Living in this world can be so challenging at times. I sometimes look around and don't see God in the world. People can be so uncompromising, so confrontational, so intent on being right and having the last word that they forget to be people. What is the purpose of this life but to be neighbors to one another? To love one another?
I work for a company that does not practice this as a basic value. As in most corporate jobs, it is not about people, it is about money. In a way, we are living in a very idolatorous world where our god has been replaced with the almighty dollar. I suppose it is ironic that our currency does its best to remind us where to put our trust, "In God we Trust!" Yet, even then the world wants to silence the green god and turn to worship the the things we can buy with it.
Truth has been dismantled and shredded so that people cannot recognize it anymore. The truth today is up to each person to decide. We can all have our own truths and live by our own standards - case in point: observe drivers during rush hour traffic. You will see every type of driver, every truth - the driver who will fight you inch by inch before letting you get in front; the driver who will cut you off and then make random hand gestures for being in his or her way in the first place; the driver who will graciously slow down and let you and maybe even one or two others in front.
This is our world. Most people want to be first and will fight before letting anyone get in the way of that. Others see your joy and want to cut you off and then chastise you for any little thing just so he or she can feel better about him or herself. But some people see you as a brother or a sister and want the best for you. They help you acheive your goals and nurture you in community. But how many people like the latter do you know for each of two other types of people that you know?
Sure, it is not so black and white. We all have bad days and make mistakes and that is the power of forgiveness...but that is not what I am talking about here. My point is the people who do not seek forgiveness because according to their truths, their behaviors are perfectly acceptable. Who's truth made it ok to kill children? Who's truth made sexual promiscuity something to be proud of? Who's truth reduced the importance of family values, the need to properly discern relationships before marriage and the simplicity of divorce.
Who's truth made it ok to say, "its not sex if you use a condom," "if you get pregnant, you can get an abortion, so no big deal," or "just marry him, if it doesn't work out there is always divorce."
I know I am being very soapbox-ish right now but I live in a world where this truth prevails, we all do. It is disheartening. I am critisized for my faith. As a Christian, it is painful for people to tell me that my faith offends them (and I wasn't even talking to them about it but another Christian) but yet they can tell crude jokes, make obscene references and not think anything of it. I just do not understand how this world can be so confused and backwards.
How did we get here? It pains me to see it every day. It hurts to be rejected for my faith. It leaves me feeling sad, empty, hopeless and alone.
It is at times like this that I remember, God is not dead. He is very much alive and He is the only Truth, the absolute Truth and there can be no other. God is everything and He is everywhere. I believe that He cries too over the injustice in the world...He cries because He loves us so much. But He also stands firm next to those who refuse to hear Him...but He does not stand there to chastise or to punish. He stands there to love them and He waits for them to turn to Him and love Him too.
God knows how long He waited for me...but when I was finally ready, I did turn to Him and He forever changed my life. He brings me comfort in my sorrows, joy in my heartbreak and love in my lonliness. I know Love because God showed me His unending fountain of Love for all of us. He is the mountain that will never tremble, He is God, He is Love and He is amazing.
I work for a company that does not practice this as a basic value. As in most corporate jobs, it is not about people, it is about money. In a way, we are living in a very idolatorous world where our god has been replaced with the almighty dollar. I suppose it is ironic that our currency does its best to remind us where to put our trust, "In God we Trust!" Yet, even then the world wants to silence the green god and turn to worship the the things we can buy with it.
Truth has been dismantled and shredded so that people cannot recognize it anymore. The truth today is up to each person to decide. We can all have our own truths and live by our own standards - case in point: observe drivers during rush hour traffic. You will see every type of driver, every truth - the driver who will fight you inch by inch before letting you get in front; the driver who will cut you off and then make random hand gestures for being in his or her way in the first place; the driver who will graciously slow down and let you and maybe even one or two others in front.
This is our world. Most people want to be first and will fight before letting anyone get in the way of that. Others see your joy and want to cut you off and then chastise you for any little thing just so he or she can feel better about him or herself. But some people see you as a brother or a sister and want the best for you. They help you acheive your goals and nurture you in community. But how many people like the latter do you know for each of two other types of people that you know?
Sure, it is not so black and white. We all have bad days and make mistakes and that is the power of forgiveness...but that is not what I am talking about here. My point is the people who do not seek forgiveness because according to their truths, their behaviors are perfectly acceptable. Who's truth made it ok to kill children? Who's truth made sexual promiscuity something to be proud of? Who's truth reduced the importance of family values, the need to properly discern relationships before marriage and the simplicity of divorce.
Who's truth made it ok to say, "its not sex if you use a condom," "if you get pregnant, you can get an abortion, so no big deal," or "just marry him, if it doesn't work out there is always divorce."
I know I am being very soapbox-ish right now but I live in a world where this truth prevails, we all do. It is disheartening. I am critisized for my faith. As a Christian, it is painful for people to tell me that my faith offends them (and I wasn't even talking to them about it but another Christian) but yet they can tell crude jokes, make obscene references and not think anything of it. I just do not understand how this world can be so confused and backwards.
How did we get here? It pains me to see it every day. It hurts to be rejected for my faith. It leaves me feeling sad, empty, hopeless and alone.
It is at times like this that I remember, God is not dead. He is very much alive and He is the only Truth, the absolute Truth and there can be no other. God is everything and He is everywhere. I believe that He cries too over the injustice in the world...He cries because He loves us so much. But He also stands firm next to those who refuse to hear Him...but He does not stand there to chastise or to punish. He stands there to love them and He waits for them to turn to Him and love Him too.
God knows how long He waited for me...but when I was finally ready, I did turn to Him and He forever changed my life. He brings me comfort in my sorrows, joy in my heartbreak and love in my lonliness. I know Love because God showed me His unending fountain of Love for all of us. He is the mountain that will never tremble, He is God, He is Love and He is amazing.
Only in God is my soul at rest, in Him comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock, my strength and my salvation.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be moved.
Only in God is found safety when my enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory when I am found meek and found lowly.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be moved.
Only in God is my soul at rest, in Him comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock, my strength and my salvation.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be moved.
Only in God is found safety when my enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory when I am found meek and found lowly.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be moved.
Only in God is my soul at rest, in Him comes my salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment