Wow, it's been over two months since I last posted. It really is unbelievable how time flies. Much has happened since last I wrote. I'll take the one of first importance and then follow up with some others in the coming days. My wife and I were blessed once again with a beautiful baby girl, born on Memorial Day one week ago today. As has been the case with our four other children, the process of that precious life coming into the world is a miracle that is indescribable. Mother and child are both well, and the whole process has been another opportunity to witness God's faithfulness and goodness.
That brings me to a small point that has been on my mind for the last several months and has recurred as a theme in my devotions and meditation on the Word, namely God's Sovereignty. Everything associated in and around the birth of our fifth child (and really all five, truth be told) has been extraordinarily good. We praise the Lord for that, and for answering our prayers for a healthy baby and delivery. But there are many births that do not end out so well. Many babies and mothers die in childbirth. Many babies are born with disease or complications. A worker at the plant at which I am in leadership has a granchild that was born prematurely and with complications and has never been home from the hospital. Many times the parents of that child have gone to the hospital wondering if that day will be the day they have to say goodbye to their child. Those parents are believers as well, and no doubt prayed for a healthy pregnancy and birth for both child and mother. So the hard question for the believer is, if we pray for things to go well and they don't what do we think of God?
If feelings are supreme, which they seem to be these days, then we might be tempted to say that our circumstance was out of God's control, or He didn't hear our prayers, or we did something bad and are being punished for it, or that He is not loving and kind but cruel curses some and blesses others. We can deal with things several different ways and there isn't time right now as I have a two-year old on my lap trying to help me type. But, suffice it to say that either God is Sovereign (in control of all things) or He is not (not in control of all things). I am fully aware of the problems the view that God knows of and is in control of all things, but the alternatives are simply unthinkable. Moreover, the only Biblically sound foundation in reasoning is that God is in complete control and orders all things. So, God knows about and is in control of both situations I described - mine where everything has gone swimmingly, and in the case of the grandchild of my employee where things have been difficult. I'll open it up to comments from there as there are a host of Scripture references that hopefully will come out, but i'll leave it with a nugget to roll over in your mind. How does God operate? Do we even know such things? In turns out we do, God does all things in accordance with His own good pleasure and for His ultimate glorification. The further question is how do we react when God, acting in accordance with His own good pleasure and for His ultimate glorification, and in control of all things determines an outcome for our lives that we don't think is best for us in our limited knowledge?
I know, i've just gotten back on the blog and I throw such a weighty challenge at you right off the bat. Well, such is my thought life these days. The answer to this issue brings much to bear on many other areas of life and the faith. It is important that we not neglect or purposefully avoid such difficult topics, but seek God's Truth on the matter and wrestle with it as the process will surely be a blessing in itself. I look forward to the discussion that will follow.
It's good to be back.
