Where is God when disaster strikes

Spend a minute with me thinking about an animated loud exuberant Red Faced Monkey. Jake is busy as a 2 year old. Active. Boundless. Perpetually inquisitive and endlessly in search of a new discovery, especially if food is involved. Please keep Jake firmly in mind as we move along and make certain not to forget him. The Problem of Pain Why am I here He Knew The Weight of Glory There is a King. Actually Three Kings. Unique. There are three, but they are so completely perfect, kind, knowing, present, powerful and loving that they are really completely one. Three, but one. They can finish each other’s sentences. They are everywhere, all powerful, know everything and are everywhere. They have always been this way. There was never a time when they were not. They are drenched inside and out in beauty, harmony, peace, joy, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, patience, provision, power, purpose, comfort and love. There is nothing they don’t have and absolutely nothing they need. Their existence is completely perfect and they are completely Holy. In fact you can’t even speak about their perfection in terms we can grasp. Their holiness is overwhelming and cannot be measured. The three in one is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. Their love is boundless. This too is beyond measure. It is higher than the highest heaven and deeper than the deepest ocean. They are both completely HOLY and completely LOVING. However their infinite holiness cannot entertain or tolerate the least imperfection. This is completely incompatible with their nature. It is like trying to keep a room dark when the bright light is turned on or trying to keep ice cold when the laser is on and burning. They are perfect and they will not stop until everything is perfect in purpose and holiness. Anything less is completely foreign to their nature. While they need nothing and are completely perfectly content and at peace in themselves, their love overflows in kindness and generosity to us. The three and one elected to created humans and made them in their image. Meaning they chose those who could love, could reason, could choose, could rule and could enter into relationship. They would make us fearfully and wonderfully and put us in the finest accommodations. They simply wanted to share the love, relationship, community, joy, peace and purpose that they enjoyed so fully. Requirement. They did not want to create creatures that would be forced to love them back. If we are really to have a seat at their table, to have a place and purpose, to be a part, to share the love and relationship, it must be our choice. This choice is absolutely essential, otherwise what is the point. The idea was to extend the love of the three-in-one to others. To widen the circle of relationship. To allow others to participate in the divine glory. To commune with God. It is a BIG BIG STORY!!! Their creative power is limitless. They don’t need a Project Manager, a Designer, Architect, Logistics Planner, Design Specialist, Graphic Artist, Public Relations, Time Line, GANTT chart or any of the rest. No CAD/CAM, just their word. Literally, they speak and entire universes come into existence with a simple word from their mouth. There is nothing they can’t do. If the creation is not able to choose, to have free will, to choose to love or reject, then there is no point. If I could speak a universe into existence and speak it out of existence with just a word then what is the point. It is like turning on and off a light switch. It has no meaning or purpose. Like playing Solitaire, but God is not bored and in need of something to do, to fulfill His meaningless existence. God is purposeful. Everything He creates is beautiful, has meaning and purpose. Everything. Especially You. The problem of free will and God’s knowledge. The word tells us that God knows the end from the beginning. Meaning he knows what will happen in the end before He ever begins. Genesis 6:1-6 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Isaiah 14:12-14 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' Revelation 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. Luke 10:18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Sweet Deal. Adam and Eve excellent deal. To rule, to have a purpose, to live in perfection, a place. I think they had been there long enough to get bored. God created you to rule. They didn’t take that to God. He created the whole earth and the universe. There is much more ruling available. Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. Even in perfection we fall. Do we need the pain to learn to follow and trust? Contentment – Keeping your eyes on Him – Adam & Eve and others He knew we would be at home with Him for a while content in our relationship with Him. Each evening He came to His creation and like little children the created were enamored with all that they had discovered that day. Of course the Three-in-One already knew what they had discovered, He made it and he of course knew what they would discover before they discovered it. During this blissful time there was beautiful relationship. He had created a perfect universe, a place, a purpose and the created were given all of this to rule. I suppose that the creation ran out of things to discover and rule over in this little garden after a time and frankly got bored. Rather than ask the King for more to rule over or for more purpose they lazily began to entertain thoughts of reaching into the one thing the King told them not to do. They took their eyes off of Him and did not find their contentment, purpose, meaning, joy and love solely in Him. Not unlike Peter who attempted to walk on the water. Doing fine, eyes on Jesus, living in the moment, enjoying the relationship, then he jumped ahead worrying about what will happen next. Relationship with God is only in the moment. The past is forgiven and gone. When you take your eyes off of Him you fall. If you look around even for a moment you fail. Prison, Addiction, broken Relationships, Abuse, Divorce, Neglect, Loneliness, Boredom, Longing, Hunger, Economy, Disease, Death, Tyrants, Destruction and on it goes. There was a time much earlier when a third of the King’s helpers , the Angels, decided they had had enough. They were not content. There it is again. Contentment. Satan and a third of the angels had a good deal. Adam and Eve had a good deal. To be in relationship with the self-existent, holy, perfect, patient, loving creator, who is completely powerful, knows everything and present everywhere at the same time. To be cared for by Him. To have all of your needs met in Him. To be created in His image, to live in His garden or in His holy heaven. To be known. To be acknowledged by Him and to touch His divine glory. To have Him find joy in relationship with you. To have the Holy One say to you “well done good and faithful servant”. Too good for any amount of words you can imagine, constructed by the most elegant wordsmith. But for these it wasn’t enough. Too simply be in the moment to love Him and to be loved by Him. To simply trust and obey was too much. To break covenant. To adulterously run after something else. To leave your first love and try to find joy, purpose, knowledge, rule, dominion, love in another. 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Matthew 14:28-31 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Luke 11:24-26 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. We’re in a fight You don’t push out sin and fear by sheer determination and grit, you empty yourself of yourself and you continually fill yourself with Him. See Romans 12:1 Realize you are hungry for Him. You are starving to death. Most of you won’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of mealtime, even if the food quality is poor. You know you are hungry. You are in a fight. If you knew there would be a fight later today you would be ready. If you knew someone was coming after you, you would do your best to be ready. If you knew you had an appointment with the parole board tomorrow you would be ready. It is amazing how many people don’t know they are in a fight. 1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Purpose He loves you. He is not oblivious to your pain. He hurts with you. Deeply, but he must keep the door open longer for others. Wouldn’t you love for Him to come back right now? What if He came back 50 years ago. You’re out. There were others suffering death, disease, prison, slavery, abuse, poverty so that you would have an opportunity. Can you imagine the gratitude that millions will have for you that God did not stop this world sooner and allowed them to join in the story. Endure, find joy, peace, kindness, love, patience, gratitude, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control in the midst of suffering. When we doubt because of our pain and the pain all around us, we are asking the wrong question and looking through the wrong end of the telescope. The question is now where is God and how can He be good, but how is that He has been so patient in our rebellion. In fact, given that He knew in advance what would happen, why did He create and why does He love like that? Unfathomable. Isaiah 46:8-11 "Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart. Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you've had or ever will have— incomparable, irreplaceable— From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do,' Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it. I've planned it, so it's as good as done. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Job Job lost his family, his possessions, his health and was left with some sorry friends and a negative wife. Job thought God hated him and was unjust. Job is likely the first book written in the Bible. God knew about our questions about pain. He wanted to give us a story, so that we would know that life is hard. He didn’t create it, but he knows we need it. Job thought he was alone, but he was center stage in the largest of drama’s as all of heaven and hell were looking on as an epic battle ensued as Job fought Satan and God was glorified. If Job knew that he was asked to glorify God and to be an example for billions who would suffer after him and he would be famous forever what would his attitude have been. Sons of Korah Numbers 16:1-3 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" Numbers 16:8 Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! Satan, Adam and Eve share something in common. They had it good. Perfect in fact and it wasn’t good enough. They weren’t content. They didn’t keep themselves