God

Has God Forsaken Me?

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Feelings of abandonment are not uncommon to Christians. Many heroes of the faith trudged through the deserts of desertion: Joseph’s unfortunes left him alone in a foreign dungeon, forgotten; David was driven into the wilderness, publicly defamed and barred from the house of God – just read the psalms; who did Job have? He struggled immensely with understanding what God was doing; and all we really need to say is…Jesus. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The one who did absolutely NO wrongdoing. There was every reason to believe that there would be continual open lines of communication between the Son and the Father; that there would always be evidence of the Father being with him in a favorable way. But, no, the Son of God himself entered into a spiritual black hole for a season – no evidence but the wrath and displeasure of the Father towards him. So if you are overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness – you’re not alone. 

If you truly are a child of God then GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN YOU!!! Here are a few reminders: 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 49:14-16 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Psalms 37:25,28 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Deuteronomy 31:6,8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

There is a divine purpose for the feelings of “abandonment.” 

Why was Joseph undeservingly sold into slavery, falsely accused/imprisoned and forgotten by his friends? Because God had a plan to make Joseph (a Hebrew) the vizier of Egypt in order to save the world. 

Why did God allow Saul to hate David with raging jealousy? Why did God allow one of his most precious worshippers to be banned from his temple? Because God wanted the book of psalms to be written and to comfort untold billions of people throughout world history; because David learned that the way up is down; So Israel would realize how great of a king they had in their midst by David continuing to be faithful to God and his country through all of it. 

Why was Jesus forsaken? In short – the save the world from everlasting judgment in the lake of fire. 

Why have you been abandoned by your friends or family? Why has God not healed you from this unbearable sickness? Why does it seem like the more you try to do what’s right – the more you suffer? Why does it seem like God is not speaking to you or showing up powerfully like he used to? Maybe he is positioning you to save the world? That’s why God did it in the lives of your heroes, why not you? You may not become the catalyst that saves a whole nation or a whole town, but you may be the one who will save your marriage, or your family, or your church, or your town – and you may be the one that God will use to save the world we live in. 

We have the advantage of living on this side of Bible history. I believe Job was the first book of scripture written. What did he have to look to for encouragement through his suffering? He could recount how God was merciful to Adam & Eve, or how God preserved Noah through a dreadful generation. But how much more do we have?! 

Knowing what God did in the past should be of great encouragement to us. God will come through, just like he did in many other lives. 

Joseph may not have felt like God was with him in that dungeon, but the narrative states over and over “but God was with him.” Jesus said about David’s psalms that “the Spirit said” such and such. The point is that God was with David while he “wandered” alone. 

You’re never alone. 

We tend to focus on our problems and overlook our blessings. There may be an array of very deep and prolonged tragedies in your life, but are there really no blessings? Are you really without any friends? Is there really no word of promise from God for you? Are there really no deposits of God’s faithfulness in your life – special provisions? Divine encounters? Unexpected blessings? 

We are fallen creatures. It’s unfortunate but true – it’s easier for us to see our problems and to see them as larger than they are, and to overlook our blessings and to minimize them when we see them. Maybe take some time today to write out all of the reasons that make you feel like you are accepted, loved and not forgotten? Write out on a piece of paper all the things that are right about your life; all the things that are in proper order. Write out as many good things that other people have done for you. I guarantee that you will run out of time or your hand will begin to hurt. 

The LORD is your shepherd, comforter and friend. Like a good parent (but much more perfect), he is always there watching you. Sometimes he stands a little off or will stand around the corner and watch you struggle. He wants you to grow. He wants you to learn. Jesus “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.” He is providentially allowing difficulty with people and circumstances in order to position you in the exact place at the precise time in order to fulfill his perfect plan in and through your life. 

He wants you to trust him. Babies have their mothers over their faces constantly when they are young. The baby needs to hear mommy’s voice, feel her touch and her squeeze and be fed continually. But as the baby becomes a toddler, then a older child, then a teen, their independence from mommy increases more and more. When adulthood comes, there can be a permanent detachment from mommy. There seems to be a similar parallel in our spiritual life (although not perfectly, since we always need God every moment, and will forever): the more someone matures in their knowledge and experience of God, the more likely it is that God will lead you into ways that require greater levels of faith; longer amounts of time where it seems like you’re all alone. After all that Paul did he said, “at my first answer no man stood with me, but all forsook me…” Why was it, that at his greatest moment of need, God allowed it to be the case that no one was there for Paul. Well, Paul then said, “…but the Lord stood with me.”       

I hope something here is an encouragement to you. Be faithful. Trust God. Hope to the end. God has not changed. He knows you – through and through. He knows what you can handle. Put one foot in front of the other and trust that good will come in time. Continue to love God and others. “And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 

Will Heaven Be Boring?

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Can you think of any people that you just love to be around? It seems like time flies and you wish you could just be with them forever? It may be someone whose humor hits the spot with you, or someone who is so kind and understanding, or someone you simply adore? When we are with that person, it is not the setting or situation that makes it special – the person makes it special, and your relationship with them. It is not the things you possess, the activities you are doing, or the food you are eating that draws you in, but rather the person is all you need. It is enough to observe how they interact with the world around them, with you. Simply watching them is worth living. 

