Does anyone else ever wonder why God seems to be taking His time in coming to get us?
I just read a story on MSN which reports the death of a toddler. She was flying home after receiving care for a club foot in Iowa. She was aboard an Angel flight, a gift of mercy, when it crashed shortly after take off. Her mother survived and according to relatives is “doing okay physically.“ We know what that means. Some of us better than others.
So many people around the world are hurting this day. Sometimes I wish God would just end it and I wonder what He’s waiting for. Yes, I know we say things like “till every nation has heard the gospel,” yet we’re not dealing with a finite task when we say such things. The “world” Jesus spoke of in Mt 28 ceased to exist two thousand years ago. A new world is born every single day. A new generation is created daily while we struggle to save the ones already crowding the planet.
Some folks claim Jesus will return when every nation has heard the good news. Well, then I wish He would perform one more miracle to help us do that. I wish He would use His powers to prevent more babies from being born. If He would then be so kind as to tell us what the cut off date is we would at least have some hard numbers.
Meanwhile, I wish He would put an end to the continuing injustices, heartaches, griefs, hates, wars, cruelties and sufferings of a fallen world. For generations yet born it seems like it would be an act of mercy. At least that’s what my weak and inferior human logic tells me.
I don’t want to die particularly. On second thought, I don’t want to die period. But I wouldn’t mind being somewhere else either. Like with Jesus. So I wish He’d come get us. To that some might say, “But if He comes right now what about those who don’t know Jesus?” I agree but even while I’m agreeing millions of people are being born who may never know Him either. And it goes on and on and on. See what I’m saying? What’s He waiting for?
A family blessed with a baby in need of special medical attention was rejoicing when this day began. Their daughters treatment had gone well. What a relief. Before the very same day ended they were making arrangements for a funeral. I wish God would come right now and save generations yet born from having to endure days like these.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!
Craig,
I am coming back, just as I promised! As much as I would love to come and heal your pain, (I’ve seen your backyard, and I know your friend John, and I even endured it myself) you know it is not my will, but the Father. I know sometimes it is hard to realize the reasons why or how things happen, but know that the Father is in control. I will tell you as I told Peter and John, you are asking the wrong question… ask, “What can I do today for the cause of Christ?” You are an amazing man Craig Hicks! We have some big plans for you so what are you waiting for? Tell them I love them and know this, I love you.
Jesus
Romans 11:33-36
1 Timothy 1:17
Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God “has also set eternity in the hearts of men.”
Our deepest instinct is heaven. Heaven is the ache in our bones. It is the splinter in our heart. It is like the whisper of faraway waves we hear crashing in the swirls of a spiral shell. It is the music of heaven. It echoes, faint, elusive, haunting, beneath and within our daily routines.
The instinct for heaven is our feeling of being homesick. All your longings – for the place you grew up, for the taste of fried chicken that my mother once took off of the stove. It is a longing for that bend in the river where my parents took us fishing as a child. It is where the sky is big and blue and the white clouds float lazily across the hot afternoon sky. All these longings are homesickness. It is the hunger of my soul wanting in full what all these things only hint at. These are the things seen that call up deep from our soul the Things Unseen.
This life has never been about us. It has always been and should always only be about Him.
May God ease your homesickness!
I’m homesick too Craig. I have many of the same “wonders” as you. Sometimes I wonder how much worse things can get before He can’t look at this anymore. Everyday there are horrible things happening and people’s hearts are being broken … it just seems like it’s time for it to stop.
I guess I’m just homesick … and if that’s what this feeling is then I’m glad I have a Home like Heaven to miss and long for.
What can I say but Amen! I pray for the Lord to come knowing how fragile I feel in holding on one more day. And some days I am just dog-gone tired of the pain, suffering, and the ‘broken’ things. How did Jesus take all of that stuff on the cross? When is enough, ‘enough’? Glad I am not in charge of the destruct button…or is it a construct button? Ok, the joy part kicked in again, and I will make it one more day…unless He decides to come today…which is fine with me!
Craig thanks for these words. You do not know how much they have helped me at this very moment. Please continue the blog work, I read as often as possible. I am a “big fan” of yours because of Jesus. Keep up the great work.
Christ is more
Klay Hall
Craig,
You expressed what all of us feel at one time or another - thanks for being bold. God is big enough to handle our questions and longings — and good enough to give us brothers like Mr. Stematis who can rub salve on our wounds and teach us anew what we have “learned” in down times before.