Where does faith flee in times of trouble? When we become overwhelmed with concern or dread over certain situations that appear to be beyond our control, do we stubbornly continue to attempt to solve it through our own efforts? Do we run and hide from it? Do we waste precious time moving through the list of "experts", hoping we find one with the answer? Or do we turn to the One Who has all the wisdom, strength and power necessary to restore order and remedy the situation? As I write this, I am reminded of the silly movie, “Ghost Busters,” and its sound track that asks the question, “Who ya gonna call?” Sadly, more often then not, God is the last One we call upon for help.
I have been listening to the so-called "experts" and watching the reactions of those who have been searching for an answer to the recent British Petroleum oil well failure. Five miles below the surface of the sea, oil is continuing to gush, threatening livelihoods, wildlife, and patience. While men scramble to provide a solution to stop it, blame is cast like stones being thrown and the oil continues to pour from the well.
Politicians, environmentalists, and elites are calling for BP’s blood to be shed. Poorly choosing his words (or, perhaps, revealing his true nature), our President is looking for “necks” to place his "boot" upon and the appropriate “ass to kick” for causing all of the trouble. In the meantime, he has refused to privately meet with BP's CEO. His inaction speaks multitudes of his inability to mediate our nation's problems.
Although it was an unfortunate and tragic accident, our administration’s first response was to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the Gulf and examine the legal consequences. We then were subjected to the politicization of the disaster; men attempting to elevate themselves with special interests groups. Threats of felony charges are being considered before a thorough investigation is completed to determine if there is blame to be levied. Continued demands have been made that all recovery costs be paid by BP, even though BP has already promised to do so. Tort attorneys have converged upon the area like a flock of vultures, soothing the locals and assuring them they will squeeze every ounce of blood they can from BP for their losses in income.
Many viable and reasonable solutions have been offered, but those who perhaps have a workable solution unfortunately fall out of the circle of elites who are in control. The powers that be have no time for them; therefore, those who may have had a solution to the immediate problem at its onset are ignored and rejected.
My frustration does not lie with the disaster itself. It is solely based upon man’s stubborn unbelief in a Creator Who has held the balance of the universe in His capable hands since He formed it (Genesis 1:1-31), and Who continues to do so. My disappointment has everything to do with man’s unwillingness to turn to the Creator of the oil and the sea for His help and guidance in stopping the flow. There is even a failure I see within the Christian community to return to faith and petition the Lord for understanding and solutions. Instead, they place creation above its Creator and wring their hands wondering what can be done. After it all boils down, the dregs left in the bottom of the pot are a stubborn, stiff-necked nation and a complete and utter disbelief in an all-powerful, Almighty God. There is very little, if any, faith or trust in His ability to bring the disaster to an end. And because we have become a nation of unbelievers and Christians with weak faith, we are seeing the results.
When God destroyed mankind in the flood, did He not also cause the waters to recede, restoring the earth and providing a habitable place for Noah and his descendants, promising that the earth would “endure” and never cease until the final judgment? (Genesis 8:1-22)
Jesus called His disciples those “of little faith” as they struggled to row their boat against the raging sea (Matthew 8:23-27). Cannot He who created the sea and all that is in it, and Who calmed the stormy waters, also calm the gushing oil and heal what it has damaged?
If we had “faith as small as a mustard seed,” as Jesus promised, “Nothing [would] be impossible for [us]” (Matthew 17:20). Just as no mountain would be unmovable, the gushing oil would also cease and the well would close tight. But because we have further limited our faith by our arrogance, stubbornness, greed for power and control, our hatred for what God has blessed us with, and our unwillingness to ask God for help, He has turned His face from this disaster - and He is also turning His face from us.
God will not continue to allow His children to minimize His omnipotence or to shelve Him as a last resort. He will eventually reveal Himself and His sovereignty and power. But for now, His desire is that we first look to Him for help, that we call out to Him when things like this happen. His arm is not too short when disaster strikes or when we need Him (Numbers 11:23). He is mighty to cleanse, to heal, to provide, and to save us from calamity. But we must choose Him as our First Responder instead of shoving Him into the back of the line, as we so often do.
As long as we continue along the path of no faith, or weak faith at best, the oil will continue to plague the Gulf and other disasters, tragedies and crises will continue to come upon us. We must choose wisely Who we are going to call for help when they do occur and not take our time doing so. The end results will heavily rely upon the choice we make.
