I have written at least five different versions of “Part 3.” I can’t decide if I need additional parts, or should never have promised a third part. I’m pretty sure I set myself an impossible task when I offered to answer the question, “What’s it all mean?”
Because I don’t know. I’m still in process. One thing I’ve been realizing through this process is that I am constantly living in the tension between two truths:
- God has created a world and a people that feature His creativity, His problem-solving abilities, His humor and beauty and community, etc.
- Evil has corrupted that world and is constantly striving towards chaos, towards destruction, towards pain.
In a sense, we’re living in those two “worlds” – the one God made and loves and came to save (John 1:29, 3:16-17, 4:42, 12:47, 2 Cor 5:18-19, 1 John 4:14), and the “world” that is bent on rebelling against Him (John 15:19, Eph 6:12, 1 Cor 2:12, 3:3, James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-16, 5:19).
Last night, I read statistics about the pornography industry and it made me sick to my stomach. This morning, I baked madeleines with my beautiful boys as the sun streamed in the window. This afternoon, I prayed for a friend whose father died and brother’s in jail. Tonight, I saw preparations for a ministry to young moms that is bursting at the seams.
So in essence, when I ask if the world is getting worse, what I’m really asking, what I really want to know is –
Who’s winning? Right now? Tomorrow? Next year? When my sons are my age, who will be winning?
Do we have to wait for death or Christ’s return to experience any victory or hope? Or is it possible here, in this world He made, into which He sent His Son and His Spirit, which He loves and came to save…that he’s given us a fighting chance to make inroads, to see progress, to help prepare us and this world for His return.
I know evil is not done yet. But I also see reason to believe that we are more than conquerors NOW. That we have reason to rejoice now. And it’s not all just spiritual. It’s not all just about craving Heaven. It’s also here, and now, and through obedience to His commands to help and serve and feed and clothe that we see victory.
If God is for us, who can be against us? …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Paul to the Romans
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Paul to the Philippians
Thanks for always making me think DEEPER Carolyn! This has definitely been a year that I have felt like evil is winning. My only comfort is knowing that God wins in the end! When I despair, God brings me here:
ReplyDelete1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Rev. 21: 1-5
JESUS! Jesus is winning! He won on the cross at Calvary, He is winning today and King Jesus will win when he returns.
ReplyDeleteTake Heart, for I have overcome the world! -John 16:33
That verse gives my heart rest but is not a call to apathy.
"There are 143 million orphaned children and 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children... There are 2.1 billion people on this earth who claim to be Christians. If only 8 percent of Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left" From Katie Davis' book about her life in Uganda
I'm reminded of another verse about sin and suffering- In John 9:3 When Jesus heals the blind man "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
What a glorious honor we have as Christians to rule with Christ on this earth- To reign with him through the power of his holy spirit to administer his grace and mercy.
Thanks for caring Carolyn, thank you for always being a person that I can count on that will want to talk about Jesus- Thank you for being my friend and my sister in Christ. Katy
Please excuse the bad grammar- Running late to moms and more! :)
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