Sometimes there is such evil in this world it is easy to
wonder where God is. In Randy Alcorn’s book, Deception, Ollie and
Clarence discuss this dilemma. Clarence explains that we would never see the
virtues listed above if it weren’t for the challenges and tragedies we face.
It is the virtues we see in good people that inspire us and,
according to another character, Jake, justice has to be restrained…God has been withholding judgment-- it’s what
kept us alive, giving us opportunity to repent and accept his grace.
If God always intervened as soon as something bad happened, none of us would develop courage, make sacrifices, seek justice, show compassion, etc.
It is like a parent who is ready to catch the child when
he’s about to fall. When the child is a toddler, the parent’s hovering is
welcome and necessary, but as the same child becomes a teenager or adult then
the parent’s hovering is neither welcome nor necessary. In fact, it keeps the
child from his own growth and development and becomes a hindrance to him from
developing those very virtues listed above.If God always intervened as soon as something bad happened, none of us would develop courage, make sacrifices, seek justice, show compassion, etc.
God’s justice is not usually the kind of justice we seek, but it is a kind of restrained justice that allows us to take correction or welcome a second chance in life. If justice was swift, we would never understand the extent of God’s love and grace. We would never have the chance to right what is wrong in our own lives or make a difference in someone else’s.
God allows suffering and evil to give us a chance to stand up or take a second
chance to right a wrong in our life, but especially for us to learn how lean
Him. Take a moment and think about when
God’s restraint gave you a chance to get it right and the growth you
experienced as a result.
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