The Most Difficult Questions

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally some form of artistic mark to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Zacharias, Ravi. The Logic of God: 52 Christian Essentials for the Heart and Mind. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. [E-Book] Chapter 22: The Most Difficult Questions

Opening Thought: There are many tough questions when it come to faith? Usually these questions, left undiscussed, will move someone to either ignore or abandon their faith. The reason this happens is when we think about God, what we are doing is trying to articulate, rationally and spiritually something so grand it is not measurable. Just because something cant be measured, does not mean it cannot be experienced. Love, mercy, righteousness and even the antithesis to goodness, evil; all these things are experiential but none of them can be measured. Zacharias points to a tough question, which people who have not had the personal experience of God, will often ask: “Why has God made it so difficult to see His presence and His plan?”

Many Christians, especially ones with backgrounds in systematic theology or Christian apologetics would instantly say that this question is problematic for several reasons, and that God does offer us His presence and His plan.

I won’t get into the whole laundry list of reasons; however, I do encourage you to look up the work of systematic theologians and Christian apologists to see where it will lead you, rather what I will offer is this, you either seem to see God, or you don’t. We know conversion is possible, Saul to Paul is a clear example, so just because you might not now, doesn't the you cannot. So, when that light does come on, and you do see, all becomes clear.    

The devotional begins with: 1 Corinthians 13:12-13

For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Second Thought: It is hard to move from seeing what we see, to seeing what God calls us to see. People wonder why we do not see God, but generally we have a hard time seeing ourselves or the image of God in others. I think that question, Why has God made it so difficult to see His presence and His plan, is a faulty question because it implies that God has designed it so that we do not see Him or understand Him, rather the Biblical story continually articulates that God is with us, but we turn against Him, away from Him, and instead look upon ourselves, idols, and sin. Even while Christ first stood in front of the disciples in the time of the resurrection, the disciples did not see Christ at first, Christ had to call out to them and break through this inability for the people to see him by their own capacity. I think the reality is that Christ, or messengers of the Lord (angels) could walk right up to us daily and we likely would not see it with our eyes or know it in our understanding. Therefore, the faith experience is so strong, because those who can find faith in God, often do begin to see God working in their lives, they will see how God has shaped the world and his plans for it.

One last thing before we move on, just because you may not have had an experience of God, enough to prove to you God does exist, does not mean He doesn’t exist. I say this with confidence, because, first, if God existence was predicated on your belief, well that would make you God and not Him, your belief is irrelevant to God’s reality. There are lots of things that I don't believe in that exist, for example, the other day I read an article about rare species of animals, one was call a Pignose Frog, I have no idea these things existed. They live under ground and only come out for their mating season in India. I had no idea these creatures existed, nor did I have any inclination that a species of frog like this existed in India. But sure enough here they are. 

Here is a link to the article if your curious about the frog. https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/rare-animals-of-india-found-in-wildlife-destinations-002755.html?story=4

There is a wonderful notion from the Christmas movie, the Santa Clause where the son of the new Santa played by Tim Allen is applying a process of apologetics to his step-father, who is arguing Santa cannot exist. The child's premise is this, if you have never personally had a million dollars doesn't mean you don't believe in it, there are people who have had a million dollars. Just because you have not had an experience of something, doesn't negate it existence or truth. Similar to material wealth, just because one person does not have spiritual wealth, does not mean another cannot. Luckily for everyone, spiritual wealth is not predicated on the negation of wealth in others.

I would add to the child's argument, how many people have never experienced a million dollars, but strive their entire live to get it because they can conceptualize what it would be like to have it. If God is the ultimate loving creator who want to bring your salvation, why not seek after that concept the way many seek material wealth? 

Continual Work: Ask yourself is God really that hidden? We have the revelation of the Bible, the gifts of the church traditions, we have the laws written upon our hearts, the truths of the Gospel, which includes Christ coming to minster, teach, live and die for us. God has also left His fingerprints upon his creation. Ask yourself, is God really hidden? And if he is not, they if you do not see, what do you need to come to terms with to have the scales fall from your eyes?

Leave a comment with your thoughts and questions. 

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: I am very much of the personality which wants a large list of reasons and evidence for everything I believe in. If I had endless time, I would create a systematic encyclopedia for everything that is valuable to me. When it comes to proof for God, sure I have read and listened to a lot of apologetic argument for the belief in God, I have also looked at the opposition’s list of reasons, but in the end, I don’t spend all my time writing encyclopedias because what is really important is not sitting and re-reading a long list of reason why I believe rather just relishing the ability to believe and appreciating what I believe in. 

Prayer for your day: Lord, help my neighbors, my friends, and my enemies to come to a belief in you. Amen.

Artistic Close: Some of the greatest wisdom to come out of pop culture, came from this movie! Plus this movie was hilarious.  

 

Meme quoting The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen (1994)