To all the parents of our congregation, I give you the utmost honor and respect. You’ve raised us from our years as helpless babes, through the terrible twos, through adolescence where you explained and comforted us as our bodies and minds changed, through our young adult years as we transition into different seasons, and will continue to love and care for us as long as you are alive. The hearts of parents never seems to change. At the age of 27, I am still my parents’ baby. But you can never fully protect us from this world. We’ll open up any periodical and see the pain, suffering, injustice, and evil in this world and our eyes will see the depravity of humankind. Parents, I do not envy you but am extremely grateful for you.
As you all know, Boston was in the midst of a terrorist attack. Bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston marathon. A shoot-out occurred between police and the suspects during a high speed car chase. People were injured. Many died. Comments on social media range from livid responses filled with cursing and hopelessness to comments on the sovereignty and everlasting goodness of God. “Mom, Dad… why do so many bad things happen?”… a question that will stump the wisest parent. Reconciling evil in the world around us with the goodness of God is perhaps one of the most difficult questions to answer, for both child and parent. These struggles, though far removed from our personal spheres of influence and life, become personal as we combine in our hearts and minds the craziness “out there” with the craziness “at home.” Then the wrestling with God begins.
There is nothing I can write in this column to appease your “why” that even philosophers and theologians have attempted to respond to for centuries and have fallen short. However, let me respond to the “what now” question that will inevitably consume our minds. In a letter to believers in Rome, Paul writes to encourage them in a time of confusion and suffering. Instead of focusing on the suffering experienced by many believers, Paul focuses and points to a God of hope who is sovereign over all things. In the midst of suffering and trials, Paul states “we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” Through the Holy Spirit, perseverance is a product of suffering; it’s inevitable, it’ll happen automatically when we are covered with the power of God and acknowledge it in our lives. Paul continues; “perseverance, character.” When we persevere through these times, we are transformed into the image of Christ, becoming men and women that reflect the character and person of God. Lastly, Paul states “and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:2-5). When we reflect the image of Jesus via our character, hope flows in and out of our lives. It will never disappoint (v. 5).
Let’s cling to the hope that will never fail us. Let’s strive to become more and more like Christ and show our younger brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, the generations to come, that with Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit in us, we have a hope and victory in the midst of chaos, confusion, and evil. Our God reigns. God bless you all.
From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
April 21, 2013