focused on Him. To simply Trust and Obey. To find joy and contentment in Him. Numbers 16:31-33 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. Numbers 16:40 as the LORD directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD, or he would become like Korah and his followers. Numbers 26:11 The line of Korah, however, did not die out. Note: The sons of Korah were Levites served in the temple, and they could no longer serve in the temple. Now what? Psalm 84 For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [b] 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah 9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Matt Redman Better is One Day – 1995. Millions of Christians worshipping. How lovely is Your dwelling place, Oh Lord Almighty My soul longs and even faints for You For here my heart is satisfied, within Your presence I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings Better is one day in Your courts Better is one day in Your house Better is one day in Your courts Than thousands elsewhere (repeat) One thing I ask, and I would seek, to see Your beauty, To find You in the place Your glory dwells My heart and flesh cry out, For You the living God Your Spirit's water for my soul I've tasted and I've seen, Come once again to me. I will draw near to You. I will draw near to You How lovely is Your dwelling place O'Lord Almighty My soul longs and even faints for You For here my heart is satisfied within Your presence I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings Better is one day in Your courts Better is one day in Your house Better is one day in Your courts Than thousands elsewhere One thing I ask and I would seek to see Your beauty To find You in the place Your glory dwells One thing I ask and I would seek to see Your beauty To find You in the place Your glory dwells My heart and flesh cry out for You the living God Your spirits water to my soul I've tasted and I've seen come once again to me I will draw near to You, I will draw near to You Paul and John Paul was in prison and desperately wanted freedom to go and preach. God had him right where He wanted him. God made him stay put so that he could write a large portion of the New Testament. John was imprisoned on the Island called Patmos and wrote for us the Book of Revelation. Joseph Joseph was badly treated and spent 13 years away from his family and largely in prison, but brought salvation to the world and his own family. Abraham and Moses Never saw their promises. Babylon and others The Israelites were in Egyptian Slavery and Abuse. They spent 40 years wandering around the desert. They were in Egyptian bondage, Babylonian captivity, Roman occupation and many other trials. Millions of Israelites in hundreds of generations never saw the hope and promise. Had they known that through God using circumstances to hold them together as a group for thousands of years to bring the world the Christ what would their attitude have been? Some never saw much but misery. There part was to trust, obey, be patient and do their part in the larger story. Hebrews 11:32-40 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Attitude You see we are far from holy, in fact when you get right down to it our best if filth, full of twisted motives and selfish ambition. Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. When God tells us not to be anxious that’s just what He means. NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. Not prison, the system, the judge, the jury, your family, the future, restitution or your accusers. Live in the moment with Him. He has got you. He has got you completely. Every morning before you allow one thought in your mind about your circumstances allow Him in and nothing else. He is in charge. He has got you. You can trust Him and have peace and joy. Will you choose Him? Will you choose pain? Will you choose discipline? Will you choose to be strong? Will you choose to trust? Or will you rebel? Duck the pain? Find an escape? Bury yourself in a drug? Steal from someone else? Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces (E)endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be (G)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If I told you that in exchange for a life time of extreme pain and difficulty you could experience an eternity of Utopian Perfection beyond all you could ask or imagine. An eternity of love, relationship, peace, joy, kindness, purpose, dominion, provision and so much more compared to a fleeting list of pain and trouble you would choose the pain every time and so would He. He chose pain, because He chose you over His own tranquility and comfort. Will you chose Him over the pain. Will you hold the line, defend the defenseless, serve your family, deny yourself, empty yourself? If someone told you that the Taliban had planned a sleeper cell in Dallas and they were preparing to detonate a nuke in downtown, who wouldn’t do everything they could to find it. Everyone wants to be a hero. The question is will you do the really hard work. Daily denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Him (Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:23). When you do, you will find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Hope Where is your Hope? Are you hoping in your release date? Credit for your time