His Marvelous Ways

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“Mom, which of these do you like for a short article? I can’t decide.”

“The first one is the way the Lord created the enemy in order to seek and destroy evil in His children’s lives the way a military heat-seeking missile follows and hits its target. It’s like none of our pain is wasted because pain is often a ‘seek and destroy’ mission for the eternal good of God’s kids.

Mom smiled lovingly. "Oh my... where on earth did you get that idea honey?"

I didn't really get it from earth, Mom. I got it from the Bible. God says in Isaiah 54:16, “Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire… and I have created the waster to destroy.” I was thinking about how there is no evil in heaven, so it must be removed from us now if we want to go there. Right?"

"Yes, but doesn't He also say in the very next verse that...(Continue Reading from Previous Page...)“No weapon formed against you will prosper?” (Isaiah 54:17)

“Yeah, I know, but sometimes it takes a hit from verse 16 to cause someone to seek and find verse 17! That’s how you and I both came to Christ, remember? Was all that pain wasted?”

“No. The pain was what led us to Life."

“Yep. I used to be mad at Him for creating the destroyer and then plopping all of us down here in the midst of the evil. I told Him I wouldn’t do that to my kids! He reminded me of Isaiah 55:8-9*. And He showed me that spirits attract to like spirits and that He must draw evil out of us so it becomes visible so we’ll deal with it. We don’t even know what’s in our hearts until He shows us.”

Mom agreed. “Ouch. Ok. What’s the second idea?”

“The second idea is the way Jesus is planning such a glorious, joy filled home and future for each of us whether we are just or unjust so we can all spend forever with Him in indescribable pleasure. And how He longs for each of us to be with Him so much, that if some choose not to receive what He is preparing, He still prepares it for them in hopes they will choose Him instead of the evil.”

Mom shuddered. “The thought of someone rejecting Him, and missing out on all of it. What a waste that would be.”

“No Mom…I don’t think what He prepares will be wasted. If someone never turns from sin and chooses Him, I believe those blessings He’s prepared might be given to someone else to enjoy. (Matthew 25:28) And doesn’t Jesus promise to wipe away all the tears? (Rev. 21:4) I also don’t believe any memories that would cause grief will remain.”

“Maybe sweetheart. I’ve never thought about things that way."

“Ok, So back to the first idea Mom.  I believe the enemy was created for our good. The trials and troubles are calculated to bring our impurities to the surface so the filth can be skimmed. We’ve got to be prepared to live in the purity of what He’s been for eons planning and preparing for us. In this life, we are like gold placed in a fire, and this life is so short it doesn’t even register on the timeline of eternity."

“It sounds like your two ideas are connected. Why don’t you combine them into one story?”

“Hmm. I might. Hey Mom - here’s another idea.

Mom laughed.  "Of course. Let's hear this one."

"What about a story of a Mother who during her lifetime taught many to trust in God, but at the end of her life, she's so angry at God for 'never answering her prayer' to draw and save her own child that in grief she renounces Christ. And what if, at that very moment, her military child is in another country surrendering his life to Christ. I could write into the story, um... missiles.  Yeah, those military kind of spiritual missals could hit her son right in his heart in order to destroy the sin in his life.”

“Oh goodness – you and your analogies.”

“And Mom, what if the mother renounces Christ and misses heaven at the same time that her child enters heaven? Jesus then would have to wipe away the tears of her child so he’d have no eternal grief. And what if Jesus had prepared a great and joyful reunion for them, but she’s not there and another one receives her blessings! What a waste! Hmm.  Actually, this terrible circumstance could be applied to any prayer of any character."

“Sweetheart, that’s too tragic a story to write. Sounds like a novel. Why don’t you combine all three ideas into one story, but find a way to give it a happy ending. I’d like to read it.”

“Alright,  I'll think about it. Thanks, Mom. You're a great listener.”

Isaiah 54:16-17

Amplified Bible

16

“Listen carefully,

I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals

And who produces a weapon for its purpose;

And I have created the destroyer to inflict ruin.

17

“But No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;

And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.

This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition]

is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, 

And this is their vindication from Me,”

says the Lord.

* Isaiah 55:8-9

Amplified Bible

8

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

9

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.