Has God Forgotten?

Our children and grandchildren represent the next two generations of the church and community. They are already leaders and are shaping the future of both church and community. The effects of their lives will be felt until Jesus returns. Pat and I are proud of each child, Candace, Jonathan and Joanna and their spouses as they imprint the future with their contributions today.

We are hopeful as we watch each grandchild grow and develop distinct talents and traits. Our oldest, Abigail, is competing in the Fine Arts Festival in Orlando next month. You can be sure that we will be there rooting her on! Alison and Isabella are memorizing Scripture and participate in Junior Bible Quiz competitions throughout the PennDel District. Each of the eight grandchildren is the brightest, most beautiful human beings God ever created! They will, under God, find their way into the right place for their contributions.

As I observe the next generations, I am reminded of my father’s insight into the changes he experienced in his life span of nearly 85 years. I find it mind-bending to remember that Dad plowed farm fields behind a horse and watched a man walk on the moon! Wages moved from $1.00 per day to more than $40,000 annually. And, cities of as few as 10,000 grew into population of more than 1,000,000. I remember Dad’s concern about the difficult days ahead for me as a fledgling pastor. Dad pointed out that in his youth people attended Sunday evening services because there were no other p/aces for wholesome fellowship. And, the church had gas lights, a piano, and preaching was an art the community appreciated. "But you," son, "Are competing for the attention of people who watch the Super Bowl, World Series, and Ed Sullivan in people’s living rooms." Dad wasn’t highly educated, but he learned to be an astute observer.

The announcements of the Supreme Court’s decisions yesterday reminded me of how much our world has changed in my lifetime. In less than 70 years we have moved from quietly whispering about secret sins to watching others boldly parading and celebrating what the Bible forbids. Our children do not remember when abortion was illegal. Their peers have never blushed, or know that there are times when that is the only appropriate thing to do.

For more than 45 years I navigated the spiritual-cultural mine fields. My peers and I have been stressed and stretched and yet, survived as rip currents of change threatened our ability to survive . . . theological excesses, legalization of Bible-proscribed behaviors, and the redefinition of morals. My e-mailbox will be jammed with angry accusations and calls to action. Some mail will be good, worthy of serious consideration, but few will reflect a broken and contrite heart, the very thing the God we say we worship always desires. I think that our leaders are more accustomed to evening the score than to reconcile others to Christ.

This morning many well-intentioned saints are teetering atop the precipice of despair with a morose sense of defeat. Like Al Capp’s Joe Bftsplk, it’s raining and my umbrella has holes in it! Others will angrily convene committee meetings to establish new battle plans for engaging the enemy. Is anyone considering that the present state of world affairs is all part of the Eternal God’s plan? Is a Holy God frustratingly wringing His hands in confusion this morning? Is the One who sent His "One and Only Son" into the world to save the world, not condemn it (John 3:16-17) is clueless and ill prepared for today’s events? Personally, I am encouraged every time I read about the mischief of 11 brothers who sold their sibling into slavery. Joseph’s line is priceless, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)


Was Moses an afterthought, someone who the Almighty, all-Knowing One had forgotten for forty years, or was He quietly working out His plan for the ages? Did He, or didn’t He, remember His followers in a Jerusalem prison cell and release them for the best possible effect? (Acts 5)

I wonder, is His promise to come again sufficiently embedded into our faith to allow us to walk forward with confidence? If we walk with the Lord humbly and with a broken heart because of the lostness of masses of people He has created and for whom He died, we will find the delicate balance between lethargic indifference and irresponsible hyperactivity. We must be confident that the Almighty will lead us through, not around, the "valley of the shadow of death" and "beside the still waters."

With the next generations in view, we have an opportunity to walk wisely, act kindly, love deeply, abide patiently, suffer without complaint and speak joyously of our God’s Sovereignty! The Word of God remains eternal, powerful, unchangeable and all the promises remain. My friends, He has said, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) We’ve navigated many changes in our lifetimes. But the One who made us remains the same! May our children and grandchildren observe how we live, and learn from us as we experience still another season of chaotic change.