Saturday, August 20th, 2022
Let God Rise Up
We live in a society—at least in the western world—where most people think that faith in God is a waste of time.
Others may say they believe in God, and even recognize an apparent order to the universe, but it's just philosophy. They often will not take the next step, and place their trust in Him.
I empathize with this! Our culture is focused on self-indulgence. Our attention is worth money, and so each of us is faced with attractive and appealing distractions. Advertisements tell me to do what feels right, that we deserve it; that we should just do it! Our feeds are filled with fun! Why would anyone ever consider putting God first, if it means we have to put ourselves second?
Besides distractions, there are other reasons to disbelieve: how often are we shown caricatures of “Christians” who turn their backs on love, on gentleness, and who seem to be more angry than peaceful? There's an underlying message in the media: Christians are self-centred, oblivious to what's real, and that our faith proves our blindness. Religion is an artifact from a primitive time in our past.
Then there are arguments based on anger at God, or disappointment in God. We hear complaints that since He allows such injustice in the world, he can't be real. Isn't it ironic that our own inner sense of right and wrong, put there by God himself, is what we use to judge Him?
But the fact of the matter is, God cares very much for those on the fringes of society. This whole Psalm lays out God's heart. He's the father of orphans, the protector of widows! He provides a home for the desolate; he leads the prisoners to prosperity! He gives rain in abundance. He provides for the needy!
Let's be honest. Suffering is not only unavoidable; it's the path by which we find God. Pleasure is more appealing than pain. We allow ourselves to be distracted so that we cannot hear the quiet, still voice which calls us to repentance and authenticity.
So don't wait, be counter-cultural! Put your faith in him and invite him to fill you with peace, hope, joy, and love. Let God Rise Up in your life!
Amen!