"Why else were individuals created,but that God, loving all infinitely, should love each differently?" - C.S. Lewis
I've been thinking about this quote a lot recently. A week or so ago Marcus had a really hard day. It was the first time in the eight months he's been here that he wept over his losses. He cried for his family back in Ethiopia pretty much all day. It wasn't an "I hate it here," type of crying. It was an "I'm so sad about all I've lost" sort of crying. It was hard to watch him go through. It breaks my heart to watch my children have to deal with grief and pain over losses greater than most of us will EVER know.
Yet, I know that God preordained Marcus' life before the beginning of time and I know that for some reason, his losses and his coming to live with us was/is the very best thing for him. Wow, that doesn't look a lot like the love I'm comfortable with...
So, last week when I was reading about Lazarus (you know the guy that Jesus raised from the dead) some things stuck out to me. What do you make of this excerpt?
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was." John 11:5-6
Jesus LOVED them, SO he didn't go to them right away. What happened? Lazarus DIED. Hmm. Interesting thing this love is. In case you think Jesus didn't know that would happen, here's what He said to his disciples, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe But let's go to him." (John 11:15)
Now Lazarus' sisters weren't FEELING particularly loved by Jesus when he arrived. They said things like "If you had been here, my brother would not have died." We know the rest of the story. Jesus went to the tomb, they rolled away the stone and out came Lazarus at Jesus' command.
Why? Why didn't Jesus just prevent his death (he had done that for other people)? Why hadn't he shown up the same day Lazarus died and woke him up then (he had done that for other people, too)? Why did he put Mary & Martha through four days of grieving their loss?
"But that God, loving all infinitely, should love each differently?" (CS Lewis) and "so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (Jesus - John 11:4) Sometimes God brings us up to the brink of the Valley of the Shadow of Death and then pulls us back from it. Sometimes he shows us a way around our pain and suffering, but sometimes he lead us head long straight through it all.
So, back to Marcus, for whatever reason, what has transpired in his short life is what an all-loving, all-powerful God has ordained for him. God IS showing Marcus His love even in his pain and suffering.
This is a beautiful post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Barb. Since Believers look to the scripture and powerful doings of Jesus and God's people, my interpretation is that, in John 11:5-6 verse, Jesus was doing something that Believers could look at and relate to. Maybe he felt his time with Martha and her sister were more needy. Not of more importance, but needing of more support at the time.
ReplyDeleteFor Lazarus' sisters -- to grow THEIR faith and check their heart -- that God is who he says he is. What doesn't make sense to us on earth, particularly in the middle of trials, makes sense to God. It makes sense to the tapestry He's weaving to encourage our faith.
I'm sorry to hear that Marcus had such a hard day. The family he was born into was known by God. Even before he was created. And the family the kids were placed into, because God loves Marcus and Zoe so much was known by God. Even before they were created.
I hope this makes sense... :)
And to know that what God has in store is more awesome than anyone can ever imagine makes us speechless. And God's Will will be done using soldiers like Marcus (and all the other kids). Praise the Lord!