It seems as though most times, when heaven is thought about or discussed, there is more attention given to the setting rather than to the Person who we will be with. There will be no sin, no sorrow, no pain; streets of gold; the tree of life; the river of life. Yes, but all of those things are simply accessories, they are additions to the real thing – being with God. People say, “Heaven sounds boring – floating around on clouds for all eternity!?” That is not at all what Heaven is, but the main point is missed – Heaven is being with God! And being with God means that will will be in uninterrupted, unending fellowship with a Perfect Being of Love. No person on earth can truly satisfy us, especially forever. Everyone at some point either gets boring or frustrating, but God never will.  

Can you imagine the jokes that God will tell? We have experienced on the earth some pretty deep humor in our relationship with God. He knows how to reach deep into the depths to tickle our soul. What kind of laughter will be produced in us in the presence of an infinitely wise, good, and all-knowing God! And that added to the fact that there will be the utter absence of uncleanness and pride – those types of things that kill joy. You that belly laugh we all get when we crack up? It is surreal. Will we laugh like that for a thousand years? 

Can you imagine watching God at work or play? Have you ever watched in awe at a person working their craft? I have always been floored by how some artists draw or paint. Can you imagine watching God draw something? I’m sure there would be pin drop silence, and all of heaven with jaws dropped, amazed at his handiwork on a canvas. Have you ever watched a man with wonder doing some kind of task that requires great power? I remember staring at a video one time watching a man do what seemed like endless amounts of a variety of pull-ups, just thinking, “Man that is some strength right there.” Can you imagine what kind of works of power we will get to watch God perform? How about watching God bowling with planets as pins? Can you imagine the rumble of that strike!? Can you imagine being in the crowd of saints and angels cheering? 

Can you imagine hearing God sing or play an instrument? I absolutely love music. I get it. I love to just sit and close my eyes, contemplate and muse over music. It really strikes a chord with me for some reason :). There are times when I am just in awe over the beauty and inspiration of some pieces, it can be truly and deeply satisfying. But what will these be in comparison to God as composer? To experience him singing or playing? Our hearts will burst! We will be elevated straight up into the air. We will be totally floored. Can you imagine the standing ovations? Recitals lasting for a thousand years, each piece better than the one before, but the first was absolutely divinely magnificent?!  

We could go on and on about how wonderful it will be to watch God (we will one day). But then we could talk about things that hit home a little more. Can you imagine God doting on you? My wife sometimes just stares at me. Sometimes it can be a little embarrassing, but it is precious, because she is adoring me (at least I think that’s what she’s doing). Try to ponder God’s face, staring at you with a gentle smile and soft countenance, looking deep into your soul, non-verbally communicating to you, “You are mine, forever. I love you, forever. We are together, forever.” How could that be boring? More like thrilling and completely satisfying. What will His hugs be like? What will it be like to make plans together with God? There is much about my life right now that is an adventure- and a part of me wishes I had a thousand years to be able to do in this earth all that is in my heart, so I cannot imagine how interesting and thought provoking it will be to adventure with God in an unveiled state.  

What will it be like to be taught by God? Any true Born-Again Christian has experienced a supernatural relationship with the Bible. There have been times when we just sat back in fear mingled with joy saying, “This Book is alive!” But can you imagine His lectures in Person (no zoom meetings in heaven)? Lectures on any topic not just theology, but also physics, art, or communication? We will be learning, right? If Jesus as a man learned, then of course there will be learning and growing in Heaven. Can you imagine how profound those “aha” moments will be? “Whaat?”  

So, in answer to the question – No, Heaven will not be boring. It will never be stale, dull, uneventful, colorless, repetitive, flat or mundane. Each moment will overflow with inexpressible peace, joy, happiness, wonder, amazement, passion and super-abundant glory. And none of this is ultimately derived from the places or things that will be in Heaven, but rather from GOD Himself. O for that day to come! 

Do you have a loved one that has died? Imagine the glory they are in right now. 

Is life today feeling more like death? Hope in God. He is good, and will bring you to His Paradise in due time. This too shall pass. We are going on from glory to glory. And draw near to God. If Heaven is bliss because of God, not the setting, then recognize that you already have God. Our understanding is yet imperfect, but focus on who He is today, what He is saying and doing, and you’re guaranteed to find much more pleasure and joy than focusing on yourself or the things of this world. 

If you don’t know Christ as your Savior – today is the day to secure your future with Him. 

There is only one thing that would keep us out of Heaven, and keep us from enjoying Him forever. That one thing is sin. It is not a lack of religion or good deeds that keeps people away from God, but rather the presence of something unpleasant and repulsive to God – sin. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If you want to be united with God today and for all eternity, you must be forgiven and cleansed of your sins. And this is all that needs to happen. Thankfully, God, in His love, gave His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for your sins on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead, ascended back to Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, as a Mediator or Advocate before God, our ultimate Judge. God has promised that if we acknowledge our sinfulness and trust in Christ’s offering for our sins, that He will forever forgive all of our sins, even our future ones. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Call upon Him today, right now, and I’ll look forward to seeing you in glory!