Dear Church Family,
“Where is our God now?” was a question posed in an article I read recently. The writer said the question came to her during times of darkness from “the enemy, our bitter adversary – the devil, satan…” She then gave a brief, yet profound, answer to this nagging thought, “God is where He has always been, on His sovereign throne.” The preceding three sentences have deep implications that each deserve our close attention.
First, the question of where is God may have you uneasy. We may think that it is unspiritual to ever consider such a thing. The psalms express such ponderings often. You see they lived in a fallen world, just like we do. They felt pain. They experienced disappointment. At times they wonder what in the world was going on. Remember that Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” Our Savior was “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” It is a good question to ask. I dare say to do proves we are human and yearn for something better than what we have. That something anticipates our fallen world being transformed into some better or being recreated into what once existed before our first parents’ sin in the Garden of Eden. That is a good yearning to have.
Second, it is hard to admit we are evil and that there is an devil in the world. Sadly, Satan remains alive and active today. He opposes God in every way he can. He favorite tools (really tricks) are found in Genesis 3 when he tempted Eve. He questions the truth of God, “Did God really say?” He then lies, “You will not surely die.” Jesus, in John 8:44, describes him as “a liar and the father of all lies.” He then appeals to our pride, by saying, “You will be like God” What a deal (lie) he offers to Eve. All she has to do is eat the forbidden fruit and she will be like God – therefore, in control, all-knowing, all-powerful, etc. Who cold turn down such a deal? Sadly many give in to his trick and fail to remember that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Third, in the midst of an honest question, the writer gives the only answer that can provide true comfort and hope today. This must be clear to God’s people. Our great God has not gone any where during any time of crisis ever. A deadly virus cannot move God off His throne. His rule is eternal. His power is absolute. All that God does is good. Nothing will thwart God’s purposes.
In light of this, we live with confidence and certain hope because of the perfect character of God and the fact that Jesus has defeated Satan through His redemptive work on the cross. Satan is bound and thus limited to what he can do. Let the words of 1 John 4:4 resound in your ears and heart, “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.!”
With great hope,
Pastor Gillikin