Wednesday, September 16, 2009

If God is Good...



I wasn't really planning on writing this post yet, but I feel I should. Randy Alcorn, who I am proud to call friend, brother, pal has written a book titled "If God is Good...Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil." It came out yesterday. I began reading it last week.


I'm not gonna lie. My usual fare tends to be things like "The Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" and People Magazine cookbooks (with pictures) by Paula Deene. Frivolous?Yes.
Enjoyable? Completely.


So a book about suffering (really?) and evil (seriously?) would not necessarily end up on my night stand. Well, it would. But it would get dusty. Just sayin'.


But because this was written by my good friend, because I trust and look up to this man so much,and I completely know how his heart chases after Jesus, I would set aside Paula Deene and her buttery recipes for a time.


I even began to look forward to what I was going to learn. But I wasn't prepared for the cracking open of my heart as I read and absorbed and reread and cried.


How could I not have understood these important truths before? Did I just become too familiar with "common" doctrine and apathetic to God's crazy love and his willingness to suffer for us?





I have wept the last two days reading this book and when my feelings became too much I put it down and walked away to make dinner or play with the puppy. I'm telling you, the truth of this is washing over me and over me.
My eyes have been focused on myself and my (our) own "suffering" rather than Jesus.
I am so torn apart by not having seen that.
Or known it with my head, but not owned it in my heart.
I am repenting today.





Randy writes, " The cross is God's answer to the question, "Why don't you do something about evil?" Bart Ehrman writes, "I came to think that there is not a God actively involved with this world of pain and misery---if he is, why doesn't he do something about it?"


But what if God did do something about it? What if what he did was so great and unprecedented that it shook the angelic realm's foundation, and ripped in half, from the top down, not only the temple curtain, but the fabric of the universe itself?"




Randy goes on to do what the Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" could not do; portray with words what suffering Christ went through, both in body and spirit, so he could prevent our eternal suffering.


He lays out what society's various responses are to the question of evil and suffering and then dives into the many layers of what scripture tells us. Brilliant stuff.


I so highly recommend this book. In fact, I insist you go get one. We need to understand about suffering before it happens. Because it will. But we have a God who cares .

Randy writes, " If you know Jesus, then the hand holding your bears the calluses of a carpenter who worked with wood and carried the cross for you. When he opens his hand, you see the gnarled flesh of the nail scars on his wrists. And when you think he doesn't understand your pain, realize that you don't understand the extent of his pain. Love him or not, he has proven that he loves you.
If you hate suffering, does it make sense to choose eternal suffering when God has already suffered so much to deliver you from it?
In your most troubled moments, when you cry out to God, "Why have you let this happen?" picture the outstretched hands of Christ, forever scarred...for you.
Do these look like the hands of a God who does not care?"

Now I have to go finish it.
Go get yourself one or twelve.

8 comments:

E said...

Okay...wow...God is trying to open our eyes babe. Go read the lyrics on my post to a song I just downloaded...it really is not about us...I am going to need to read this book! Jack is still working on some other books, too. we will definately get to it!

Thank you, Randy, for sharing the truth with us. God is good.

Beverlydru said...

I will get this book! You convinced me - thanks for a great post. I'll never forget years ago when a friend recommended a book called "The Joy of Repentance". I thought that was the craziest title. I think I get it now. Maybe.

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

How cool are you to be friends with someone like Randy Alcorn! :-)

Our Pastor has more than once recommended Randy's books from the pulpit. I think I'd like to read this one...although I have to admit I'm afraid (a little) of what God might be preparing me for. Of course, I know, with Him on my side, what do I have to fear?

Rebekah said...

Thank you for sharing. This kind of book is not sweet like candy but if it helps us feed the part of us the helps up grow closer to Christ Im up for a full helping.

Robynn's Ravings said...

I look forward to reading this. This is a question we're asked all the time, as Christians. And I need more answers.

Thank you for sharing because you know, I don't know who Randy Alcorn is. ;)

E said...

HELLLLLOOOOOO, where ARE you?!?!?! Hope all is well. Miss you.

E said...

Where are you? Are you doing okay? I have one week left until my due date!

amy in peru said...

My MIL just sent us this... we too are acquainted with the Alcorns (probably not as intimately I'm sure!). Your post really made me want to read it... I've read ALL his other books, so why wasn't I excited? I don't know perhaps for the same reason you mentioned, why would I want to read a downer book? But now I can't wait! It will be the first book I read this year!

yay.

Amy in Peru
http://apilgrimsproject.blogspot.com