Additional reading:
I have been listening to the so-called "experts" and watching the reactions of those who have been searching for an answer to the recent British Petroleum oil well failure. Five miles below the surface of the sea, oil is continuing to gush, threatening livelihoods, wildlife, and patience. While men scramble to provide a solution to stop it, blame is cast like stones being thrown and the oil continues to pour from the well.
Politicians, environmentalists, and elites are calling for BP’s blood to be shed. Poorly choosing his words (or, perhaps, revealing his true nature), our President is looking for “necks” to place his "boot" upon and the appropriate “ass to kick” for causing all of the trouble. In the meantime, he has refused to privately meet with BP's CEO. His inaction speaks multitudes of his inability to mediate our nation's problems.
Although it was an unfortunate and tragic accident, our administration’s first response was to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the Gulf and examine the legal consequences. We then were subjected to the politicization of the disaster; men attempting to elevate themselves with special interests groups. Threats of felony charges are being considered before a thorough investigation is completed to determine if there is blame to be levied. Continued demands have been made that all recovery costs be paid by BP, even though BP has already promised to do so. Tort attorneys have converged upon the area like a flock of vultures, soothing the locals and assuring them they will squeeze every ounce of blood they can from BP for their losses in income.
Many viable and reasonable solutions have been offered, but those who perhaps have a workable solution unfortunately fall out of the circle of elites who are in control. The powers that be have no time for them; therefore, those who may have had a solution to the immediate problem at its onset are ignored and rejected.
My frustration does not lie with the disaster itself. It is solely based upon man’s stubborn unbelief in a Creator Who has held the balance of the universe in His capable hands since He formed it (Genesis 1:1-31), and Who continues to do so. My disappointment has everything to do with man’s unwillingness to turn to the Creator of the oil and the sea for His help and guidance in stopping the flow. There is even a failure I see within the Christian community to return to faith and petition the Lord for understanding and solutions. Instead, they place creation above its Creator and wring their hands wondering what can be done. After it all boils down, the dregs left in the bottom of the pot are a stubborn, stiff-necked nation and a complete and utter disbelief in an all-powerful, Almighty God. There is very little, if any, faith or trust in His ability to bring the disaster to an end. And because we have become a nation of unbelievers and Christians with weak faith, we are seeing the results.
When God destroyed mankind in the flood, did He not also cause the waters to recede, restoring the earth and providing a habitable place for Noah and his descendants, promising that the earth would “endure” and never cease until the final judgment? (Genesis 8:1-22)
Jesus called His disciples those “of little faith” as they struggled to row their boat against the raging sea (Matthew 8:23-27). Cannot He who created the sea and all that is in it, and Who calmed the stormy waters, also calm the gushing oil and heal what it has damaged?
If we had “faith as small as a mustard seed,” as Jesus promised, “Nothing [would] be impossible for [us]” (Matthew 17:20). Just as no mountain would be unmovable, the gushing oil would also cease and the well would close tight. But because we have further limited our faith by our arrogance, stubbornness, greed for power and control, our hatred for what God has blessed us with, and our unwillingness to ask God for help, He has turned His face from this disaster - and He is also turning His face from us.
God will not continue to allow His children to minimize His omnipotence or to shelve Him as a last resort. He will eventually reveal Himself and His sovereignty and power. But for now, His desire is that we first look to Him for help, that we call out to Him when things like this happen. His arm is not too short when disaster strikes or when we need Him (Numbers 11:23). He is mighty to cleanse, to heal, to provide, and to save us from calamity. But we must choose Him as our First Responder instead of shoving Him into the back of the line, as we so often do.
As long as we continue along the path of no faith, or weak faith at best, the oil will continue to plague the Gulf and other disasters, tragedies and crises will continue to come upon us. We must choose wisely Who we are going to call for help when they do occur and not take our time doing so. The end results will heavily rely upon the choice we make.
Additional reading:
- Genesis 1:1-6
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
- Psalm 19:1-6; 46:1; 65:5-13; 89:13
- Romans 1:20, 25
- 1 Corinthians 1:25
1 comment:
I am amazed at the constant invitation extended to us to "Come unto Me..." Surely our God wants to help us, provide answers to our problems and challenges, and to extend to us His power, love, mercy, and peace. Yet He respects our agency and will not force Himself on us, we must ask. Thanks for the reminder of our weakness and His strength Karen.
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