One of the side effects of scientific discovery is God’s reputation continues to improve. Throughout the ages, much to Lucifer’s delight, God got blamed for every bad thing that happened. He was blamed for plagues. He was blamed for earthquakes and tornadoes. These days we know that plagues and flu epidemics are caused by germs. We can even trace them back to a pig sty in China. Satellites now show us weather fronts colliding over the Midwest causing tornadoes as cold air collides with warm air.
Now if we can just stop blaming Him for personal tragedies. We develop cancer for a multitude of reasons, many of which researchers are just now discovering. Accidents happen because people drink and drive or text and drive. Accidents occur because birds are sucked into airplane engines. Reputations are ruined either by stupidity or maliciousness. The sum of all this is God is not at fault.
Ancient peoples used to commit atrocities on other nations and justify it by saying God was on their side or worse God told them to do it. One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to reveal to us the true character of His Father. He said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.” If you can imagine Jesus ordering a tornado to destroy homes and families then you really need to read or reread the Gospel of John. Jesus is a physical manifestation of God’s reality. He is Emmanuel. He is God with us. He and the Father are one. There is no dichotomy of personality or purpose. Each wants the same for you and me. How grand!
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 29, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org