In a post last week, I expressed disappointment with those who claim that America's troubles are a sign of Jesus' return. In reply to my posts last week, someone asked, and rightfully so, what our response would be to such teaching.
In other words, if there are churches that are drawing folks by pointing them to the end of time, what would we tell them instead of that? If there are churches that are telling folks that God wants you to escape the suffering of difficult times, what do we teach instead of this?
Let me begin by reiterating "no one knows the hour or the day." Let me also say that all great people of faith in the Bible faced suffering. The overwhelming evidence in Scripture is that following God is not the easy way, but it is the way that leads us to hope and meaning. There always has been, and always will be a cross for Christ followers to bear.
If you want a church and a pastor that will give you the easy answers and the formula's for life, well, those churches are out there. Good luck with that. If you want a church that will point you toward the mystery of God and invite you to learn to rest in him, come see us.
In difficult times, this is what I want to say to folks- "Trust in the Lord. Paul and Silas sang in prison. Jesus forgave people from the cross. It is shallow to believe in a God that solves all of our problems. Instead, God asks us to rest in him, in spite of our problems. The answer to difficult times is not some magic potion that makes them all go away. The answer is the God who holds us in the palm of his hand. Trust means nothing if there is no difficulty. Trust means everything when times are tough. We can trust in the God who walks with us through the dark valleys."
It is not the end of the world. However, we just might be facing the world as millions of others have had to do in less prosperous countries have for centuries. Trust in the Lord. Maybe hard times will finally teach us what it really means to love God and put our faith in Jesus in stead of circumstances.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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3 comments:
Once again, Jeff. A very effective job of sharing the truth.
"God invites you to learn to rest in him."
Powerful words of truth.
How glad I am that the world doesn't end on these people's timing, because I would hated to have missed hearing Mark Lee and his two daughters sing this morning.
Jeff, some of your blog postings have dealt with songs that stick in your head and won't go away. I'm counting on those songs Mark and his daughters sang, to stick around in my head all week. What awesome musical talent in their family.
Humming in my head.
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