Good Friday, Indeed
I've been a bit overwhelmed lately. Not in the I-have-so-much-to-do sense, but in the what-is-this-world-coming-to sense. I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm not one to think that the world is any more of an evil place than it was right after Adam and Eve initially sinned. There have been atrocities since the beginning of time and each generation has its particular evils that seem to permeate society.
That being said, it honestly has felt worse than usual lately or perhaps I just have a heightened awareness. Technology provides opportunity to hear about every current wicked act instantaneously and sometimes it is hard to wrap my brain around all of it. Everything from schools discussing video image capturing of our children and data mining techniques to women lobbying for the "right" to kill babies who survive botched abortions. I find myself praying for the protection of my children's future on a daily basis.
All of this was on my mind this morning and I woke up asking, "Jesus, where are you in all of this?" Just a short while later, as I was reading through the crucifixion and resurrection story with my kids in honor of Good Friday, I was particularly struck by Christ's heart-wrenching call of, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Not too different than the question on my mind throughout the last few weeks. The emotion of that moment hit me, because it was in that moment that he bore our sin. He literally became the woman petitioning to murder live babies. Because of his willingness to take on the depths of hell my question this morning has already been answered: He is right here.
As I described to my children the importance of the temple curtain being torn and God's very power and presence "wooshing" out so it could enter into you and me, my children's eyes of wonderment solidified the importance of this day. All that he did was so that he could be with us and to give us the victory to not just survive this life, but rise above it. We've been given hope and a future. We've been given the assurance of eternity without the pain and sorrow that surrounds us now. So many precious gifts that we so often fail to recognize.
We're living in a very broken world that in someways seems to be increasing in brokenness. And there is only one answer to all of it: "There is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus." He's overcome it all! He LIVES! The very same God who delivered his people from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, walked upon the water, raised the dead and returned sight to the blind is right here with us! And he's still in the business of delivering, healing and loving and restoring!
On this Good Friday, the best way I can fight the brokenness of this world is by purposing my focus to be on the One who can fix it. Good Friday, indeed.
That being said, it honestly has felt worse than usual lately or perhaps I just have a heightened awareness. Technology provides opportunity to hear about every current wicked act instantaneously and sometimes it is hard to wrap my brain around all of it. Everything from schools discussing video image capturing of our children and data mining techniques to women lobbying for the "right" to kill babies who survive botched abortions. I find myself praying for the protection of my children's future on a daily basis.
All of this was on my mind this morning and I woke up asking, "Jesus, where are you in all of this?" Just a short while later, as I was reading through the crucifixion and resurrection story with my kids in honor of Good Friday, I was particularly struck by Christ's heart-wrenching call of, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Not too different than the question on my mind throughout the last few weeks. The emotion of that moment hit me, because it was in that moment that he bore our sin. He literally became the woman petitioning to murder live babies. Because of his willingness to take on the depths of hell my question this morning has already been answered: He is right here.
As I described to my children the importance of the temple curtain being torn and God's very power and presence "wooshing" out so it could enter into you and me, my children's eyes of wonderment solidified the importance of this day. All that he did was so that he could be with us and to give us the victory to not just survive this life, but rise above it. We've been given hope and a future. We've been given the assurance of eternity without the pain and sorrow that surrounds us now. So many precious gifts that we so often fail to recognize.
We're living in a very broken world that in someways seems to be increasing in brokenness. And there is only one answer to all of it: "There is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus." He's overcome it all! He LIVES! The very same God who delivered his people from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, walked upon the water, raised the dead and returned sight to the blind is right here with us! And he's still in the business of delivering, healing and loving and restoring!
On this Good Friday, the best way I can fight the brokenness of this world is by purposing my focus to be on the One who can fix it. Good Friday, indeed.
Comments
Post a Comment