Explaining Pain

On one hand, we choose what we do from what we eat for breakfast to whether or not we follow Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, The Author, God the Father has already written all our choices good and bad for our entire lives.

It is no different than when Anakin Skywalker chose to become Darth Vader, yet it was all written by George Lucas.

So, was George evil for writing a scenario where the planet Alderan gets destroyed?

No? Why not? Many millions died!

"They are not real people!"

Really? If you're only focus is from within the story, it sure seems real. A character from within, say Princess Leia, she knew people on the planet. George could have stopped it. George could have even brought everyone back! Yes, as the author, he could have written the story anyway he wanted to.

Was it evil to kill so many people?

Still, no? Why?

Yes, it is easy, once you realize the view from outside the story, from the Author's perspective. It makes a huge difference when the story becomes smaller in comparison to the much bigger, greater reality beyond the little story.

Did they suffer?

Not really. How could they? The people of Alderan were just temporary characters in a story that is a tiny part of a much larger story that we call reality.

Sounds a bit like the promise of eternal life compared to eternal destruction...doesn't it?

What if it is true? What if, like the people of Alderan, all of those who are not called to come to the truth of Christ, are temporary and in the greater picture...not real? That eternal suffering is really like it is written, nothing more than permanent shame and contempt by those who remain?

"I was once dead, but now I'm alive..."

It does make more sense in the light of a truth that God alone chooses who does and doesn't get saved. It does fit with scriptures like Romans 9, then, that those who will remain lost are nothing more than "character development for those who will remain.

Romans 9:21-24

[21] Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

[22] What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction?

[23] What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory--

[24] even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

I know this is NOT what all the popular teachers say. I know this goes against every fiber of your being, but it IS what scripture says! Not just in the book of Romans, but all throughout scripture in the written history of Israel and God.

The question remains, why does this idea not resonate, but rather kick against our nature?

I think that this answer is simple. It is because of the first lie...that we can become like God. This temptation from the devil himself is why we struggle against God, our own Author, to fight for an impossible independence. In truth, we were written to do so.

So, why would our Author do this?

I don't know, but in my interactions with Him, I have found He is absolutely trustworthy. He is absolutely in control. He is absolutely good.

He has a reason, a very good reason, for all of this...including the evil, pain, suffering and awful circumstances that men go through.

"It will be worth it"

This was something He said to me many years ago in the thick of my struggles with God through the awfulness of my life.

I saw that it was true. I KNEW that He cared. I believed He was in charge of it all...and because of His love for me, that I was good no matter how bad it looked.

That is faith, and it was a gift that He gave to me.

Oh, I did choose to follow Him. I did choose to obey Him. Yet, every choice, every action, every sacrifice for His name, I did because I was written to...long before I was even conceived.

The hard truth in scripture, is a blessed thing for the chosen of God. Everything has a reason, a purpose, and though not everything that happens is good, it WILL end well because you matter eternally to The Author.

You always did.

Ah, but do you? This is where your "choice" comes in. Do you choose to follow Jesus, or do you pretend to believe while serving in a church? Do you treat others badly, consistently, because you deserve better than them? What you do, and how you treat others, either shows your faith or lack thereof.

I see another sign being revealed. Since faith is "seeing" and God hates idol worship, it is also true that those who truly have been given Faith will see God better. They will not accept a weak, powerless or limited view of God. This will put them at odds with popular teaching that feeds the inner desire of man to ascend.

It is a fight for control, that if you don't willingly surrender, you with either oppose God directly, or fashion Him into something much smaller and "manageable"...an idol, even if it's only in your mind.

Trust in God.

God as He is.

Not as we want Him to be.

This is the only way to live with Him, forever.

Knowing who we are to Him matters immensely! If you ARE a "real" character in this temporary part of the story, then EVERYTHING in your life is meant to break you, then make you into something precious, something that lasts forever. He is in control, and you are important to Him.

If you don't know this, if you don't see this, then I pray you do. It really does make all the disappointment, pain, regret, and sorrow mean something good. It is simple. I am not my workmanship.

I am His.