served? Getting a letter? Finding a job? Getting reestablished? Restoring relationships? The next election? I have no hope in the present on the grand scale. The economy, prison, war, disease, earthquakes, abuse, divorce, anger, selfishness, slavery, Iran, Nukes, WMD’s, terrorism, Russia, Hamas, Taliban, Al Qaeda and on and on. The church is Plan A for this world and there is no Plan B. The church is largely dead, inactive and self-absorbed. It often has to get worse before it gets better. God will let us come to the end of ourselves. We have tried Kings, Marxism, Socialism, Communism and even Democracy. Notice how all of Islam is rebelling against oppression. Islam has failed too. The selfish and greedy have abused others and nearly sunk the whole country. God quietly waits while we fall on our face and look to Him. Get a vision for Heaven We have a home. It is beautiful. Jesus went to prepare a place for us. Not a 2’x2’ place to stand in with a choir on a cloud, but a place to rule. He is building the place and growing us into the role. He is giving us dominion. We will judge angels. We will be like Him (1 John 3:1-3). Romans 8:29-30 (predestined to be conformed to the image of the son). Trust Him. Surrender to Him. Find a smile. Choose joy. No Surprises God knew. He knew before He created. He knew completely. No surprises. No improvise, adapt and overcome. He chose. Just stop and contemplate that. He chose. He knew and He chose you. I mean that He chose you. 7 billion people or just one. All the same. He chose relationship. Out of His overwhelming love and grace. He chose. Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing (I)riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. God was not surprised. He chose. He has done everything. He created a universe that is magnificent beyond measure. He cut covenant with us. He kept His word completely as we were completely wretchedly unfaithful. He intentionally chose, knowing the cost. He chose to enter the story to let each of us break His heart. He chose to allow His creation to bring Him pain. He chose to commit to us no matter what. To enter into the most sacred covenant with us. He came to our wretched world. Contrast Imagine that for a while. The God of the universe, left His throne and came to our world. Think about it some more. Can you begin to even fathom what a vast step, what a huge gift it was that He came. Creator became a part of His creation! Imagine Jerry Jones, Ross Perot, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or the Sultan of Brunei used all of their considerable influence and liberated you from your situation, gave you everything you could imagine, were patient, kind and generous to you and then you attacked them, were convicted and sent right back here. But not in Dawson, Hutchins or Polunsky’s Death Row, but to the most torturous bloody abuse you can imagine and then took your place. The fact that we are even created is breathtaking, that we can know of Him, His existence, His divinity and stunningly that we are able to speak His name. We are unworthy to even look on His kingdom, breath His air, dirty up His creation and certainly to revile against His will. When you combine a true understanding of how very far from who He is with an understanding of what He has done, praise comes gushing out of you. Out of every thought, every motive, every opportunity, and every resource at your command. You can’t keep from singing His praise. How can you ever say thank you enough, do enough or work to make Him more famous on this Earth. That is where life is lived, not in checking off the rules or giving the right amount. Not in trying not to lie, manipulate, abuse substances, steal or be kind to your families. It is wreckless abandonment to denying yourself and doing what He commands. His yoke is easy. Take every thought captive and surrender to Him. Live in the moment. What does He want? Do it. It is seeing a need and rushing to meet it. It is fervent prayer (just communicating fully, freely, intently with the one you love passionately and with all of your being). He continues to love you this way. It is without fear. He does not want relationship out of your fear or reluctant dutiful acceptance. He wants you heart soul mind body in relationship and love with Him. He knew it wouldn’t be that way. That we would be far from it. That we would break covenant, early, often and in the most vile and abusive self-centered ways imaginable. Today we look on the “problem of pain” and can’t believe a loving holy God could be real when so much pain, heartbreak, cancer, disease, slavery, abuse, war, terror, disaster and calamity are allowed to be so pervasive. Unfortunately it is the wrong question. If God created. If He chose us, this would be the outcome. Create or not create. That is the question. He knew the pain. Adam, Eve and Satan tried relationship without pain and it was a complete failure. Our pain is the only thing that draws us to Him. Unfortunately proven time and again without a reason to be drawn to Him we will rebel every time. God knew it would be hard. He knew the cost for each of us and He certainly knew the cost to himself. He knew and He chose YES!! You see our pain is not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Generations Each generation has wanted Christ to return. We