God & Silence

Recently, I read once again the story of Jesus Christ's temptation in the wilderness after His baptism by John the Baptist. 
What Satan was tempting Christ with isn't really that much different from today's questions concerning God. That may be why they are so interesting.

Satan challenged Jesus' ability to provide; His response though on a 40 day fast was, 'Man shall not live on bread alone...'
When He was tempted with the seduction of earthly glory, thereby taking a short cut around His ultimate mission, Jesus responded, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'
In the last temptation, He was challenged concerning His ability of protection. Jesus would not throw Himself off the Temple, nor challenge God's ability. He simply answered, 'You shall not put the Lord you God to the test.'

In our times of trial and tragedy, these are the very things we seek from God.
We want to see His power in our lives. We desire to see His protection. And we want to see Him glorified in what He can do in our bodies or families when we are physically ailing - we usually expect this from some type of healing power.
Unlike Satan, we do not taunt God; instead, we ask sincerely and we often hope frantically.
And it is in those times, when God does not answer, that we experience a time much like Jesus experienced in the last few hours of His life on earth.

When Charlemagne, King of the Franks and the First Holy Roman Emperor, heard the account of Christ's betrayal, arrest and execution, he exploded into a rage. Shaking his sword, Charlemagne exclaimed, 'Oh, if only I had been there; I would have slain them all with my legions.'
Well, Charlemagne's courage is gallant - but he was not there for he was about 8 centuries later on the world stage. 
But I will tell you who was there - God Himself.

One of the darkest and saddest things that is known from the death of Christ is the fact that God was present, Jesus His Son called out to Him; yet, God the Father did not lift a finger to help Him.

In Gethsemane, Jesus said to His disciples of the inner circle that He was 'grieved to the point of death.'
As Judas was leading the Temple police and Sanhedrin to the olive grove, Jesus was praying for another way. He was praying for a way out so that the Cup of God's Wrath would not fall on Him.
And yet, even as Judas arrived, God remained silent.

Many Christians have been in a place during their lives just like Jesus was in those last hours where they felt God was ignoring them, turning a deaf ear to them or even forsaking them. 
No - God hurts when we hurt and loves us dearly; but sometimes He is silent.

Like Jesus, all that is wrong with the world sometimes seems to be triumphing over all that is right. 
When it happened to Christ, he was beaten before Pilate, ridiculed before Herod and slapped around by the Sanhedrin. 
Even as we read in horror today of the event, we know that there was no rescue.
While they clamored for a miracle, there was no miracle; only pain and suffering.

As Jesus took His last breath on the Cross and died, do you know what the response was?
Nature convulsed.

The death of the Son of God was so irrational and so out of place, nature itself could not remain silent.
Sometimes it is similar in our lives as believers, things are so out of whack - and our world convulses as we hurt.
But rest assured, God has not turned a deaf ear nor has He stopped loving us. 
His intervention may simply be delayed for a greater reason in your life.

Do you realize of all the events that happened to Jesus just prior to the crucifixion and immediately afterwards, only Calvary was open to the public?
Everything else, took place privately or a semi-private location.
After He was raised, Jesus also only appeared to those who believed in Him previously.
As far as we know, He never appeared to one nonbeliever.
Because of what He endured on the Cross, we may have eternal life.

That time of suffering and silence of God enables us today to obtain eternal happiness and joy.
While it was taking place Jesus voiced His disappointment with God: 'My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?'
But today, that silence can be seen as necessary because it was through Jesus' sacrifice and God not rescuing Him that He may save us from our sins and rescue us today through the power of the Gospel.

Remember that the next time you hurt and it seems God is silent; He may very well be planning a greater day ahead with future deliverance.

Until next time, try to win one for the Good Guys.