"Yes, something terrible had happened. But God was taking care of that. It wasn’t her concern now. What mattered now was that she had been loved. That she was loved. That she had been called to love."
from "Thunder of Heaven (The Heaven Trilogy Book 3)" by Ted Dekker
Whether you believe God is in literal control of every little thing thing -
or, like me, believe that God is in ultimate control - but still allows us to screw up all on our own - we all have to deal with the issue of whether or not we believe that God is really taking care of "it" - whatever "it" is.
This question's a lot harder than it might seem.
Let's start with just the first three sentences in the quote at the top -
"Yes, something terrible had happened. But God was taking care of that. It wasn’t her concern now."
I used to have a sign in my office that said -
“Good morning …
this is God…
Today I’ll be handling all your problems.
I won’t need your help.
So relax and leave everything to me.”
I wish putting up the sign was all it took to make that really happen.
So often, it seemed like God just wasn't doing His part.
I also had a bigger sign hanging from the ceiling - from Nike. It has their slogan from that time -
Just do it ...
When God didn't do His job - then the Nike sign was for me.
There's another sign that you've probably seen before - this one in car repair businesses.
In some ways, it's kind of like the first sign about God taking care of "it".
| Normal Labor rate | $ 45.00 |
|---|---|
| If you watch us | $ 55.00 |
| If you give us advice | $ 65.00 |
| If you help or assist us | $ 85.00 |
| If you worked on it before | $105.00 |
Do you see a problem here?
Let's add a couple examples from the Bible.
Specifically from Peter - a man who was so much like most of us.
A man who often went into action before engaging his brain.
First - this from Mark -
Jesus Predicts His Death
8:31—9:1 pp — Mt 16:21-28; Lk 9:22-27
Mk 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
Mk 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Second - this from John -
Jesus Arrested
18:3-11 pp — Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53
Jn 18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
Jn 18:2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jn 18:4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
Jn 18:5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Jn 18:7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jn 18:8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Jn 18:10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Jn 18:11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Now, let me restate what I said earlier about Peter not engaging his brain first.
Not that he really did engage his brain - but the bigger issue is whether he engaged with what Jesus had been teaching them.
In the first example - Jesus tells Peter that he's not thinking about the things of God.
Rather - Peter's concerned with the things of the world.
Peter is thinking about the little things, short term things - rather the the big picture and eternal things.
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