The Good, The Bad, and The Perfect

I live in the country and our front yard covers about three acres of open field, mostly tall grasses, milkweed, and goldenrod.   One gorgeous summer day about five years ago my (then) six year old son Collin and I had a great idea.  "Let's mow down a big area of the front yard and turn it into a soccer field."  We grabbed the mower, set the blade way up high and off we went.  One big rectangle down, I began to mow back and forth the length of the field with Collin right behind me.  He was having a ball,  running, jumping, and laughing at the top of his lungs.  He was laughing so loudly that I could hear him over the sound of the engine.  Then the thought hit me, "That doesn't sound like laughter at all but screams!"  I turned to see him surrounded by hornets.  They were everywhere and I could see them on his face and his arms as he screamed and flailed his arms wildly.  His terrified eyes met mine and and in an instant I ran into the swarm, scooped him into my arms, and ran.  I was brushing hornets off of him as I ran and I kept telling him that he would be OK.  He got stung.  I got stung.  We both survived.  Collin and I both learned some things that day.  Aside from the nastiness of angry hornets, we both had a real sense of the love a father has for his son and what we are willing to do for them.

The immediate connection between this real life drama and God's love for mankind may be readily apparent but I want to stretch you a bit.  I want to start with the less obvious and what will likely not feel so comfortable then I'll finish with the part that will bring you a bit more peace.

Let me ask you a question?  If you knew that there was a hive of very dangerous hornets in the middle of your proposed soccer field would you drive your lawn mower over them, your little child it tow?  Unless you are deeply disturbed, the answer will probably be, "No!"  Well, I'm not all knowing and I'm trapped in the confines of linear time and I don't know the beginning from the end.  I had no way of knowing the danger I was getting us into.  If I did, I wouldn't have done it.  I would have protected my child (and myself) from pain.  Here is the difficult part.  God knew the hornets were there.  He knew my plans and he saw the consequences before they happened. Yet, he didn't step in and prevent it.  Is it that he was unaware?  The Bible says God is sovereign over his creation and he reminds us concerning a sparrow that "not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."  Jesus knew Peter would deny him before hand.  Is it that he is unable?  A God who is unable to no god at all.  The Bible says that he controls the winds, the waves, the creatures of the sea, and can move mountains.  I think a little hive of hornets is well within his control.

Do I know why God allowed this to happen?  Nope.  But I do know that love was made evident through it.  Courage and altruism was made known.  My son and I grew closer in one minute than we could have in a year.  This also reveals a God who's ways are beyond ours and one who's character has aspects of love and also of wrath.  I'm not saying I was being punished or that my son was but I'm also not certain that I wasn't.  I know I deserve it at times.  Collin (God bless his soul) is no angel either.

Lastly I want to tie in the beauty of this scene to the truth of Christ.  In the moment we were getting ourselves into trouble and were surrounded by the threat of death (physical and spiritual) Jesus Christ stepped into the swarm and swept up his children, taking the pain and suffering on our behalf.  His love was that great.  Jesus gave his life for us.  But here is a mind stretcher.... The Bible says it was the Lord's will to crush him.  God willingly allowed his son to die.  Evil?  No amazingly loving.  But hard to fathom.  The Bible is full of things that are easy and things that are hard to hear.  Let's not shy away from either but soak all of it up knowing that all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

As I have seen God's character being put forth either as one who is standing above us wanting to crush us for our mistakes or, conversely as a God who is all love and wants us just to be happy and comfortable, I am urging you to see God as one who's love is beyond our comprehension but who's holiness and justice is equally perfect.  Read the Word, seek his face, and Jesus said the truth will set you free.

Peace,

David