Receiving God's Love

I think I can remember the first video game I ever played:  a Mattel "football" game which required a 9-volt battery.  There were no graphics or pictures but a red light which could be directed and controlled by the player.  Since the early days of Apple IIe computers and Atari consoles, gaming has exploded as an industry offering entertainment, online interaction, and competition.  Over the years gaming with my sons has been a hobby I quite enjoy.

The online game I play has a chat feed which I keep during rounds.  I have learned one of the great compliments in the gaming arena is when someone actually bothers to type your name in the chat.  Being accused of hacking is one of the better back-handed compliments--that is, when you are playing fair.  If someone mentions one of our names we will say something to one another like, "You're getting some love on the chat" and it makes for amusing and friendly conversation.  When you are one player being picked on by the other team out of 20 options or your reputation has preceded you, it is a rare reward.

Genuine love can be shown through compliments or criticism, and responding in love to harshness is a fruit of the Spirit.  At this time of year when we remember and celebrate the coming of Jesus to seek and save sinners, we must also consider the life Jesus lived and what He accomplished. Romans 5:8 says of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Jesus called out to all people--not just His countrymen, family, wealthy, or respected--but to the unworthy, weak, and flawed.  He gave all His love to every single person regardless of ethnicity, age, or political leaning.  His entire life was spent in this loving, sacrificial manner for the glory of God.  He gave Himself like no one ever could.

People gauge the success or merriment of Christmas based upon what they "get," but having received Jesus Christ by faith we have all.  Through Christ we can be transformed to living springs of water that refresh thirsty souls because the life of Jesus is ours.  God has given us all things richly to enjoy, yet we need Him to thoroughly enjoy anything.  It is more blessed to give than to receive, and the only way this can be accomplished in us is to receive Jesus who loves us completely.  The love of Jesus Christ is infinitely greater and enduring than any other love in this world.

The Loving Delay

God's love is demonstrated in most unexpected ways.  When Lazarus was deathly ill, his sisters Mary and Martha sent an urgent message to Jesus to alert Him.  Moved by faith, they knew Jesus had the ability to miraculously heal Lazarus and prevent his death.  John 11:4-6 reads, "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was."  The writer John explained because Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He did not immediately drop everything and depart.  He waited two days before leaving for Bethany knowing by the time they arrived Lazarus would have been dead four days.  Pause for a moment to allow this to sink in.

So often people can imagine what God's love looks like--I know I do.  Since God loves people and nothing is hard for Him, why doesn't He simply do what we ask Him in a reasonable amount of time?  One answer to this question is because His love is greater than us and our apparent needs.  John 11:14-15 shows Jesus was not caught off guard by the severity of the illness of Lazarus and addressing His disciples, "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."  Jesus was speaking to His faithful followers, not strangers on the street.  There was still additional faith they needed, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead would be a powerful display of His power and love that would save souls from eternal death.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Martha and Mary both lamented the fact Jesus had not arrived sooner because after their brother died all hope for his healing was lost.  But notice what Jesus audibly prayed after the stench of death filled the nostrils of onlookers in John 11:41-44:  "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."  Seeing dead Lazarus rise caused many people to believe Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God.  In allowing Lazarus to die there was opportunity for God to demonstrate His love for the living and the dead, for Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

There are times when we have prayed urgently for God to act and nothing seems to change--perhaps things only grew worse!  A sick brother is better than a dead one, right?  But Jesus knew exactly what Lazarus and his sisters were experiencing, what He would do, and the ultimate glorification of God.  Four days for us may last for four decades, but let us never lose heart in God, His power, plans, and His amazing ability to redeem for good.  Paul who was shipwrecked, beaten, flogged, stoned and left for dead for following Jesus wrote in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Paul knew this, as well as Lazarus and many others to this day.  May the knowledge of God's redemptive work Paul spoke of and Jesus demonstrated in John 11 trump our imaginations of what we think God ought to do.

Drones and Distance

The way humans engage in conflict with others has changed over the years, though people haven't changed.  The first reference of human conflict with one another in the history of the world was when Cain struck and killed his brother Abel in a field.  We do not know if Cain wielded a weapon, but it is clear he purposely murdered his brother.  The blood of Abel cried out to God in heaven for divine retribution.

It used to be warring people met their enemy in hand-to-hand combat, using weapons like swords and knives crafted to inflict injury on others.  There have been strategic advances involving fortresses, reinforced gates, shields and armor.  Horses and chariots were utilised to effectively pursue and overwhelm foot soldiers.  Arrows were designed to inflict injuries from afar, and in more recent times catapults were employed.  Whilst physical combat has continued in the fighting ring for sport or in the street for honour, the rise of the firearm changed the scope of warfare.  No longer did a man need to physically grapple with his opponent, hear his voice, or see the whites of his eyes:  from hundreds and thousands of metres away he could be instantly shot dead.  Guerrilla tactics have perfected the concealment of mines and hidden explosives with brutal effect.

In the 17th through 19th centuries in the U.S. offended gentlemen challenged one another to duels, facing off with sword or pistol.  Concerning pistol duels there were rules to be observed like the colour of clothing worn, the distance they were to stand apart, and the amount of shots which could be fired (more than 3 was considered barbaric).  Over the years the ball and musket were replaced by revolvers and magazines; one shot bolt action rifles were made semi-auto and fully automatic to spray bullets faster.  There has been a rapid escalation in the last century in every aspect of warfare.  Nations are engaged in a global race to design killing machines that are faster, stronger, and more powerful:  tanks, aircraft carriers, jet fighters, missiles guided by computers and satellites, nuclear bombs, drones, sonic weapons and even railguns.

