WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE "GOD FOR A DAY"?

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-35)

I merely wish to suggest being God is not nearly as simple as most people think it is. Christians (and many who reject God) conclude being God should be simple—especially if you possess His power and ability to order things be done. Really?

Wonder how many prayers God receives from all over the world in a 24 hour period? If those prayers were divided into requests, appreciation, and angry indictments, wonder what the percentages would be? Wonder if requests far exceed appreciation?

Wonder how often God acts powerfully, and no one sees it (Jesus’ crucifixion?)? Wonder how often God succeeds incredibly, and people wonder, “What good is that (Jesus’ resurrection?)?” Wonder how often God gives a remarkable gift (forgiveness) and people are disappointed (Mark 2:1-12)? Wonder how often a person dismisses God’s act because it does not meet his/her expectation (Habakkuk 1)? Wonder how often God’s acts are dismissed because we conclude, “God would not do that in that way!”

Wonder how often devout people plead with God to use His power in a specified way, while equally devout people plead with God to use His power in an opposite specified way? In such situations, to say, “Yes” to a believer or a group of believers is to say “No” to another believer or group of believers.

Can God use human death, sacrifice, or failure to achieve His purposes? Can He use my death, sacrifice, or failure to achieve His purposes? Are His purposes dependent on our material prosperity? Is faith the result of an adversity-free life or a life of adversity? Is my trust in God dependent on/reflected in success or adversity?

“Thank you, God, for being God all the time! Thank you for not making us dependent on our own wisdom! You love us when we do not know how to love. You have mercy on us when You should be angry with us. You forgive us when You have the right to destroy us. You endure our lack of vision. You do not disown us when we substitute our emotional desires for Your eternal intents. You are patient with us when we are arrogant with You.

“In all matters You are just, even though we do not see Your justice. When we are blinded by our own emotions and ambitions, You see honestly. You can take Satan’s worst efforts against us, and You can use those efforts for our salvation.

“Lord, we are not incredible, but You are. You are never encompassed by our knowledge, but You know us inside out. May we never forget that You never depend on us, but we always depend on You. Thank you for being our God!”

David Chadwell

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 1 March 2007

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