I have taken a little hiatus from reading other than study for messages. One of the last books I read before aforementioned break was "The Shack" which I highly recommend not for it's theology, which is clearly not it's strong point, (nor was it the intention of the author, I believe), but for the fresh look it takes at our relationship with God.
If you have been following news at our church you know of the recent tragedy as one of the members of our youth group, a 15 year old, died in a freak accident. The family is grieving as is our entire church for them. I mention it because it made me think of The Shack again.
The thing is, if you really believe God is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do, then you have to believe He will bring glory even to this. And I'm not talking about the let's-point-out-every-little-good-thing-that-is-incidental-to-the-tragedy-as-an-impotent-attempt-at-comforting-a-grieving-family kind of glory either.
No, to defeat evil, it must be more glorious than the evil is horrific. And just how that can be is something I don't understand. I have a hunch none of us will until THAT day. Consider what C.S. Lewis wrote:
"They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into glory.'" The Great Divorce (McMillan, 1946), p. 64
But I don't worry about my not being able to understand or comprehend how God will do this. I suppose this is the part where we are blessed because we believe even though we don't see.
Even so, Lord, I can't wait to get to the glory part.
Phil
Comments