2 Things

Two things I know for certain;
1. There is a God.
2. You and I are not Him.


Recently someone I knew from my youth, passed away. It made me pause because he was young and with his wife have a young child. This was sad to say the least. He had his health, his family who loved him, a good job and opportunities for the future and he had Jesus as his friend, LORD and saviour.

This has made others sad and raise the question of resurrection. Similarly in a blog I read recently, the author speaks of a young person asked for pray requests and the young persons response was " That God will raise someone from the dead." Interestingly it seems neither of these people sought God's good and perfect will. It appeared to be just what they wanted. I understand that this response is one based in grief & loss.

Now don't get me wrong, if it is God's will for people to be raised from the dead then I'm all for it. However in my sadness about my friend, I would rather that God's will be done and that we have the grace and mercy to trust Him in this.

I find some consolation in the bible and so I seek Jesus in John 11:25 - 27. The additions in red are my thoughts.


John 11:25-27 (NRSV)
25 Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die physically, will live spiritually,
26 and everyone who lives spiritually & physically and believes in me will never die spiritually. Do you believe this?’
27She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

See Martha's response? It's not one of wanting her own will but rather she sees Jesus for who He is. She makes a response of faith & trust. She lets God be God, even in her own pain.

So in my pain and confusion I want what God wants, even if I don't fully understand what or why He is allowing it. Like Martha I say ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

In short I am left knowing two things;
1. There is a God
2. You and I are not Him.