nowhere, and without any satisfying explanations from any specialist, life took a slightly wrong turn, and he had kidney failure. And yeah, both kidneys. Life isn't fair, right?
"Why me?", is one of the first few thoughts that came into his mind. "It is not Fair!". We do realize that this fallen world is full of injustice, and yet we still get disappointed with God whenever adversity strikes.
My childhood pastor, Pastor Rueben, was a good man. A decent man. He brought me to Christ by praying the sinner's prayer. I was quite mischievous at that age and yet he did not complain a bit about me. And yeah, all of sudden, the Hepatitis disease that he had all the while became acute liver cancer. And at that time, all he had was at most 6 months to live. And of course, he is with the Lord now, leaving behind his wife and a son. But the point is, why him? Why a decent man who serves the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul?
Can anyone come out with a good explanation?
I'm pretty sure that as Christians, we all knew that life as a Christian are full of persecutions. Christians are killed, beheaded, stoned to death or tortured in some of the places around the world, even when human race are stepping into the thirteenth year of the 21st century.
But when we started to get involved in the big picture, playing the roles as Christian soldiers, can we still hold on to our faith? Can we still be "Still, and acknowledge that He is God", that He is in control no matter in what circumstances? Even when we're in the most adverse situation, we are ought to know that He will never put us in a situation where we can't handle. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. ~1 Corinthians 10 : 13 .
Talking about faith and trust.
This is another interesting illustration from the book,
"Imagine yourself near the beautiful and dangerous Niagara Falls on the border between Canada and upstate of New York. Suppose a circus performer has strung a rope across the falls with the intention of pushing a wheelbarrow to the other side. If he losses his balance, he will surely drown or be crushed in the churning waters below. Just before stepping on the rope, the stunt man turns to you and says, " Do you think I can accomplish this feat?"
You reply that his reputation has preceded him and that you fully believe he has the ability to walk the tightrope. In the other words, you have faith that he will succeed.
But then he says, "If you really believe I can do it, how about getting in the wheelbarrow and crossing to the other side with me?" To accept that invitation would be an example of remarkable trust."
There's another example in Matthew 14, when Jesus walked on water. All of us have faith that our Lord can perform miraculous acts, for instance, walking on water. But how many of us, will have the trust in Him, and get of the boat like Peter did, and walk together with Jesus (Though he doubted the Lord and started to fear a bit, that's when he started sinking.)?
We are all human beings, and when adversity strikes, we start to tremble, and our faith will start to shatter. It depends, of course, someone people of great faith still stand still and wait for the deliverance of our Lord. Our Father in Heaven always give us the allowance of doubt, as long as we turn back to Him in due time. He even forgive us whenever we blamed Him for not being there for us whenever we needed Him.
There are so many examples in the bible, there are even more examples in the world out there when God seems to be millions of miles away, leaving His people on their own to suffer. But, are there any explanations for all of these? Mortals like us are trying to comprehend the act of our own Creator, the Almighty God, isn't that ridiculous?
I guess it's better for us to let God be God. All we can do it to hold on firm to our faith in Him, trust Him with all we have.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ~ Daniel 3 : 17 - 18
Fellow B.A.S.I.C, stay strong in Him... (:Labels: Book, Christianity, thoughts
