Today I brought home a new baby. I was so pumped. But on the ride home I kept thinking about what would happen if I were gone, or one was taken from me. That got me to thinking about what I have been reading about Iraq today. There was a lump in my throat. That very fear I had was the reality of those folks in Iraq. Then I began to think about how this violence has been with us for a while. The reality that violent death has been in the news a lot and I have been ignoring it. I had been reading about it hearing about it dispassionately because the victims where not of my religion, or on my continent or I was too selfish to let the problems of other humans ruin my day. I felt shame, suffering people may not believe in Christ as Lord but the Lord Jesus Christ made them preciously and wants to be in relationship with them.
Then I remembered how I pulled out of this guilt spiral the last time I was burdened with these feelings. The last time I caught myself turning off the radio because I did not want to know what what going on. There is hope in the Resurrection. There is hope that Heaven will come here. We pray in the church "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again." When he returns Jesus will right all wrongs. There wont be martyrdom anymore. Hunger and oppression will cease, the world will be border-less for it will all be under his rule.
Sleep tight tonight Samuel and Isabel. God does not delight in the death of his people, and when death comes to take one of us, both of us, all of us it will only be temporary. For we believe in the Resurrection. We will rise from the grave victorious in Jesus. So will those who died in faith in Iraq today. So will every person who ever lived. We will all stand before the Judge and those whose names are written in the lambs book of life, will enter in to eternal Glory.
Final thought. From time to time I read the Voice of the Martyrs web site (http://www.persecution.com/) and they end every story of atrocities against believers this way, "let us also pray for their persecutors, that some of those hunting believers today will become believers themselves in the days and months to come."
Lord I pray for ISIS. Send them your Holy Spirit, to convince them of righteousness and judgment. Firmly convert them to belief in Christ. Show them their sin and you Grace displayed on the cross." Make them our brothers and sisters in Christ through the power of repentance. Lord it seems impossible but I believe that you do the impossible. I pray for those whom they persecute, let there blood be a witness to you blood, the blood I will claim when I stand before your throne
Amen
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