Many of our friends were sad and questioning and filled with grief this weekend. We lost two teens to a car crash. I didn't know Charles Bates and Katie Eckert, but understand their friend's and family's feeling of loss. This type of loss, the death of a friend, happens to just about everybody.
I have three friends who died very young. Brandon was 16, Shelly was 19, Jimmy was 26. All died tragically, unexpectantly, when they had so much to live for. God's timing in not within our grasp. He gave us life, love, friendships, but they pass away.
After losing his entire family to a freak wind storm Job reacted like this:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:20-22 It is easy to question God. We want to understand his reasons. Sometimes we want to tell him he was wrong. Job new better. He knew that God blesses us and takes away from us without our permission. His wisdom is greater than our own.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8
God does have a secret wisdom. His is beyond what we can comprehend. Scientists spend a lifetime studying the things God has created. There is no end in sight of things to discover.
Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Isaiah 40:13
Nobody can instruct God. We can only trust him.
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:19-21
God will give all things to those who patiently wait and trust. He gives and takes away. Blessed be his name.
tomr
Posted at 05:22 am by jtownyouth
