Dave’s Monday Blast – April 17, 2017
Last week, ISIS attacked two Coptic churches in Egypt ending the earthly lives of 44 Christians and leaving 122 injured. This tragedy leads some to question why an all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful God, who knew the attacks would happen, did nothing to prevent them. Pastor Jim Denison reminds us “God did not cause these attacks. Terrorists did. God gave them the same free will He gives to us all. He intends us to use our freedom to love Him and each other (Matthew 22:37-39). When we use our freedom for evil instead, He could remove the consequences of our sin, but this would, in effect, remove our freedom. Our purpose as humans made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26 & 27) would be defeated.”
Instead of removing our freedom and its consequences, our Lord chose to redeem them. Consider the events of the Passion Week:
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem in direct fulfillment of messianic prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), knowing the authorities would respond by seeking his arrest and execution.
On Monday, He overturned the money changers’ tables, further provoking the wrath of his enemies.
On Tuesday, He defeated them again and again in public debate.
On Wednesday, Jesus chose to prepare himself in private for what He would do in public. None of us can do anything significant for God until we have been with God.
On Maundy Thursday, He waited in the Garden of Gethsemane as they came to arrest him.
On Good Friday, the One whose power calmed raging seas and raised the dead allowed Roman soldiers to nail him to a cross.
Here’s the point: our Lord redeemed our fallen condition and took the consequences of our freedom on himself. He did not remove our freedom, He redeemed it. As a result, by the sanctifying, indwelling power of His Spirit human free will can be used to advance His Kingdom for his eternal glory and our eternal good.
It is human nature to ask why sinful, broken people act in sinful, broken ways. Such questions are completely understandable and even biblical (Isaiah 1:18). But our Father then calls us to move from speculation to action, from asking why tragedy strikes to asking how we can help its victims.
Denison goes on to write, “When the second ISIS bomber neared St. Mark’s Cathedral, a security officer saw him and tried to hug him to shield the crowd moments before the explosion. This brave man gave his life so others could live. He served the victims and emulated Jesus.
How will we do the same today?
By the way:
On Sunday, the One who died for us rose from that grave and in so doing confirmed His deity. He is risen and that Truth makes all the difference.
