Life has been very busy for the last month or two and, as you may have noticed, there have not been many posts here. The quotes section has gained several entries but those do not show up in the RSS feed or email notices.
Activity (especially lots of it) has a tendency to cause tunnel vision. We ignore everything except what has to be done. If that continues for too long, a sense of frustration often develops and I wonder if this isn’t what God was attempting to prevent when he commanded a rest on the Sabbath.
Yesterday required a small pause in the midst of everything. It is hard to ignore a friend who has died in an accident. Life here will go on. It must. But there are times when this life does not provide the answers that we want. We need something more.
Have you ever considered that? And why do we need more?
For those who have heard Christian truth proclaimed rightly, the answer is simple. We are sinners. Our sin has corrupted a perfect world, which is why bad things happen—to the good and the bad. The corruption requires a judgment that is unnatural in the way that we were designed. Only our total elimination would begin to pay for the effects of sin.
Did my friend die because of his sin? Yes and no. He has done wrong (and would freely admit it) but the rules of justice are not as easy to satisfy as many of us want them to be. Effects go too far for that.
God has worked out a scheme to repair our wrongs and, while it does not immediately make this world perfect, it does promise another one after this world that is not marred by sin.
It is hard to see through the effects of sin here, but I believe that there will be more sense on the other side. What isn’t answered here will be known there. With that knowledge, I can accept what must be in this world.
Comments
Submitted by Patrizia on
You are so very right. I think about this a lot. The Lord used you today
A wonderful post.
Im so very sorry about your friend. I assume you speak of Ben. Im so, so sorry. Although my daughters didnt know him personally, Michaela has had a few conversations with him & has seen him around the forums. We have shed our tears for the family & are very grieved.
This life is temporal & the reward is ahead, but I cant help but be haunted in the changes I need to make & to live a life that reflects that of Christ. Temporal things are wasteful. Nominal Christianity is sad to me. I want more.
Submitted by Kate on
Chris,
No words can express you how bad I feel ... not only for you but, also for Ben’s family! He was such a great friend to talk to both on the HSA AIM chatroom and also on the phone! My prayers go out to his family!
Submitted by Sarah on
As you well know, those of us who live are not alive because we lived a life without sin. the gospel is he has blessed us despite ourselves. Ben also has been blessed despite his flaws. I have no doubt that he is very happy. But I have cried a good deal because some of my fondest memories the last two years are with you and Ben. And I have cried even more for Bethany and Aaron.
Submitted by Chris on
Yes, I was speaking of Ben. His family (as anyones) can always use prayer—but especially during this time.
Submitted by Chris on
It is his family that I have been thinking about the most. I’ll go see them once everything has slowed down. They’ve got their hands full for now.
Submitted by Sarah on
Me too. But you also lost a good friend.
Submitted by Naomi Holter on
Your post was thought provoking. I feel your pain through the words. I am still in shock over Ben’s death. One moment he was here. The next he was gone.
I have spent some time wondering why God has allowed all of our paths to cross. What was his purpose? Regardless of what his purpose was/is, I am thankful for the time we had with Ben. All the fun times chatting in the hsachat room. Ben was a searcher. I admired that quality in him.
In the hours since I was notified of Ben’s accident, I have spent much thought in realizing what is important. As much as I regret it takes something as serious and tragic as this, I am thankful to be made to stop and consider these things.
Thank you for your thoughts, Chris.
Submitted by Lisa Hughes on
Wish this blog had a like button
Submitted by Chris on
Why did God allow Cain’s path to cross Abel’s?
It is good to think about what is important.