Is this the Best You Can Do? - Pt 2

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV).

 

In William Faulkner’s play Requiem for a Nun, one of the main characters says that after God created everything, he lost control. Things got out of hand, and there was nothing God could do about it. Today’s world, with the coronavirus having infected 14,566,530 people worldwide and 607,135 of those having died, certainly seems out of control. Of course there is much more to paint a bleak picture. On a typical day, news headlines could report chaos in many countries; ongoing wars in others, with thousands killed and a million children in refugee camps; hunger, poverty, and persecution in many countries. The list is nearly endless.

 

There is no doubt that God’s beautiful creation is groaning, and God’s creatures are groaning because of what is happening everywhere. It takes us to our original question raised yesterday: Is this the best you can do? raises all kinds of questions: Has God lost control? Does God know and care? And if he does care, why does he allow bad things to happen? There is no easy answer to these questions. The Scripture gives little explanation.

 

However, there is some guidance in our search for the logic of present events and the declaration of the goodness of God. First, I would encourage you to have an open Bible near as you watch your daily intake of news. There you will find that even today the Lord is in control of all that’s happening and will work out his purposes for us and the world he has made. This is our starting point. We begin with the historical event in Scripture that lead us through the story of God working good for His people. Second learn to trust from the consistency of God’s hand as he creates order in the chaos. It requires intentionality, but order is present all around us. It is those things that are always the same, and always good, that give us a firmer foundation of trust. Find them in your life. Return to an unshakable trust in God!