Master, don’t You care that we perish?”
What kind of question is that? At first glance, it sounds ridiculous—how could Jesus not care? And yet, I’ve asked it a million times. God, don’t you care and why aren’t you doing something? Why did this happen? I’m doing what you asked, so why, why Lord, are you not acting?
The answers to the question, are simple and complicated –
The simple answer is of course He cares.
The complicated answer is yes, He does care but – now comes the hard part, but – we live in a broken world where each person is given the opportunity to choose. We are all given the opportunity to choose our own gods, follow our own plans, and serve ourselves or choose God, follow His plans, and serve him.
The ability to choose sets us in one of two realities, or a combination. One reality brings pain, turmoil, brokenness, sadness, weakness, death, and sin. Sin always brings pain—darkness, hardship, harm, and suffering. The other reality brings peace, light, grace, forgiveness, strength, contentment, relationship, goodness, Truth, and so much more.
Here’s the problem for us – these two realities overlap. We cannot help but be touched by both realities because we live in both realms at the same time. Adam and Eve plunged us into this combined reality. Sometimes we are touched in unimaginable ways. We can be touched by the darkness of the world, those around us who walk in darkness, and our own dark choices. (We can also overcome by His light and touch others with that light to show them Christ.)
But the fact of the matter remains, we are exposed to darkness and its deeds.
God never promised to set us in a utopian society (this side of heaven.) He said we are going to have trouble in this world, suffer persecution, endure hardships, be touched by disease, and be surrounded by opposition. He said to beware, to watch, to wait, be strong, have courage, run the race, walk the narrow road, pray, don’t faint, rejoice in trials. He said to trust, don’t bow, study, work, pray, shine. Sounds like a difficult life because it can be, and certainly as time passes it will be.
I understand it…I don’t like it…at times I want out. I want a quick rescue and simple answers. I want heaven on earth, picture perfect scenarios, and smiles and love all around. I don’t want to be touched by the world’s sin and what it brings, or my own.
But for now, we hold heaven in our beings. We hold His Spirit in our souls. The only way for us to improve on the reality we are living, is to live out the life that shows God in us, through Christ to the world. The only way to calm storms is with Jesus in the boat, my boat, and their boat.
So yes, in the storm, Jesus cares. He’s not asleep and we need to scream out his name. We need to toss out the lifeline. We need to live out His plans to bring the light and forgiveness of the Gospel to those living in Satan’s reality.
The next time you are in the stormy boat – try to remember God does no evil, but it’s the reality of the sinful world we live in and choices. We are affected by the choices of all those around us. The next time you feel alone in the boat – remember with Christ in the boat, come calm or high waters, He promised to never leave us or forsake us. We might be in that storm for a long time, but never alone. We might be tossed to and fro, but never alone. We might feel as though we can’t make it – but we can and when God feels enough is enough – he will either call us home or come in the clouds of glory to bring in the final days and bring an eternity of bliss.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Of course He cares…. ~ Mark 4:37-39
