Happy Hearts Day, and a note on doubt

And now here creeps in doubt.

Why would an all-powerful, all-knowing God let innocent mankind be tempted and not step in? I mean, why didn’t he keep the serpent far away? When God banished the rebel angels, why did He let them choose earth as their temporary base? There’s more than one planet in this solar system, and infinitely more in the entire Universe, why let the devil inside the Paradise Garden?

Doubt # 2: why didn’t God intervene when Cain murdered Abel? I thought Abel found favor in his sight? He had all the power to protect Abel, but God didn’t. In fact, all God had was a piece of advice to Cain, who was at that moment psychotically losing his mind. God said, "Sin crouches at your door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it." Question, could not Cain use some help from God in mastering encroaching sin? How about me? When sin crouches on my door, can I count on God for help?

This finally opens the dam of many doubts I have. Why I find it hard to completely trust God. A close friend of mine was raped by her own father. Another girl I know was raped by seven men in her own home. I, too, was victim of sexual abuse when I was 15, and when I told my then discipler about it, he perpetuated the crime by sexually molesting me.

That shadow makes it hard for me to trust God. I sing, "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee…" but think, yeah, but you allowed bad things to happen to my friends and me. It happened in the past. What makes me so sure it won’t happen again?

Truth is, God does not condemn doubt. In fact, I think He invites it. He allows for it, by His infinite grace. He says, "Don’t let it eat you. Don’t bottle it up. Talk to me. Let it out."

Enoch walked in habitual fellowship with God, so reports the writer Genesis 5:22 and 24. There is something about the walking there that is equated with fellowship with God. In fact, it’s almost enviable.

So when the doubts arise, it’s time to do a walkie-talkie. You take a walk and talk to God as you do. You tell him everything and anything that’s in your heart. And you listen for his reply. He won’t always give the answer to the hard questions. But you can count on one sure thing: His companionship. After all, Jesus did promise never ever to leave us.

So put your most comfortable shoes on, slap on some sunblock, and take a walk with God. You might lose weight (both emotional burden and physical pounds) in the process.

If the Bible were written as a novel

I have tried and failed many times to follow-through with daily Bible reading guides that promised to help me read every word of Scripture in 365 days. The only exemption is Cover to Cover, a chronological plan by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J Partridge. I have never been able to reread the Bible through after that.

I've tried My Utmost for His Highest, Our Daily Bread, the study plans on YouVersion. Nothing sticks, or, I don't stick to them. I tried reading Bible Promises, all that. I just can't seem to recapture the magic of reading the Grand Story.

Although, when I try to use Cover to Cover again, I feel dutiful, religious. No passion there. No love. No excitement. Dead.

So I stopped reading the Bible for a while.

The thing is, I have reread many several books in my life, favourites of mine, which I feel are treasures. Books I refer to over and over again, and I base workshops on. And I have tons of fiction, novels, that I read so deeply that the characters are alive for me. I am a slow and deep reader. I digest plot slowly. And when I am at the last few chapters of a book, I intentionally read out loud, so I spend longer with the book. The book is a friend and I don't want it to go away so soon.

So, I thought, why can't I read the Bible like a novel? One chapter bit of a story a day before moving to the next. Not dutifully gulping up more than I can chew or swallow because it's the prescribed number of verses to read that day. That leaves me with spiritual indigestion, and then I don't want to read anymore.

Let's read the Bible piecemeal. Let's read it like it were any other book. Let's find out who this main character is, this God. Let's judge this God by his/her actions and words and how he/she related to the Hebrew people.

So, today is Day 1. And if the Bible were written as a novel, this few verses will make the preface.

Preface

 

In the beginning, before all time, was the Word., and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God.

 

Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

 

In the beginning God prepared, formed, fashioned, and created the heavens and the earth.

 

(John 1:1-2, Psalm 90:2, Genesis 1:1, AMP)