Making Sense of God

Making Sense in Life.  The more things change, the more they stay the same. With this 2020 Coronavirus pandemic holding us captive my mind wanders to a range of intellectual and theological topics.  Some of my thoughts are 'relatively' deep (for a cartoonist) while other thoughts just dip their toes in the shallow end of the kiddie pool of intellectualism. 

​My shallow thoughts might be.. "What does my dog Cooper dream about?" or "Why is it snowing in April?"  Answer to the snow question is "You live in Minnesota, you dummy."

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Now what I consider a little deeper topic is .. 'Is God really fair?'  No, not just saying He is fair afraid of what others in the church think, but is God really fair.  ​​
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So in my mind wanderings I was thinking about the story in Genesis where God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.  This is absurd, maybe even pagan.  Could this have been a moment where Abraham replies to this seemingly grotesque request.. "If you are a loving God, why are you asking me to do such a murderous thing? If you are God, you are no longer my God."  

No, Abraham while troubled by God's request did not question God, or debate Him. He proceeded to be obedient to God to the point of killing his son.  This is when God said "STOP", and provided a lamb to sacrifice in Isaac's place. WHEW!

My wife and I watched the 1979 movie Jesus on Good Friday this year.  It was remastered and included this story of Abraham and Isaac explaining Jesus (the Lamb of God) took the place for our sins just as God provided a lamb to take the place of Isaac.  I love this analogy of Biblical proportions.

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Now let me take this 'trusting God' thing a step further as I think out loud and type. Let's start with God is perfect, good and just in all He does. We are His creation that He can do with us whatever he chooses, and then realize God's Love and His Wrath are both attributes of God. note: read 'Knowing God' by J.I Packer for a better understanding of who God is.  Finally, there is eternal life for those who accept Jesus as their savior, and Hell for those who say NO to God.

Well then we can question.. Is life an even playing field? We do not have the same opportunities, circumstances, or aptitudes to know God, or even more specifically know who Jesus is. To this I think honestly is NOT just, loving, kind, or FAIR!  It seems at it's best to the judgment of a God who could be described as indifferent.  This is a God who says "I am God and I will do whatever I want."  If this is true my response is equal parts of being afraid, sad, and maybe appalled. 
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But maybe it is like the sacrifice of Isaac, or Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. I don't understand why, but in these examples I see God's love for those who are faithful. A lamb provided in place of Isaac, and Jesus in place of a sinful mankind.

But.. I still know life is not fair, and beyond this life the opportunities to know Jesus or even know there is a Jesus are not fair.  This is true, but like Abraham we are called to be faithful and obedient to God even when we do not understand.

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All of us will some day come right down to the end of life (young or old) and for some life has been blessed while others it is seems cursed. This is where we are called to be obedient, pray. and trust God like Abraham did when asked to sacrifice his only son.

I believe I am sharing is a glimpse of truth at least for me. I don't find my self debating deep theological issues with great theologians.. but it is an important part of my faith journey. To seek God and to TRUST God.

​I believe God cares beyond this life for those injured by injustice even when I do not understand and/or are troubled by God's direction.

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My prayer is to be faithful, humble, but not shaken by pandemics or 'worse'.  I believe in both the goodness and sovereignty of God, and we are to trust God for this life and the next that He will make all things fair and right in the end. 

​Jeff (thinking deep thoughts with my theological water wings on) Larson