The drone translates well to modern sensibilities concerning conflict with comparatively low cost and low personal risk.  An attacker can fly reconnaissance and attack missions remotely from the comfort of an air-conditioned office a world away in a secret and secure location without any risk of being shot or captured.  Heat signatures allow the drones to expose people hiding in pitch darkness.  Drones can deploy missiles which lock onto a location and destroy targets without the one deploying the missile personally seeing or experiencing the horrors of war firsthand.  The victims of drone attacks are the ones who deal with the carnage, pain, and fallout.  It is their family members who have been killed, and their homes that have been destroyed.

I write this not to criticise modern warfare or technology but to use drone attacks as an analogy for the way people approach conflict with social media.  From a secure location, behind the safety of a screen, people can create or escalate conflict without any idea of the damage they are doing or have done to others.  The smell of gunpowder or burning flesh may not fill the air, but with precision missiles are deployed with unloving comments and posts--not to love and edify others--but to humiliate or provoke reactions.  Words can be weaponised to a point, sharpened to inflict maximum damage on others with no real intellectual engagement at all.  Many online interactions fall into the two categories of provocative or reactive from defensive, entrenched positions.  Instead of grappling in a gymnasium with another human being for exercise, debating with friends over dinner at the pub, or simply stopping to listen and consider implications of our claims, we are inclined to allow the drone of social media to carry the payload to obliterate opposition with self-satisfaction.

When we are led by the Holy Spirit, the love of Jesus enables us to navigate the minefield of political and personal posts without harshness, bragging, or gloating.  Secure in our relationship with God and armed with the truth of scripture, we will not give way to the urge to skewer others with the "truth."  What once made us angry and lash out produces grief we take to God in prayer.  No longer is our chief aim to prove we're right and others are wrong but to humbly examine ourselves and walk in light of the Gospel.  If someone does offend us, we ought to first forgive them and then see if our response is of the flesh or the Holy Spirit:  our motive to reach out privately or block them will reveal the truth.  It may be necessary to do what Jesus said in Matthew 18:15:  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."  Instead of dropping bombs from afar, we ought to draw near with a hug and handshake.  Even after all these years Proverbs 15:1 has remained true:  "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."  When provoked it requires the strength of God to submit to speak softly--if at all.

Broken is Better

I was reminded recently of the refrain of the hit by the British band Yes that goes, "Owner of a lonely heart, (much better than an) owner of a broken heart."  The song is certainly catchy, but I don't know I ever bothered to consider if this assertion is true when I sang along.  Beauty and often truth these days is determined by personal perspective, but looking at this through a biblical lens provides insight and clarity to crushed feelings we all experience in this life.

God created man needy and for relationship with Him and other people.  Feelings of loneliness can plague people who know and trust God as well as those who enjoy meaningful relationships.  Loneliness can be exacerbated by unhealthy self-focus.  The feelings of being alone (and varying degrees of isolation) can be fleeting or chronic depending on more factors than I can suggest.  The point I feel inclined to consider is no heart created by the living God needs to settle for perpetual loneliness when God has revealed Himself, spoken to us, and abides in us.  A prisoner in solitary confinement can be enraptured in communion and fellowship with God because of the intimate relationship God has offered all who trust Him.  A constant in the life of human beings is potential for rapid changes of feelings and mood like cities that can experience all seasons in a day:  the bright happiness and new growth of spring, fierce thunderclaps of summer with oppressive humidity from which is there is no escape, autumn's chill with cutting wind that bends trees which groan, and the depressing freeze and solitary deadness of winter.

In spite of frightful weather, even in winter the warmth and brightness of a burning hearth can be enjoyed for those who gather wood and stoke the flames.  This is where the broken heart comes in.  Like the song implies, no one wants their heart to be broken.  It is a sorrowful, painful, and depressing prospect.  God is able to heal and restore broken hearts presented humbly to Him and these desperate, hopeless feelings can be the very thing which causes us to seek God at all.  A broken heart makes us feel weak, helpless, and hopeless, but this is the arena where God is uniquely poised to joyfully work His wonders.  David wrote in Psalm 51:15-17, "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. ¹⁶ For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  As long as we remain under the illusion we are strong and sufficient to handle the griefs and difficulties of life we will not seek wholeness only God can bring.

In a synagogue in Nazareth Jesus Christ opened the scroll of Isaiah.  Luke 4:18 records some of the words Jesus read to His hearers, words He fulfilled that day in their presence:  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..."  Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and sent to preach the Gospel, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, recover sight of the blind, and set free the oppressed.  After Jesus miraculously gave sight to a man born blind, Pharisees asked him, "Are we also blind?"  John 9:41 reads, "Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains."  Jesus was able to open the eyes of a man born blind and was also able to forgive sins.  Since these skeptics did not believe in Christ and self-righteously justified themselves as without need to repent their sin remained.  IF they would admit their blindness moved by faith in Jesus, if they would admit their sin and need for forgiveness, Jesus would give them sight and set them free from the oppression of sin.  But since they would not admit their need they remained blind and broken.  The same principle applies with broken hearts:  God will not heal hearts people refuse to admit are broken.

It is good to own our hearts are broken and present ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Healer and Saviour.  His mighty deeds culminating in His resurrection proves He accomplished what God sent Him to do:  He preached the Gospel, opened the eyes of the blind, and healed broken hearts.  A broken heart healed and made new by the grace of God through faith in Jesus need never be lonely, for Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and help us.  Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and all are blessed who seek and look to Him as LORD.  Having been purchased at great cost to God, He becomes our Owner who gives us a new heart and mind.  Feelings come and go, but those who abide in Christ will find themselves miraculously sustained.  Better to have a broken heart and come to Jesus and be healed than to resign to loneliness without hope.  For this reason the broken heart, strange as it may seem, is better.