Many a comedian has joked about coming to the fork and the road and taking
it. But what if it is a “Y” in the road, like in Ohio, on the Y Bridge? Still
take it....just not sure which way, but be assured each road will lead to
somewhere. Days can be like that too, like waking up and wondering why? Why
did I sleep so well last night, or why didn’t I? Why does my dog immediately
upon being let out sniff the air? Why is it harder to hear noises on cloudy
days? Why do we have to go to work? To school? To church? Why when it is
cloudy here it is May Gray or June Gloom, but back east means rain? And so we
do many things in life before we cross the Y bridge of life wondering why. Some
will just settle for what their mother used to tell them, “because I said so,
and I’m the Mommy!” Insuring a life filled with Wheatina, and with all the
nourishment, just none of the flavor. Fortunately God has instilled a
pioneering spirit in many of us,who rather than just begrudgingly obeying Mom,
want to know why. And so maybe why has an attitude about it, we want to know,
maybe to learn enough to remember to pass a test, as seen on the freeways with
so many bad drivers. Or maybe just curious of how things work, like knowing
when your bike runs best at what RPM, to get the best performance. Which can
lead us to making things better, or just duplicating them, “almost as good as a
Xerox” with no pun intended. Which is why factory parts work best, and may cost
more, but in the end will keep you out of trouble. Life will deliver us too
many imitators, while we tend to question innovators, and end up either way
asking why.
But the one answer that asks more questions is because. “Why?” “Because I
said so...” Which can build resentment, but really never answers the question
why. One philosophy has us taking a fatalistic view, whatever happens happens.
To which I ask “then why pray?” “Because...” And once again we return to the
fork in the road. It seems we can stay out of a lot of trouble if we just don’t
ask why. Yet many will sing the song of The Mickey Mouse Club, where we ask
“why?” And even then the answer is “because he loves you.” But when it comes
to the things of God, we ask why only when we don’t agree with him or his
decisions. Why did God let my husband die? Why did he allow earthquakes? Why
did he let me lose my job, my home, my family? And worse yet, rather than
asking why, blaming him. Why did you make me lose my job? Why did you make
storms? Why did you make make my wife leave me? Why do you make us go to
church? And finally, why do we fall asleep wondering why, when we are looking
for justification? Why do so many days, tough days end in why?
Maybe it all goes back to Mickey’s song, “because he loves you.” First
love is more than an emotion, it is the person of God manifest in Jesus Christ.
And because, that word again, he loved us first, he calls us back to him, so we
can love him. Not the other way around. God will never demand his own way, but
will allow events to occur so we can change direction and turn back to him.
“Why did God send me to jail?” He didn’t, your crime did, and many come to
salvation while in jail. Who might not have any other way. Why do we get
sick? Why did I have to have open heart surgery? To show the greatness of God
in every situation. So why pray if God is going to have his way anyway? To
communicate, listen then speak to what he has to say. After my open heart
surgery and the miracle God performed in me, and for my family, I never asked
why, I just knew in words I cannot express. Jesus never leaves you, even while
in a coma, or when your heart is out of your body. He stays, the spirit never
vacating you. And I am thankful for the many prayers, maybe millions on prayer
chains around the world. Thank you all, I believe you asked seeking an answer,
just like I did when I asked God, if you are going to do your will, why pray?
Did all those requests make a difference? His answer may surprise you...and
have you look at prayer differently.
Revelation 1 tells us John bore witness of the things he writes. So we can
be blessed, so God gets the glory. it isn’t about us, but for us. And herein
lies the answer. As he told me “so when you share your testimony I get the
glory.” So I could testify to his greatness. To encourage, to rescue, to save
those who doubt. Who speak but don’t listen, and then wonder why. To bear
witness of the everlasting love of Jesus Christ. Why, because he loves you.
And finally C, he “will see you soon.” God wants to spend time with us, to
bless us, to have us tell of his love. To tell others. Yet we cannot see him,
no one ever has, so he needs us to show his love to others, so they can see
him. And when we love others as he has loved us, he means our enemies
too....why? Because we were all enemies once, and his love changed us. Our love
for others is the evidence that he loves us.
So if your day has been one of “why Lord?” know why. Sometimes your sin
will find you out, but each case Jesus has provided the way back. That’s love,
and for some it takes a storm, a disease, a jail term, or catastrophe to see God
at work. Yet when we do, we wonder why doesn’t every one else? You may have
started your day wandering, or wondering why. And even in the in between times
where we spend most of times, wondering why. But we can end the day knowing
why, knowing that the answer is a person. Jesus is why, and who. And when we
know him and trust him, we bear witness of him, and to him. So the next time
someone asks why, now you know. Revealed years ago by his spirit, and sung by
millions over the years on TV. “Because he loves you.” Isn’t God being God
enough to just love him? “Em-Oh-Yu-Es-EE.” Have trouble showing his love, sing
Mickey’s song. And if you have trouble singing, you can always show it. Maybe
the best way to show the gospel anyway, using words only when needed. Don’t
start or end, or spend your day wondering why, when you can know who. And why
the gospel is so simple, so we can get it. Getting into heaven is easier than
getting into Disneyland if you know the right person. Why? “Because Jesus
loves you...” Isn’t that enough?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com