WE SHOULD NOT BLAME THE LORD
Sakkie Parsons
Someone asked me:
“Why would God send someone into your life—someone you grow to love—and then allow that person to leave your life again?”
Here is how I see it. What I’m going to say can, in my opinion, be applied to almost every situation in our lives.
Many times, things happen to us and then we blame the Lord—directly or indirectly—for what took place. But most of the time, it isn’t the Lord at all. It is because of our own choices or the choices of the people we are involved with.
Let me explain it this way:
You and I were created in the image of God. And two characteristics of God’s image are especially visible in your life and mine.
First, we are immortal, just as God is immortal.
One day you will leave your earthly body behind. Your body will return to dust, but you will continue to live forever—either in Heaven or in Hell. And even though you cannot earn or buy yourself a place in Heaven—because Jesus already did everything necessary to make Heaven possible for you—you will, through the decisions you make or refuse to make, determine where you will spend eternity.
This brings me to another part of God’s image that is also in you:
You have a will of your own, just as God does.
For example:
God desires that the whole world be saved. That’s why the Word says:
Mark 16:15–16
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
You see, your place and mine in Heaven have already been reserved for us by Jesus. Now it depends on us whether we will accept that place or not.
Through people who cross our path, and through things that happen in our lives, Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts. And by the way we respond, we either open for Him or we don’t — and in doing so, we determine where we will spend eternity.
Revelation 3:20
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
So, it often happens that the things that happen to me are the result of the decisions I or others make — and not because God wanted it that way. But He respects our free will.
Let me give just one example:
I meet someone, and we begin a friendship. Over time we fall in love. Later the other person decides that she was never truly in love with me, and she ends the relationship.
Maybe the Lord did want us to become each other’s life partners, but the person I fell in love with chooses to step outside the will of God.
I believe this brings just as much sadness to the Lord as it brings to me. Because not only is this person now being disobedient to Him, but she is also causing pain to one of His children. Yet God created her in His image, and He will not override her ability to make her own decisions.
In other cases, we follow our own human feelings or desires and make a mess of our lives. Then I cannot simply blame the Lord for the tragedy that follows.
Not every situation is so “open and shut,” but one thing I know for sure:
James 1:13
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Of course, there are things that happen in my life that make no sense at all on the surface. But I look at those things the way my great hero Paul taught me to look at them. I follow my loving God and Savior blindly — and yes, with tongue in cheek, I follow Him literally and figuratively blindly.
1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
You and I see only a tiny, tiny part of our life’s journey. But He sees the entire beautiful picture.
How could it be otherwise? He is the Architect of your life!
So stand up again from your sadness or painful situation, and take hold of Jesus your Savior, so that you can step back into the plan He has prepared for you—knowing this wonderful truth:
1 Peter 1:6–9
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Take the wrongs and/or sorrows in your life to our Lord in faith, and believe me when I tell you this—I am not talking from hearsay. I am speaking from personal experience.
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Greetings,
Sakkie