Hammer on Anvil '

2012 is a crazy year. We had Leap Day today, Summer Olympics will be in London, it's an Election year (groan), and to top it off the Mayan Calendar ends in December. Personally going to have an "End of the World" Watch party on December 20. With all this going on, the coolest thing I have come across this year is in the evening sky. Whenever I ask people about it, I find that many never look up at the stars at night. One night I looked up and saw Venus, but then saw another bright "star" above it. I had to google it to find out what was going on. Turns out that February/March is a great time to be watching. What I was seeing was Jupiter and about March 9, Jupiter and Venus' orbits will appear to cross and the two will be shining right next to each other. At the same time in the eastern sky, Mars is clearly visible. So every night when I get off work, I look up to see the progress of the three. (If you want to find out more, click here)

Mostly I've just been fascinated with this, but it makes me wonder at how many are completely unaware of what is happening in the sky. What is the reason? Busy, distracted, city-lights (though the two planets are quite bright). I wonder if it is just taken for granted. We are so full of seeing that we no longer see. Example of this: did you know that you can always see your nose, but the eyes/mind dismisses it because it is always there and seen. My thoughts here are similar to Nick's point on Monday with "If my Earthly needs are provided for, why do I need God?" I feel like I get the same way with God that others do with the night sky. Always there, I'm distracted or worse: satisfied. I begin to take Him for granted, slumbering while He is all around to be enjoyed and that I need to get off my duff.

Thoughts?

"Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!"

True faith is built over time and refined by the fire of endurance. I think most Christians, when we first accept Christ, feel temporarily invincible, like we can take on anything and anybody because God is at our side. What a great feeling! But then that feeling subsides. The mundane sets in and everyday life resumes. We start to wonder what’s going on. God just moved mountains in our heart, so why isn’t He moving mountains in the world too?

That is one time when questions set in. Can I really trust God? Is He really there? Why does he allow pain? The questions consume us and ultimately draw us away from God. After all, why would God want us if we’re questioning him, right?

Wrong! God ALWAYS wants us, and he especially wants to help us when we have questions. God isn’t a fool. He knows we’re human, that we aren’t perfect, and that we don’t know everything. God is big enough to handle our questions.

There’s a small catch though. You have to want it too. Jesus said in the sermon on the mount, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” God can open the door, but you have to walk through it.

I love those verses because God truly is faithful in delivering on those promises. I have had quite a few questions and doubts, but God has always delivered answers. The answers have always come in God’s timing, not mine, but they have come nonetheless.

When you’re truly seeking and you’re patient for God’s answers, the results are spectacular and mystifying. They turn your understanding upside-down. When I questioned how an all-loving God can allow pain in the world, I sought for years and ultimately learned about the pain issue, but I also gained tremendous insight into prayer and praise. And when I struggled with the issue of predestination, God gave me a much deeper understanding of the importance of the Holy Spirit. It continually amazes me how God works.

One last thing before I sign off. Please, please, please, don’t fall into the trap of using questions as justification for ignoring God. Too many people use their questions as an excuse.

There is no excuse. God is there and he’s waiting. Run to him!