To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
This week has been a very difficult one for those who love sports. I am not a big basketball fan, and when I have to choose, would go with, "we the north"...however the death of a basketball legend while he was still young with young children is hard to watch. It seems the world has been reeling from the helicopter crash that killed 9 people, and among them one of the greatest basketball players ever. On the news it was reported that the date of the tragedy of what was the Space Shuttle Columbia was this week in 2003 (February 3). On top of this much of the news yesterday was taken up with the, "commemoration" of the liberation of Auschwitz, and the horror that 1.3 million people were impacted by, 1.1 million killed in the horrific camp. It was heartbreaking to see those who had been liberated 75 years ago to go back to the camp for services, and in a valiant efforts to keep the memories alive so that this could never happen again. One surviver said that his goal was too, "commemorate the past so it is not repeated". Another remembered how they had cried out to God, and not found the help they so desperately needed. Then in our own world the outbreak of a virus that it would seem in a global world is going global.
My heart aches for each of these situations and many going on in our own lives and the families of our church. How should we respond to such tragedies, or the memories of such horrific events? It is not easy as one who was not there to fully understand the pain of what is going on, however it is important to remember that we live in a GROANING world. We should applaud the efforts of survivors not to forget, and to not have horrors repeated...however in a groaning world it seems that no matter how much we remember the depravity of humans and the horror of the experience of human suffering, difficult events will continue until Jesus returns. Two lessons for us, the first, we live in a broken world and we have a message of hope and comfort for our own hearts and for those we are around. Jesus brings hope, healing and help to those in need. The greatest suffering is not what is experienced here on earth, as bad as that can be, but the suffering that will be experienced by those who don't give their lives to Jesus. We should keep these tragedies in our memories so that we can love those who are suffering, and bring the hope of Jesus to them. The second great lesson that comes from having tragedies in sight is the one that Jesus gave in Luke 13...unless you repent you to will perish. In Jesus day this was a guard against those who saw any tragedy as directly related to personal sin, which Jesus rejects, but the lesson for us is to make sure our own lives are right with God, and align our thinking with His. I am heartbroken for a sports community in mourning, horrified for a Jewish community that endured such atrocities, and HOPEFUL that in Jesus we can offer a comfort from the Good Shepherd, and even more, in the confusion the answer that will change eternity.
This week in the midst of all that is going on around us take the time to pray for those who God has brought into your sphere of influence and make sure that you have found reconciliation with God through Jesus, and that in His strength you are offering hope and healing to a world that is groaning. If you are hurting, cry out to God, for he hears your 91:1 cry!
A portion of the Godard clan is off to Winnipeg tomorrow to visit with Lori's family. Covet your prayers for safety, a satisfying visit, and the opportunity to preach in the church that I interned in almost 30 years ago, and that God used Lori's family to plant. Longing to be an encouragement in health issues, and a blessing to all who need the Gospel and a reminder of the greatness of God and His love for us.
Sunday Is Coming:
Text: Matthew 5
Take the time to work through the entire chapter and learn about God's people, and the importance of suffering to our sanctification.
We will miss you, and although Winnipeg is nicer in the summer, we have found the mosquito's are dormant (much like our black bears) in the winter.
Privileged to serve God by serving you,
Pastor Rob