So Simple!

I’ve started listening to an audio version of the Bible on my car’s CD player these days and I find it very relaxing to have someone read out the life-giving Word of God while I wrestle with traffic, pollution and time-management issues, not to mention fighting the urge to flip my finger at fellow-commuters who insist of getting in my way!
It was during one of these sessions that I came across the healing of the invalid man by Jesus near the pool called Bethesda (John 5:1-15). I have read this passage innumerable times before and have always dismissed it as one more of Jesus’ many kindnesses to pathetic mankind. Somehow though, that particular day, I was blessed to see the entire episode in a totally different light.
Picture this reader – here is this invalid sick man, lying among thousands like him, hoping like all of them to be healed someday. And that hope had lasted 38 years!! That’s half the man’s life gone. Every morning hope would blossom anew in his tired heart that perhaps, just perhaps today would be the day he would be the first to enter the pool as soon as the angel had stirred it. And every morning for 38 years, he was disappointed.
Yet he hoped and persevered……you’ve gotta hand it to this guy for his patience and spunk what say? Maybe it was this that set him apart from the other sick multitudes there. Maybe it was this patience and forbearance that singled him out in Jesus’ eyes for we are told that He enquires and learns of this man’s pathetically chronic sickness.
Now note this - In all these 38 years, the invalid could see only one way out of his problems – that someone would someday show mercy on him and help him get into the pool first. He had lived 38 years for that one day. And that memorable day did arrive, when Jesus came to the feast in Jerusalem, but not in a way this man could have ever imagined.
Jesus did not attempt to race others to the pool carrying the invalid. He didn’t even attempt to advocate that someone do the same. All He did was to look the man in the eye and say "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." And he did! What amazement must have coursed through his body that moment, that every cell of his being snapped to attention at this stranger’s bidding! What joy must have filled his soul at his freedom, his reinstation among the rest of mankind, his restoration to normalcy. What gratefulness he must have experienced that he now had a chance to resume and fully live out the rest of his life! Thrilling!
I wonder though if he every reflected later, that his deliverance came as expected, but in the most unexpected way. He never in a million years would have imagined that the Son of God would be incarnated and choose to heal him out of the thousands who lay near the pool. And yet it happened. In God’s Time. In God’s way – such a simple way.
We are like the invalid sometimes. Our problems engulf us, take all our attention and demand all our problem-resolving resources. So much so, that sometimes we forget that our answers are not the only ones. Turning to God simplifies our lives, solves our issues and enriches our living in unimaginable ways. So what are you waiting for today? Look up (to God), give up (your problems), live up (your life)!!

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

WHY?

Questions are forerunners of mankind's progress. The 'How?' question led to unimaginable scientific advancement while the 'Who?', 'Where?' and When?' questions contributed to the enrichment of today's treasury of historical and geographical knowledge. But for the life of me, I find it very difficult to understand why anyone in their right senses would invent the 'Why?' question.

In my opinion, the 'Why?' question must have been the original fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil! Original sin stemmed from a thought that ran along these lines: "Why can't I disobey God?". And here we are today with the world in one big mess!
Think about it. The 'Why?' question - "Why do people die?", "Why do relationships break?", "Why do bad things happen to good people?" "Why is life so unfair?", "Why is there so much poverty, war and violence in the world?" "Why am I here?" and most importantly, "Why is this happening to me?"
The dreaded 'Why?' - root of all discontent....the springboard for man's eternal quest for spiritual answers. Have you noticed how easy it is to come up with an obvious answer to someone else's 'Why?' question? In Biblical times (and sometimes even today), a man's sickness or misfortune were often blamed on his sins and the sins of his fathers AND the sins of his forefathers to boot! Remember Job? Or the blind man from Jesus' time? I wonder though, if every head that nodded agreement at the derivation of this comfortable solution, would have continued to nod affirmation if the illness or despair had been their own.
Life often whirls us into situations of trial, temptation, life-threatening disease, dignity-threatening issues, financial disasters and moral failings and it must be a very hardened heart or a completely hopeless one that doesn't sweep it's eyes heavenwards and cry, "WHY????". But heaven is strangely silent. There is no answer. God seems a million miles away....sometimes, even imaginary....
And yet, the Word of God is firm in it's assurance....."And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Frustrating huh? It's very clear that nothing can happen to a believer that God is not in control of. But then, doesn't that mean He knows and allows what we're going throught? What could possibly be 'good' about a handicapped newborn or a dead wife or a devastated family or a failed career? What 'good' could God see in the heart-rending pain that He allows us to sometimes suffer?
He dismisses our reasoning of pain being the consequences of 'past sins' with a careless wave of His hand and assures us that present crises are exactly that - of the present and not of the past. Then Why, Why, Oh Why do these things happen? Isn't believing in His holy name supposed to render us immune to the fiery darts of the Evil One? Isn't Almighty God the big kid on the block who's supposed to fight for us? Why then, do failures, disappointments and disasters happen?
The answer is actually rather simple. God never promised us immunity, prosperity or freedom from problems. He freely gives us instead, the gifts of salvation, eternal life and and freedom from sin. But are these intangible gifts worth the very real pain we go through? Yes they are. Why? (see, the incorrigible 'Why' strikes again!) Simply because He thought we were worth the tremendous physical and spiritual pain that He suffered on the cross....
Life will never cease throwing painful situations at you....but the next time you're in one of them, instead of clutching your hair, staggering about and groaning "Why?", you would do well to remember you've got a dad up there with an excellent aerial view of the maze you're struggling to navigate.....and He paves your roads with experiences and situations that draw you closer into fellowship with Him and serve to glorify His holy name some distant day in the future.
”‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Now if that ain't a guarantee, I don't know what is! So with eyes turned hopefully towards an unknown future and our groping fingers firmly gripped in His omniscient ones, may we gratefully head towards the horizon of a new and completely fresh year.

Blessings, prayers and best wishes for a Christ-centred and radically fulfilling New Year 2007! God bless!