By Jim “Towers”
Oh, really? Then why does He allow bad things to happen to everyone, including His very own? I’m sure you’ve heard that retort before. I suspect we’ve all thought that at one time or another. I know I have, but that was years ago when I was still struggling with trying to make sense of my salvation and my relationship with God. Many times even trained pastors with degrees can’t answer that question. Some even take pride in being able to say that we can’t know why these adverse things happen to us all. But Jesus said, “In this life you will have trials and tribulation, but do not fear, for I have overcome the world.” You might ask, “So what does that have to do with me?” But if you look at the big picture you will realize that eternity is a long time, and this life is a practically insignificant seventy-five years for most of us (if we’re in good health), so our little difficulty is soon over with bliss directly ahead.
Today it’s all beginning to come together for me as I delve deeper into the truths of His Word. I know some of this answer will sound ethereal, but if God isn’t ethereal I don’t know who or what is.
God created us in His image and in His likeness by His Word; the Word (Jesus) who was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father. Since we are created in His image and likeness we too are really spiritual beings encased in this spacesuit we call flesh. Since we are spirit, we never really die, we just step into another reality. Keep in mind that this life is but a blip in the eternal continuum.
Why did Jesus weep when He brought Lazarus back to life? Wasn’t it because He knew Lazarus would be disappointed in having to be brought back to this world of pain, sickness and toil? Lazarus must have been disappointed to be back in his old aching body again. No doubt he was enjoying the wonders, peace, beauty and serenity of paradise.
We all have our burdens and disappointments to live through. Sometimes it is these very things that drive us into the arms of God, our loving Father.
The just shall live by faith. When going through tough times the true Christian can draw strength from the Living Word. The Bible is chock full of promises and is like a goldmine encrusted with nuggets of truth and hope. Do yourself a favor and read it prayerfully. Get to know it like the palm of your hand, believe it and find strength for every adversity.
We must realize that we are mortal created beings and had nothing to do with our creation (as some would have us believe). That makes us answerable to our creator, a being we call God. This God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Time is running out for us all. That is why we must make the best of our short existence in the here and now. That’s why we must learn to love others to the exclusion of our egos or fear of man. I know for some this is a tall order. But Jesus said he would be there for us in the form of the Holy Spirit to be our strength as in “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Remember David? He’s the young man I prayed for in the isle at Home Depot recently. David works part time at Dunkin Donuts. At first he didn’t know what to make of me. I mean, when was the last time a person prayed for you in the isle of a store? You can’t blame him. Now he smiles and says “hi” to me when I wander in there for a cup of coffee. Soon, when I feel the prompting, I’ll share more with him.
I am working with three other people whom I believe are seekers at Home Depot, where I seem to be spending a lot of time lately. I bought three of them a New Testament and prayed with one of them. I always ask them if they would like for me to pray for them, and they never refuse. The door has been opened for me there.
Also on that same note, I was asked to sit with an elderly lady who was alone in the restaurant I went to for breakfast. It started with a conversation that went like this: “The coffee here is excellent,” I quipped as we ordered at the counter.
“I don’t drink coffee,” she replied.
“I’ve never met anyone who didn’t drink coffee.”
“I just drink tea and water.”
After a little more back and forth she asked me to sit with her. I jokingly replied, “What would your husband think about that?”
“Oh, he’ll never know.”
By this time I was thinking of a way to bow out, but I felt the Lord urging me on. Besides, she appeared harmless enough at eighty, so I sat across from her. I did what I always do in preparation to eat, I thanked God for my food and didn’t mumble, saying, “Thank you Heavenly Father for this beautiful day and for this food, in Jesus’ name amen.” I said it out loud as is always the case. At this, the old gal perked up and asked me what I thought of the state of the nation, and how everything was out of whack. I told her why I thought these evil things were happening, that it was due to turning our backs on God. Then she asked what I did in life. I told her and also mentioned the two Christian websites I write for. She was awestruck. Later it occurred to me that this encounter was a divine appointment set up by God.
Frankly, I enjoy being a radical Christian. I know without a doubt that there are many hurting people out there. They are desperate to tell someone their troubles or find someone who cares enough to pray for them anytime, anywhere. I don’t have a license or a degree in theology, but I feel for those who don’t have a relationship with the God of heaven and earth, and so I do what I can with my gift of gab.
Insofar as movies are concerned, I just viewed The 33 which is a true life story of the thirty-three guys in Chile who were trapped in a gold mine several hundred feet underground. They were trapped for 69 days with three days’ rations. All they could do was pray for deliverance. God sometimes answers prayers in the affirmative. This was a life affirming movie.
YBIC
Jim Torres “Towers”