Starlight – The light in the darkness.

Key Scripture: Job 39:14-17 (NLT)

She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust. She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or that wild animals might destroy them. She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She is unconcerned though they die, for God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding.

The verse above speaks about the contradictions with the will of God. If God is a good God, why would he create an animal without any wisdom? In life we face a lot of contradictions similar to this one. Why did this bad situation happen to me? Why would God let this happen? In these types of situations do we tend to become bitter towards God?

When we face contradictions, it is as if we are walking in the dark as far as the will of God is concerned. The inability of us to fully understand the purposes of God in very trying circumstances darkens our world. It darkens our world to a point where it is hard to see God’s hand filled with his bright glory in it.

Gen. 15:2-6 (NLT)

But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since I don’t have a son, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no children, so one of my servants will have to be my heir.” Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you.” Then the LORD brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that – too many to count!”Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 Abram faced a contradiction. Why would God promise someone that they would have many children and at the same time let a person to walk in bareness for a very long time? Abram faced this bareness for so long, that his body was as good as dead (Rom. 4:19). Why would God continue to promise someone children and let a person’s body die? Why would God let this horrible circumstance happen, when He promised to take care of me and lead me to a place of wanting nothing (Psalm 23:1). In times of darkness, we need to do what God told Abraham to do. We need to look up at the “stars of promise” (Jack Hayford).

When cold, dark times fall upon our lives; this is not a time to doubt God and his character. This is not a time to doubt the Word of God. But this is a time to BELIEVE: “Abram believed the Lord.” For we serve a God who can resurrect dead dreams, dead visions and dead plans for God is a God who “gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17).

Look to the stars in the darkness and strengthen your faith, do not waver in unbelief, but remember what an awesome creator we have who brought forth light and life in the midst of formless, and empty darkness. Be filled with the Holy Spirit who is hovering over your dark circumstances, like a mother bird caring for and protecting its young.

Gen. 1:2-3 (NIV)

“Now the earth was formless, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

When I log on to the West Ridge Journal site in order to comment or review comments I am confronted with a option that has a box next to it. The options speaks to me without a voice, but nevertheless, it speaks loud and clear. It asks if it wants me to be entered its memory for future visits with the tag: Remember Me. Matthew 13:14-16 is Jesus’ comment on the same subject. He said: the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

By citing Isaiah’s prophetic proclamation, Jesus drew the Jews of His day into the word of the prophet. When He did this, it was with an admonition and an exhortation that has a  twinge of sadness, as Jesus said that they had forgotten God.

An old friend of mine was rudely confronted with our societies position in light of this prophetic challenge at a Hallmark’s recently. Dave Jefferies, a man I went to Bible College with in the 1980’s was looking for a Religious Sympathy Card to no avail. He asked for help and… well listen to his own account of what happened: “I went to Hallmark and the manager asked me if I needed any help. “I’m looking for encouragement cards, something Spiritual”, I said. “Oooh, that’s a problem”, she replied, ‘We removed everything Spiritual to make room for Easter!’”

The Faith had been exchanged by a Bunny. When our President says we aren’t a Christian (or religious, for that matter) nation, rather we are: “a nation of citizens,” it is safe to say that we have forgotten who we are as a people. We have exchanged the Cross for Chocolate. Let me temper that comment by telling you that I have no problem with egg hunts, baskets, cards and candy. I think are a fun way to help our children see Jesus and to just have well, a little fun. But in the midst of where we seem to be going as a nation, please let it never be said of us that we have forgotten the Rock from which our faith was hewn out from. Here Jesus say: Remember Me and check the box that gives you access to Him!