As my hubby and I were going over thoughts for gift-giving for Christmas, I kept thinking, what’s the point? It’s just stuff! In no way are we lacking for anything, our kiddos (like many others out there) have way too much, and would we be good stewards to buy just to buy? My love language is in gift-giving, so maybe I was being a scrooge – I had the tree taken down and packed away three days after Christmas after all – but I think it’s important to take time to look more closely at things; from all angles. Something may appear one way, but understood in the correct context can change the meaning entirely.
The year of 2020 was chalk full of fear-inducing media reporting, government officials showing just how ugly their hearts are, and uncertainties in what use to be a typical day-to-day. Will there be school? Will I have a job? Will my business survive? Can we pay for groceries? We’ve missed too many mortgage payments. What do you mean I can’t be with my dying loved one? Every store is out of toilet paper? There was so much lost for so many in 2020; jobs, homes, livelihoods, loved ones, normalcy, and even basic happiness. Hugs, social gatherings, and peace of mind took a nosedive. Substance and domestic abuse, mental illness, and suicide skyrocketed – so much loss! And while we hear reports of extended shut downs, continued virtual learning, projected dependency on government hand-outs, and the dangerous vaccine not being the cure-all everyone expected… there’s still hope. While I’m not getting into the nitty-gritty of looking below the surface and refusing to be told what to think, current events now and over the last year are prime examples of the necessity of “correct context” being needed.
This year has brought out a lot of memes, too, whether new or dug out from the bottom of the heap. Some of the memes are funny, some are inspirational, and others are downright blasphemous. While they may be scriptural, they don’t always reflect the new covenant of peace God has with us. Remember… context is critical. All throughout the Old Testament, we’re being shown a picture of peace that’s to come. Jesus, remember Him? He was the sacrifice that forever appeased the wrath God had towards sin! I’m sure you’ve seen the highlighted scripture passage that circled around social medias in the spring of 2020 – from II Chronicles 7:13-14 (niv): “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” If it were up to my abilities, righteousness I earned, then Jesus died for nothing; He wouldn’t have needed to sacrifice Himself at all. Don’t get me wrong – humbling ourselves, seeking God and turning away from evil is absolutely important for everyone! But this is not a picture of the covenant of peace we have with God now.
With all of the suffering experienced in 2020 alone, it’s all too easy to take a couple of verses from scripture to feel justified in blaming God. Whether it’s stated as God doing evil to bring about good, God’s ways being higher than our ways, or God being sovereign and in control, it’s boiled down to blaming God for the bad that happens, plain and simple. If we choose to continuously view God through the old covenant lens of wrath, sacrifices to appease an angry God, and fear of being smote (or the earth opening up and swallowing us whole Number 16:31-34), then we’re not experiencing the peace Jesus paid the ultimate price for. And it does all come back to Jesus. When reading scripture passages like II Chronicles 7:13-14, if it’s not read in the light of Jesus – the correct context, it will be misinterpreted every time.
From the beginning, Jesus can be found throughout all scripture – and the darkness has not understood Him! Jesus has no part of darkness/evil – except completely destroying it, so it’s blasphemous to say that God does evil to bring about good. Sure, sure, let’s look at Romans 8:28 (niv): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Nowhere in this does it imply that God is going to cause evil to bring about good. In the verses that come before (Romans 8:26-27), it really puts it in the correct context of God being our great helper. Helping us to know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes, on our behalf, in accordance to God’s will. And what is God’s will? This must be where His ways are higher than our ways… or God’s will is beyond our meager understanding. Actually, it’s spelled out in God’s Word:
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4 (niv)
God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. The King James Version actually uses the words “who will have all men to be saved…” But not all men will be saved, so what does that say about God’s will? His will is not for evil, but for good!
“For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:4-8 (niv)
In accordance with his pleasure and will… again, nothing sinister being used to bring about His will. As a quick recap, God’s will is that all be saved, adoption through Christ Jesus, and heaps of grace lavished on us with more good things. This completely contradicts the picture of an angry, wrath-filled God who we must tremble and grovel at His feet. If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with this next passage from Isaiah:
“‘To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you…. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you…. No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:9-10, 14-15, 17 (niv)
Read the whole chapter – all of it – it really is a beautiful picture of God restoring us into relationship with Him after such extreme separation. In the old covenant of working for our salvation, we could never hit the mark required. In the new covenant of peace, brought to you in love by Jesus, we’re able to rest in His finished work of His salvation. God’s will is for restoration, for restoration in our relationship with Him. Read scripture through the context of a loving God who has gone the lengths to restore a peaceful relationship with His creation. That is the correct context.