There is a sickness that has infected our society and sadly
theology. This sickness can be called by
many different names but it carries with it the same consequences regardless of
its label. It may be called humanism,
materialism, narcissism, selfishness, or entitlement. Its impact on people’s lives is the
same. Imagine if the world in which you
thought you knew and understood was suddenly turned upside down. Everything you thought you knew so well was
now completely backwards. You’d have no
sense of balance, depth perception, or any ability to accomplish basic survival
functions. That is precisely what it is
like to go through something as traumatic as what we experience with Joy. How were we able to navigate through that
storm and why are so many people overwhelmed when difficult circumstances arise
in life. To answer that question I’d
have to bring you back many years. I’d
like to take you back to the 1600s and introduce you to a man named
Galileo. Galileo proposed a crazy idea
that the Earth was not the center of the Solar System and in fact the planets
revolved around the Sun and not around the Earth as was previously
believed. Galileo was considered a
radical, branded a heretic and placed under house arrest for the remainder of
his life. Humanism, materialism, narcissism,
selfishness or entitlement all support the same “Earthcentric” view of the universe. The world revolves around “me”. Therefore, when hardships hit our lives when
can no longer reconcile why the sun, the moon and the stars are not bowing down
to us as they are supposed to and we cry out, “But that's not fair! I deserve
better than this. Why is this happening
to me? “
This is part of what
Joy “wrote” while she was in the hospital:
I've heard my brother's argue more than a few times with
each other when things are not fair.
Toys, space, meals, where to sit, they really want what they think is
fair to them. “God has placed within
each of us a sense for justice”, I've heard my daddy say. We understand when we are being cheated or
taken advantage of or when someone gets what they don't deserve - that's not
fair. People typically only want justice
however when it doesn't apply to them.
We want others to be punished when they do something wrong but we want
the police man to let us off the hook when we get pulled over. We also get confused because we think we
deserve (entitlement) so many things. We
deserve a vacation. We deserve some time
off. We deserve a break. We deserve to be loved and treated with
respect. When we don't get what we think
deserve we say that's not fair. Does
that make sense?
Some of you may be wondering why this is happening to
me. What did Joy do to deserve
this? What did she do wrong? Do you know the disciples asked this very
same question when they were talking to Jesus about a man born blind in John
9. They asked Jesus who sinned, his
parents or the man while he was still in the womb. Someone must have done something bad for this
bad thing to happen to this man, isn't that right? Jesus' answer may help you understand the
peace that my mom and dad have through these past few days.
"'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus,
'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his
life.'" John 9:3
The disciples were asking the question from the wrong point
of view. Do you remember a time when
people thought that the earth was the center of the universe? How everything revolved around earth? They must have come up with a lot of bad
conclusions about the things they observed because they started with this wrong
assumption. I (Joy) am not the center of
the universe. I exist, and so do my mom
and dad, so that the work of God might be displayed in my life. God is the center. It’s all about Him. My life exists so that I may have the
opportunity to worship my creator, regardless of my circumstances, by
submitting to His will. (Romans 12:1-3).
Why do I mention this to you? Well you might be tempted to point your
fingers at God when things don't go the way you want in life. You say - that's not fair! You should know that you have committed an
offense. That offense is called
sin. You've been selfish, you've lied,
you've....(the list goes on doesn't it).
Everyone single one of us have sinned and therefore we've committed an
offense and that offense deserves punishment - justice must be served. God is just - He will bring evil under judgment. When you watch the news and see all the evil
(rape, murder, abuse etc.) - you want God to deliver justice -right now - right
away - they deserve, everyone that is, except for you or me, right? God judging sin - that is fair - that is just
- that's what I deserve.
But that's not the end of the story.
God also has an incredible love. We don't deserve it. His mercy is unbelievable. We don't deserve it. His grace is amazing. We don't deserve it. God put the judgment we deserved on His son,
Jesus Christ. THAT'S NOT FAIR! Jesus didn't do anything to deserve that. That's why they call Him savior.
God didn't send Jesus into the world to condemn it but He
sent Jesus into this world because of His astounding love that whosoever
believes would not come under judgment but under His grace. We don't deserve that - that's not fair.
(John 3:16-17)
As you read this and see all the people crying out to the
Lord on my behalf don't lose your focus on the God who listens. You too may have a life that brings Him
glory, that His works may be displayed in your life. Regardless of your life's circumstances you
will have centered the universe back on the author of life, the creator, not
the creation. If you today would call on
the name of Jesus as your savior. If you
would confess your sin before our awesome, holy, merciful God and receive the
gift / grace that He offers through Jesus Christ. You too would be the object of His incredible
work in your life - you don't deserve that - that's not fair. But that is the point of grace. God loves you and He loves me (Joy). Every day I live I want it to bring Him glory
to worship Him to put Him at the center because He is just, He is loving, He is
merciful, He is full of grace. Would you
call on the name of Jesus today / tonight as your Savior? Would you commit to put God at the center of
the universe again - to put Him back in the driver’s seat - to stop going your
way and go His way (repent) and to call on Jesus as the Lord of your life. If you would - today you would begin to
understand why I (Joy) am going through this.

