August, 2013 Pastor Clay’s Potter’s Wheel Have you ever been asked the tough question, “If God is all-loving and all-powerful, why does God allow bad things to happen?” It’s a question people have been asking for millennia. Today, we can look at any number of tragedies in our world and perhaps in our personal lives: destructive forest fires out west; destructive storms and other forces of nature; wars between nations or opposing groups of people; poverty (in its many forms) and the growing disparity between the wealthy “elite” and most others; many forms of illness; loss of relationships; and the depressing list could go on and on. Where is God in these situations and why doesn’t He do something about them? One of my favorite Bible passages in response to these questions tells about God’s prophet, Elijah, who was hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb because Queen Jezebel was trying to hunt him down and kill him. Talk about a man who had some suffering in his life and asked questions of God too! But despite Elijah’s fear and suffering, God stood by him and in the end saved him from his adversaries. [The LORD] said, "“Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:11-12) Notice, God was not in these destructive forces of nature! I believe this brief passage shows us God is not in other forms of suffering either, e.g. the LORD is not in illness; the LORD is not in relationship loss; the LORD is not in war; the LORD is not in poverty, etc. Rather, we learn from the book of Job it is Satan, the Evil One, who brings suffering into the world and into our lives. Some people believe Satan is just a representation or personification of the evil in our lives and in our world. But with each passing year I believe more firmly that, like the Holy Trinity, like the angels, and like the blessed saints who have gone before us, Satan and his demons are distinct entities. The writer of 1 Peter puts it well. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8). This sounds scary and depressing, but 1 Peter also offers us hope! Cast your anxiety on [God], because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert… Resist [the devil], steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:7-11) What a joyful perspective! Despite the world’s or our current circumstances, we are all in our almighty and loving God’s care and in the end it is His will which shall prevail! God’s Peace to you for a blessed August,
Pastor Clay