Nestled in the Woods

Today we mourn the dead.
Unlike the one we lay to rest,
Our grief lives on beyond this test;
We hold the memories to our breast
Each future step we tread.

We grieve in different ways …
With tears or silence or regret;
With normal functions all upset;
With thoughts of what we should forget;
Not knowing what to say.

We who are left behind
Must grapple with mortality.
The fallen leave a legacy
That all will face eternity …
Nor can death be declined.

If we can understand
That Purpose guides experience,
And when it seems as little sense
That life is cut at great expense
There is a Higher Hand.

No death is met in vain,
For there are never accidents
In God’s all-perfect Providence …
He makes no selfish ordinance,
But rather timeless gain.

We say our last “adieu”,
Yet we who meet to pay respect
Would face a certain grim prospect
That by the Sovereign Architect
Next meet for me or you.

There is a bit of controversy floating about among Christians in the aftershocks of the earthquake in Haiti. It shouldn’t be, of course. Rather, we should be praying, giving, and/or going, and leave the theology to God, but…

Some say that God is punishing the country of Haiti for their Satanic activity; others say that Satan has caused the disaster; still others say that it is merely an event that God will use for His glory; and others tell us that it is caused by global warming, natural phenomena, or any of a variety of reasons.

I wonder if we aren’t looking at this all wrong. In the history of God’s people from the beginning of time, more often God has used events of both nature and supernatural means to bring His own people to their knees. Is it as simple as that? Or as complicated? Perhaps.

When I hear that believers are praising God in the midst of this disaster, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear of Christians leaving the comforts of their homes to go and help, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear others praying to God for these people…for their safety and their souls, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear the appeals for funding by Christian organizations that can provide relief to the victims, I know that God is using this for His own greater glory.

Do we rejoice, then, that the tragedy happened? What a horrible thought! No, but we praise God that He is working for His glory and then consider how we can work out our own Christian faith in the mix.

Pray…give…go … This is the missionary mantra that we have heard over the centuries, and it still remains the appropriate response to the needs of the world about us, including the present tragedy. Pray for that one soul who will renounce his denial of Christ and follow the Savior; give to help rebuild the necessities of life for those who have been made in God’s image; go, if you can, to bring life and light to those who may remain in darkness both physically and spiritually. Leave the theology of the event to God.

The following occurred to me while driving the roads during our recent snowy events: I need to drive in accordance to my religious beliefs. No, I do not mean that I should feel guilty if I go a couple of miles over the speed limit, or if I make an unintentional minor infraction of driving regulations. What I mean by the statement is that I should drive understanding that, yes, I have a license to drive, but the license does not assure me that I will be safe or that I will arrive at my destination. My license says that the Department of Motor Vehicles has allowed me to drive as licensed in our state. I’m legal; I belong. If I drive according to the rules of driving and safety, I will not be compromising my chances of arriving at my destination safely. As well, I do not necessarily have to drive safely in order to arrive safely, but of course it is expected of me. There is no assurance that safe driving will keep me safe. The truth is that out of respect for the law, the integrity of my driving character, and the effect on my fellow drivers and passengers, I drive safely. It is in the scope of Providence whether I arrive safely or end up in a ditch with my head wearing the steering wheel for a hat.
Although this is not a perfect analogy and may be a big stretch, I will carry it over to my religious beliefs to illustrate a point. Our eternal destiny is not dependent on whether we obey the Commandments, follow the Golden Rule, join the Church, or any other system of works. We can do all these things and remain lost from God…never arrive at our hoped for destination. Our goodness will not redeem us. On the other hand, we can’t look back to a single act on our part of shaking hands with the preacher, being baptized, or signing a pledge card, and then go about with a life unchanged and continuing a life of pleasure and self-serving. Some say, “OK, I accepted Jesus as my Savior, but I’m not ready for Him to be my Lord.” That is like getting a license to drive and then driving irresponsibly.
When we come to faith in Christ, the true way to live is to live to our best ability and knowledge of the Scriptures because we have reverence for the Savior, because we know it will give us a fullness of joy in our lives, and because it will be an influence on the world around us.
The big difference between having a driver’s license and being right with God is in the faith placed in the heart of a believer by God’s Holy Spirit. When we pass our driver’s test or renew our license, there is no faith involved. The analogy stops here. There are no permanent driver’s licenses, but God calls us, loves us eternally, brings us to faith, and preserves us until we reach our ultimate destination.