owe a big thank you to those who have gone before us and had to suffer so that we would live and have an opportunity to meet Christ and be saved. When thousands and millions come up to and tell you stories of redeemed lives and thank you for enduring, so that the door might have been left open for them, what will you say? God knew. He knew what would happen. He knew what it would cost. He knew and yet He created. He knew and yet He fully lived in each moment, experienced each heartache. He knew it would break His heart. He knew the cost to His son. He chose you anyway. God hates sin. He hates to see you hurt. He hates it. He hates it. Weighed against eternity in relationship with Him, there is no comparison. Eternity in beauty, perfection, provision, purpose, personality and peace is worth any price this world exacts. When you combine a healthy understanding of how completely unworthy you are. Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. With a strong understanding of how holy righteous loving and gracious God is, praise just comes flowing out. When you allow this joy to fill you, by constantly renewing your mind (Romans 12:1-2) to your own sinfulness and His amazing grace you can’t do enough, you can’t love enough, you can’t tell enough people. A river of life comes pouring out of you. Keep your eyes on Him. Imagine you were on the Titanic, a ship in the North Atlantic during late winter. The ship sank and you and others are in row boats just trying to survive. Some are in the water and some have died, for other death is imminent. Most people have nice row boats and are oblivious to the danger. These people are constantly remodeling and improving their position. In the distance you see your rescue. Help each other, encourage one another, hold on, endure. Don’t focus on your circumstances. Focus on helping others get to home. It matters greatly and God certainly doesn’t take this fallen world lightly. He grieves with you, but we are leaving. Endurance I have largely spoken about focusing on Him and enduring. I am not saying to resign and give up. Fight for your freedom. Fight for justice. Fight for your relationships. Fight for a world made right. Fight for Christ to be made more famous. Fight for God’s Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Love people well. God’s deep desire is for your joy and peace. He is alive and well, working diligently to make the world right. Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Ephesians 3:14-21 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Romans 8 Did you remember the red faced monkey? Where did he go? You pushed him out and replaced him with something else. You must wake up every morning and before you can think a thought, get on your knees and be grateful. Before you can lay there and let all of the struggles come flooding into your mind, give Him control. Satan is ready to take over. To bring fear, discouragement, anger, hatred, addiction, hopelessness. Give it all to Him. You forgot the monkey, because you filled with something else. It is a choice. C.S. Lewis - The Weight of Glory In the end that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us either with one expression or with the other, either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised. I read in a periodical the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. By God Himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how He thinks of us. It is written that we shall “stand before” Him, shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, shall actually survive that examination, shall find approval, shall please God. To please God...to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness...to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. More Like Falling In Love – Jason Gray Chords and Lyrics Give me rules, I will break them Show me lines, I will cross them I need more than a truth to believe I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes To sweep me off my feet, it’s gotta be More like falling in love than something to believe in More like losing my heart than giving my allegiance Caught up, called out, come take a look at me now It’s like I’m falling, oh It’s like I’m falling in love Give me words, I’ll misuse them Obligations, I’ll misplace them ‘Cause all religion ever made of me Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet It never set me free, it’s gotta be Deeper and deeper It was love that made me a believer In more than a name, a faith, a creed Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me, it’s gotta be Songwriter: Jason Gray Do you really want God to control your actions? To limit what you can do and think? It's easy to want Him to control the guy in Aurora, Colorado, but do you want Him to control you? Every thought? Every action? Every motive? He is coming back and it won't be pretty. He came as a lamb. He will return as a Lion. The question is not where is God? It is, why is He so amazingly patient and why didn't He answer the the billions of prayers for His return and wait patiently for your turn. You owe an amazing debt to Him and another to billions who have suffered through this fallen mess before you. What will you do with that? Will you break in repentance, humility, joy and gratitude? Will you tell someone about the joy you have found?