Devotionals

not a PUPPET MASTER

by Jason Barnett 
04/28/17
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A young child dies. The first thing our society asks, “who is at fault?” Like Uncle Sam on a draft poster, our fingers are swift to cast judgment. Death is not an acceptable normal for us, so to keep it from happening the person responsible has to be held accountable. 

For thirty seconds a mom turns her head to stir dinner, but it was long enough for her toddler to find that hazardous object. No one blames the child; they were not old enough to know any better. Can we blame the mother? Some of us would try; telling her that if she had not been making food for the kid they would still be alive.

In hospitals all across the world, young lives are extinguishing due to incurable illness. “Who sinned?” we ask, like Pharisees to a blind man. We know that four years is not enough time for a baby to commit any transgression worthy of such an outcome. What did their parents do? Nothing. They were model human beings who wanted the best for them in life and took all the right steps. 

No matter the reason, ultimately the finger ends up getting pointed at God. He is the one pulling the strings on the universe, making each of us dance to His tune. If God were really all-powerful and loving, how could He allow such a thing? 

Here is a truth that will blow your mind. God does not will for such things to happen, nor has He ever. The Bible tells us that the plan for us is to live in relationship with our Maker, from this world to forever. But because God so loved the world He planted a tree in Eden, making reciprocity of love possible. We are no Pinocchio tethered with strings of false life, but real beings created in the very image of God.

Awful things such as death, abuse, and pain are NOT from God. They are contradictory to His holy nature. Being sinless, God would never plan sin for your benefit. All the terrible things that happen are a result of living in a broken world.

Accidents happen, mistakes are made, and brokenness teems about us. The world is never going to get any better, and no amount of positive thinking will solve its problems. BUT we have a God who specializes in bringing beauty from ashes. 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)