Coffee With The Lord

Can’t you see it? Two boys showing off their athletic prowess on the playground… One boy says, “Watch this!” And he throws a baseball hard and it goes a very long way. The other boy, not to be outdone, says, “That’s nothing, watch this!” And he does a backward flip, landing on his feet, that leaves the other boy feeling a bit intimidated. “Well what about this? the first boy responds… and so it continues one boy trying to outdo another!

But when God acts, He does things thought absolutely impossible! …Things considered incredible by any measurement! …Things beyond our imagination! He can, you know! And he does them in answer to prayer! Nothing is too hard for Him!

In ancient Israel, Judah is facing 70 long years of exile in Babylon! Because of the persistent sin and rebellion of God’s people – because they refused to respond obediently to God’s prophets – Jerusalem will be destroyed, the temple razed, and the nation taken as prisoners to Babylon – not just for a few short years – 70 long years! The pride of their nation would become just an ugly pile of rubble! Their freedom gone! Hope evaporating into thin air!

And Jeremiah, the prophet, speaks for God from prison: “Thus says the Lord who made the earth – the Lord who formed it to established it – the LORD is His name!” Jeremiah’s appeal is to God’s incredible creative power! The God who spoke the world – the universe – into existence! The God who not only created it – but sustains it! (Check out Colossians 1 16-17 on that issue!)

Then Jeremiah issues God’s invitation and challenge… “Call to Me and I will answer you [i.e. pray and I’ll answer!] and will show you great and hidden things that you have not known [things that will blow your mind – things you consider incredible… even impossible!].”

And here’s the incredible thing God promised…

“I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. Thus says the LORD: ‘In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: “ ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.” (From Jeremiah 33:2-3, 5-11)

Wow! And He can do it! It may seem impossible! …It may seem incredible! But He can do it! His challenge? “Call to me and I will answer you!” Hey, it pays to pray! I’m going to keep praying for impossible situations and circumstances… For healing, for deliverance, for restoration in the lives of those I love! He’s God…He can do it!

Something happens… it’s grossly unfair… a wicked and vile person takes advantage of a good, righteous, generous and kind person and gets by with it! Worse yet, they’re exonerated! Righteous indignation rises in our hearts (at least it starts out as “righteous”)… Why would God allow that “scumbag” to get by with it! Worse yet, the evil perpetrator, is honored and, in spite of their evil deeds, prospers; while the good person suffers, their case against the wicked is ignored or marginalized, and they have to live in pain and poverty. It becomes a huge obstacle for us and we inwardly scream, “God, I don’t get it! Why didn’t You do something?!” Questions become disillusionment and disappointment – then bitterness – ultimately an impenetrable wall to our faith. We just can’t get over it! … And unless something dramatic happens we take our disillusionment with us to the grave!

How tragic! But this sad story has happened thousands of times in the experience of people of faith!

I’m convinced that’s why Psalm 73 is in the Bible! When we struggle with issues like that we need to read the psalmist’s account and allow the Holy Spirit that inspired Scripture to make the truth of the passage real to us!

Here’s what happened – this is what the psalmist said…

“My feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… They have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens and their tongue struts through the earth… Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.”

And our response? “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence!”

“But when I thought how to understand this it seemed to me a wearisome task, UNTIL I WENT INTO THE SANCTUARY OF GOD! Then I discerned their end… When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with You – You hold my right hand! You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory! Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing n earth that I desire besides You! My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! For behold those who are far from You shall perish – You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You! But for me it is good to be near You – I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all Your works!” (From Psalm 73)

I admit it… I don’t understand why it happens! It’s unfair! But I’m going to put it in the hands of God, and for my part, seek what is just and right, and trust the Lord to work it out and ultimately vindicate the righteous! I believe He will! I’m trusting Him!!!