Skip to main content

Revelation

                  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

What do you do when you talk to God, and don’t get an answer? One option I tend to use too often is panic. “Something’s wrong with me! What did I do wrong now?” Another option is to reverse the idea with attitude. “What’s wrong with You, Lord? Why aren’t You talking to me?”

In Experiencing God, Henry Blackabee suggests that God’s silence at least can be lull before the curtains open and God reveals Himself to us in some way. The seemingly prolonged silence is designed to get our attention. Rather than fussing, we should perk up and pay attention. Years ago, I took my mother to a Phantom of the Opera performance by a local theater group. Part way through, I noticed the orchestra conductor ducking down. I don’t recall whether I brought it to Mom’s attention, but suddenly, lights flashed and the Phantom seemed to be here, there, and everywhere, including in the orchestra pit. This is the same odea. God disappears so that He can reveal Himself in a way He could not do otherwise.

This may be part of the reason God does not manifest Himself the way atheists (and the rest of us) want - making Himself constantly visible and accessible (so to speak.) If He did, we might conclude that He’s just a part of nature, or that He is just that one, simple whatever that we perceive. In other words, God may reveal Himself more fully and accurately by not revealing Himself as much as we think He should. That’s probably enough to think about today. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more