Glimpses

My, My! How self-righteous and religious we are. Of course we are too modest to admit it, but we know in God’s eyes, we are a cut above the average individual.

“Oh no, I’m not speaking as a Publican, puffed up and full of pride, but I comfort myself, realistically knowing that every time the church doors are open, I’m there. This is a fact. Why, I haven’t missed a service in years, and many times I go even when I don’t want to or don’t feel like it. I readily volunteer when building maintenance needs to be done and I always take food to bereaved families. I know this is something I’m supposed to do and confidentially, I find it reassuring when they compliment me on what a good cook I am. After all, God is watching and I definitely want to look good. This is not easy to admit, but I guess there are occasions when people who don’t know me may think that I’m a little pompous at times, but if they actually knew my level of knowledge, and expertise in my field, they would recognize that the way I act is not being pompous at all. It’s just being who I actually am.”

Really, how far off am I so far?

The awesomeness of God overwhelms me in many, many ways, but there are two specific areas that bring sensitivity to my nerves. God told Moses to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. Two areas of “holy ground” to me, are taking the Lord’s name in vain, and being mad at, or cursing God for our circumstances. As far as I am concerned, those areas are roped off as holy ground, and I am not to cross that boundary – shoes on or off. These things literally cause me to be fearful. When someone starts using God’s name as a curse word, I feel that I am standing just a few feet from where lightning is going to strike! Man! Don’t do that. There are strong consequences. And when we’re mad at God, who is left to be on our side?

We are told of a powerful, dedicated, highly educated man, who a long time ago who was sanctioned to take a trip of considerable importance. His previous successes and notoriety were, I’m quite sure, taken in all modesty as his fame spread throughout the land. If people thought he was “hot stuff” he was a tolerant type fellow, and after all, who was he to dissolution them? He was just who he was, and that being, the GREAT Saul of Tarsus! Traveling with his entourage of enforcers, people gave the group wide berth and stared in awe as this party of powerful men passed by. Surely, there was a touch of power and pride in the hearts of these men as the common citizens cautiously looked on. After leaving the city of Jerusalem, and the awestruck viewers faded into the distance, their thoughts varied from man to man, as the boredom of the trip to Damascus overtook them. For Saul, this trip would turn out to be anything but boring!

Somewhere out there on that sun-baked road an even brighter light beamed down from heaven, focused on Saul. Immediately this crusader against the new religion folded up like a baby blanket in the middle of the road. A moment before – Big Man! Now – a helpless mass of humanity lying in the dirt at the mercy of a spectacular power. Then he heard a voice asking him a question in a calm manner: “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, sir?” (Did you pick up on that “sir”? Here’s a man with good rasin’ in a rather vulnerable situation.”)

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

When Saul got his blood pressure pumped back up close to normal, and arose, he found that he was blind! Reckon it crossed his mind between then, and their arrival in Damascus, that he was now worth about as much to society as the blind beggars who sat at the city gates? From this we can see that unexpected career changes date way back in history. How humiliating this must have been for him! Moments before he was leading this group, now he is being carried into town like a bag of oats. Surely being human, Saul wondered “Why me?” (The GREAT Saul of Tarsus was not having a good day.)

Actually, none of this was a big deal. He had just simply had a personal, one-on-one encounter with God, the designer and creator of the entire universe.

I was a pre-teen during the World War II years, and yet, I have vivid memories of what was going on in my hometown and how the war affected the people there. That war prompted the writing of many popular songs. Some are still popular today even though now, the words don’t give the impression they were tied in with those tragic times. Many sayings came from that same time period. One example is “There are no atheists in fox holes.” Many a man experienced a simple, one-on-one encounter with God while serving his country. Probably every man in a fox hole, on a life raft, or in air combat asked a pertinent, simple question, “Why me? Many came home on furlough, if they were lucky, and stood before church congregations and related, similar to Saul, how they became acquainted with God. As a child, I was privileged to hear some of those testimonies.

A few years back, it became clearly evident that I needed a knee replacement. Why is this happening to me? I wondered. I came up with the answer myself, almost immediately. “Why not me?” What is so special about ME that I would think that I was exempt from such a thing? For some reason we seem to gain comfort in finding someone else to blame. The blame was mine! I have nearly always been overweight to some degree. Like a bridge, our bone mass is designed to carry weight within certain range limits. A massive truck tire can blow out if carrying too much weight. Another thing that came to my mind with equal speed is the fact that I have absolutely no legitimate excuse to blame God for my situation, because He equipped me with good health. I’m the one who abused it, and furthermore, I have accepted good health, and feeling good, and countless other blessings day after day, year after year and I seldom thanked Him for His blessings and His love for me. I accepted it with the same gratitude that a pig accepts slop!

