August 18, 2006
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Why did this Happen to Me?
I must recommend the above book. I picked it up at Albany Airport before boarding my flight to Newark, and read it on the planes. Here is Albany Airport, checked in and security cleared. The sun is not up yet, to there aren't many people around.
I think the three most striking characters to appear in this book were Peter, Thomas and the nobleman who came to Jesus for the healing of his son.
Troubles come for many reasons, and God can use them all. He is in control of every corner of the universe at all times. He is powerful enough to use evil to his purposes, and works all things for our good and his glory, yet he never violates our free will. The story of Joseph from the latter half of Genesis is a vivid illustration of this.
Troubles humble us, destroy our pride and confidence in ourselves, and draw our attention to the only source of true help, God. When things are going fine, we become proud of all that we think that we are doing for ourselves. We never look to God or even think of him.
Sometimes we are so troubled that we do not know what to pray for. Our vision is limited and we don't always know what is good for us. When we don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit can take over and pray the correct prayers for us. The Holy Spirit prays what we would pray for if we had greater vision and purer motives.
The theme of this book is God's faithfulness. Peter is an example of God's faithfulness to those who have failed. Peter had declared that he would follow Jesus to the death, and then denied even knowing him a short time later. He failed in the area where he supposed he had been strongest. But Jesus never criticized Peter or gave up on him. Peter was restored, but the pride that was his weakness was changed to humility and a greater willingness to serve. He threw away what was useless to receive that which would make him useful.
Thomas is an example of God's faithfulness to the doubting. We tend to be hard on Thomas for not believing that Jesus was risen from the dead. We must also remember, though, that the other disciples did not even try to believe until they had seen Jesus with their own eyes. Why was Thomas not with the group on the first occasion? Maybe it was because Thomas has believed most deeply, and was the most deeply wounded in heart by Jesus' death. Perhaps he had withdrawn to mourn alone. Jesus understood Thomas's heart, and gave him the evidence that he needed by actually showing the nail prints in his hands and feet. Jesus does not tell us to believe him for no reason. When we are ready to believe, he is waiting.
I found the interpretation of the story of the nobleman very moving. He had called all the best doctors and tried all the newest medicines, and his son was still dying. There was nothing but Jesus as a last resort. The man believed the reports of miracles that he had heard, and came to ask Jesus for healing. He believed Jesus' words that his son would live, and obeyed by returning home to find his son healed. He then believed Jesus Himself, that he was indeed the Son of God. He believed so deeply that his entire family followed him in belief. The son had been brought to the point of death, but through this event, the entire family believed and received eternal life.
The sun is coming up. My plane is on the right.
