One hell of a lie

The next (and last for now) of these blogs on the lies that make us ineffective in our warfare addresses (quite possibly) the most damaging lie, the most insidious untruth, the most life sapping of fibs I can think of. It is also the most pervasive and one of the easiest to absorb, simply by being in the world.

3. My circumstances are the main indicator of Gods love for me


Much has been made on the issue of suffering, many better theologians and moralists have made far better expositions on this subject than I am ever likely to be able to do the slightest bit of justice to. If I'm honest, as soon as I think about this subject I think of all the cliches, I think of "footprints" and I think of the old metaphor of the tapestry. If you look at the side that's being worked on,  it's a mess of nonsensical tangles and threads but when you turn it over you see a beautiful picture.

I think of how you can look at some of these characters in the bible and, if we see just a snapshot,  we can easily see evidence of the abandonment of God. I think of Isaac on the altar, of Joseph down the well, of Job scraping his sores with broken pottery, of Peter in the courtyard and of Jesus on the cross. When I think of any of these situations I could not blame any of them for questioning Gods love for them in those exact moments. I wonder if anyone had approached Job with the tapestry metaphor, whether he wouldn't have finally lost it and given them a punch on the nose! Strangely it's the least comforting thing when you're going through it to be told "it's probably for a reason"...we see God as some kind of divine torturer or vivisectionist, hurting us for the greater good.

But the truth is that the tapestry metaphor holds true. God's love is complete. From everlasting to everlasting. He knows all that we cannot see. That is why we walk by faith and not by sight. This prayer is the first building block for the rest of my life, and I pray that God will give me the ability to pray it with integrity. It is this; "God help me to trust you in the darkness". He did not spare his only son in his great love for us...can we not trust him to freely give us all things, to work for our good in all things.

So let us flip the tapestry over for a second. Isaac was saved (as God provided the sacrifice himself) and God prospered him all his life. Joseph got out of the well but that was just the beginning of his trouble! However, God placed him there that he might prosper him and saved his own would-be murderers through him. Job was restored and vindicated. Peter was forgiven and restored and went on to lead the church.

You see Satan wants you to have the spirit of abandonment, for you to think of yourself as orphans rather than much loved children. Why? Because then you'll give up in despair, defeated before you start.

And of course what about Jesus, what happened to his tapestry picture. Did God abandon him? The answer is heartbreaking and heart warming. Yes he did. God abandoned Jesus so that you and I need never be abandoned. And yet Jesus tapestry is not finished there. God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name.

Seven years ago I had to come to terms with my own tapestry in a way I never wanted to. My mother, a believer in Jesus from the age of 12 , was diagnosed with cancer of the liver at the age of 56. She believed that she would be healed. She fervently believed this to the extent that she would not verbally acknowledge the possibility of death. I honestly didn't think to question Gods love at the time but I could have legitimately questioned his presence. Had he abandoned us? She died just 3 months after the diagnosis was given. My world was rocked to its foundation.

3 months after she died I decided I could face reading the bible again. I turned to the reading I would have read on the day after my mother went home. My jaw dropped when I read these words from Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians  "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." (4v14)This would have been one heck of a coincidence in any case but more than that.... it was the very text our pastor chose for his address at her funeral. 


At her funeral someone had said to me ""Well, she's healed now!". At that time I think I experienced something a little bit like Job may have done at my hypothetical suggestion that he was presented with the tapestry metaphor. No punch ensued. But do you know what? That very glibly given truth is the deepest, profoundest statement I can think of (and I am sure it was offered in that spirit). We don't all get happy endings in this world but flip the tapestry over and we are all healed and truly home. My Mum had just completed her last act on this earth of trusting him in the darkness.  Satan wants you to fear, fear for your abandonment but perfect love casts out fear and God is love. Never doubt it.


May I leave you with this thought from scripture, that fills me with hope.


Philippians 1:6 ~ He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.