So God decided to punish me, right! NOT ON YOUR LIFE!

Like a LOVING parent, God corrects us when we are wrong but He, like a LOVING parent does not beat us into shape, punish us with disease or injury or use other cruel treatment as a means of correction. Sometimes I think that our consciences often bring us revelations of needed reform.

Just yesterday, I watched a TV documentary on weather forecasting, as the spring storm season begins in our part of the country. One weatherman referred to devastating storms as being “acts of God.” Many insurance policies covering property clearly state that they do not provide coverage based on certain “acts of God.” Such comments so frequently, and casually made, cause me concern. Many people of faith seem to accept such statements as fact. God gave man the title (ownership) to this earth. Man (Adam and Eve) casually lost the title to Satan, and immediately found that the Garden of Eden was closed for the duration. (If they hadn’t messed up the clear title, I probably would have when I came along) The new owner was a sadistic sort and delighted in doing dastardly things to people, and then pointing his finger at God. “God did that!” “God did that to you!” “God is getting even with you!” “If YOUR God was a loving god, he wouldn’t have allowed that to happen!”

The Bible clearly points out, that Satan is the prince of this earth. He is the originator of ALL bad things – devastating weather, death, personal suffering, wars, dictators, terrorists, disease, and on and on. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Can we readily accept those two dramatically different roles when things go wrong in our lives? Why is it so easy for us to blame God, when we know what a tremendous sacrifice and act of love on His part, that it took to make us acceptable in His sight? Talk about biting the hand that feeds us!

After three days, Saul’s eyesight was restored. Years ago, Hank Williams, Sr. the country singer, wrote a song entitled, “I Saw The Light”. He was referring to seeing the airport beacon near his hometown. When he could “see the light,” he knew home was near. I heard that Chris Kristofferson, also a country singer, wrote the song “Why Me Lord?” after his conversion. He was overcome by the love and grace showered on him by God. Indeed, Saul of Tarsus “saw the light!” It was not a beacon or an initial enlightenment, but a powerful, soul penetrating, humbling, beam of light directly from heaven that took all the starch out of his robe and knee joints.

My, My! How self righteous and religious we are. How strong our faith is! What a wonderful and personal relationship we have with our Heavenly Father! Really, now” Can our religious faith endure an occasional bump in the road? Is our faith strong enough not to blame God for everything that happens to us that we don’t understand? Let me try to tell you how to measure your degree of faith. Take a serious look at Paul (Saul of Tarsus). He saw the light! Boy! Did he see the light! He latched onto God with the same tenacity that he previously displayed with his misguided crusade against the new religion. Don’t quit there. Read on about his life, and the suffering that he endured because of his newfound alliance with the God of the universe. What that man went through! Never, never did he waiver. There was absolutely NOTHING the authorities could do to break is faith, his zeal, or his story. Death itself was not even worthy of concern, compared to the riches and rewards that awaited him just the other side of death’s door and he was well aware of it.

That’s an example of real faith. So, you say you’re having a bad day today, Bunkie, and now you’re mad at God? You have no more power than the leaf which defiantly threatened the lumberjack, “I’ll get you for this!”

Why ME! WHY NOT YOU? Who are you? Are you so much better, more religious, more faithful, more important to mankind than Jesus Christ? Of all men, don‘t you think he asked, “Why me?” If you haven’t already figured this out, I’ll tell you “why Him.” Innocent blood had to be shed for my sins, and yours, to once again make us acceptable in the sight of God. Why Him? Blameless, undeserving, innocent, submissive and loving, He gave His all for you and me. He became the spotless, living sacrifice. Otherwise, we were doomed forever! We have nothing worthy to give that would accomplish what He accomplished.

This earth is not a safe planet on which to live. Hank Williams, Sr. recognized this when he wrote the song, “Stop The World And Let Me Off.” Ah, but ALL THIS is temporary!
The wise King Solomon said, “Vanity of vanity. All is vanity.” Soon Christ will return and God shall wipe away our tears, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow…

Through the experiences of Paul, and countless others throughout history,
people have gained knowledge and strength.   When we share stories about
what God has done, and is doing in our lives, we too attest to the modern day workings of our living God. Our God can take the worst that Satan has to offer,
and use it for His own glory. We participate in that when we give God the glory
for being with us in the good times and the bad. Paul tells us to “give thanks in
all things.” Keep your eyes open. You may be experiencing something that will
be of great help to someone in the future -

Harley