It's been not quite two weeks since the entire nation was shocked by what happened at the Boston Marathon. Many questions, concerns, and worries came to many people after seeing the horrific actions that men did in setting off bombs at the marathon. The effects were devastating for many people, injured several, and even cost a few people their lives.
During tragic moments that touch both the nation or just our individual lives, many people are stuck asking the question why? As they ask this poignant question many people turn and ask God why did this happen? Well, to be perfectly blunt there are no very good reasons why two men would set off bombs at the Boston Marathon and kill some people and injure many other people they didn't know. However, in spite of all the pain, heartache, and turmoil these young men caused, we can be sure of a few things. That's what this blog post is here and designed to do: give us the things and areas we can be 100% sure about in this awful situation.
1) God is still in control and still cares. This sentence may be very difficult for people to grasp, especially those who were directly affected by the events in Boston last week. But, one of the truths in our Christian faith is that God cares deeply for everything that happens to us. When those bombs went off and poor Martin Richard went to his eternal home, I guarantee that God shed not one but several tears because earth lost somebody very special. The Bible tells us in Psalms that God cares for us deeply that he fashioned and created us in our mother's womb and that even the hairs on our head are numbered! That's how well God knows us. In the New Testament we're assured in the Gospel of Matthew that if God cares and clothes the birds of the sky and the lillies of the field how much more will he care for and take care of us! It is easy to point the finger and say God doesn't care in the midst of an awful tragedy, but I think from personal testimony, the word of God, and just everyone that was saved from being harmed or killed by the bomb one can say that God does care.
So, one can see that God does care about what happens to everyone! That leaves us with another very pressing question: can God do anything about it? Is he powerful enough to stop human beings from hurting each other? Well, to put it nice and simply the answer to that question is yes and no. God is powerful enough to part a sea, raise someone from the dead, cure leprosy, cause the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak. So, I don't think he lacks anything in the power department. But, one thing we have to remember throughout all of this and we'll look at this in part two, is that awful things that happen in our world today: Newtown, CT shootings, bombing at the Boston Marathon, etc. are done by human beings who had the choice not to sin, but decided against that choice. Could God have stopped them? Absolutely, God could have, why God didn't stop the bombing? I can't say for sure. But, one thing I do know without a shadow of a doubt is that God cares deeply, is crying with the victims families, and God still is in control of our entire existence. Part 2 is coming soon.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Satisfaction
Satisfaction is one of the biggest drivers in all of our decision making. After high school a lot of us go to college and some beyond, because we believe education will open up a door to a job that we enjoy doing and find satisfaction and fulfillment in doing. We spend time with people and develop relationships and friendships with people and even sometimes we'll have romantic relationships with people because we desire satisfaction and fulfillment. Those feelings are normal/common feelings for every human being, however the problem most of us run into from time to time is that we seek satisfaction in all the wrong places.
I will say that this blog post serves one purpose: to remind all of us that true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone. I'm not saying that you can't find joy and fulfillment in your achievements, your education, or even your hard earned money, but I want you to understand that all of those things are temporary. For one day money will be spent, certificates and degrees will be forgotten, and we will soon have retired or been replaced where we work. So, to find satisfaction in areas of personal achievement will produce a very roller coaster emotional existence in your spiritual walk. When things are going great, you'll more than likely praise God, or worse yet, you'll take the credit. When things are down, and the future looks bleak the sad reality is that a lot of people blame God for the bed they made. So, what I'm trying to encourage you in this blog post, is to not look to your achievements for your sense of satisfaction or identity. Understand that as a human being you will make mistakes, say things you shouldn't have said, and you will make poor decisions, but you will also make good decisions and experience success and joy. But, at the end of the day, the question I want to leave you with are you going to find lasting satisfaction in your achievements, your abilities, or even in something destructive? Or will you find satisfaction in knowing and loving the true, risen Savior of your soul and the entire world? The choice is entirely yours to make, but your decision does and will have real consequences either way. To finally illustrate how true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone, I want to share a quote from MVP, Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady, "Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be … I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.” (Taken from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/tom-brady-super-bowl-rings-and-ecclesiastes/) This is a man who has it all, but still he's not satisfied. The choice is yours to make today.
I will say that this blog post serves one purpose: to remind all of us that true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone. I'm not saying that you can't find joy and fulfillment in your achievements, your education, or even your hard earned money, but I want you to understand that all of those things are temporary. For one day money will be spent, certificates and degrees will be forgotten, and we will soon have retired or been replaced where we work. So, to find satisfaction in areas of personal achievement will produce a very roller coaster emotional existence in your spiritual walk. When things are going great, you'll more than likely praise God, or worse yet, you'll take the credit. When things are down, and the future looks bleak the sad reality is that a lot of people blame God for the bed they made. So, what I'm trying to encourage you in this blog post, is to not look to your achievements for your sense of satisfaction or identity. Understand that as a human being you will make mistakes, say things you shouldn't have said, and you will make poor decisions, but you will also make good decisions and experience success and joy. But, at the end of the day, the question I want to leave you with are you going to find lasting satisfaction in your achievements, your abilities, or even in something destructive? Or will you find satisfaction in knowing and loving the true, risen Savior of your soul and the entire world? The choice is entirely yours to make, but your decision does and will have real consequences either way. To finally illustrate how true satisfaction can be found in Jesus Christ alone, I want to share a quote from MVP, Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady, "Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be … I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.” (Taken from http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/tom-brady-super-bowl-rings-and-ecclesiastes/) This is a man who has it all, but still he's not satisfied. The choice is yours to make today.
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