Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Central Beliefs (Graces and Mercies)

I'm currently in the process of leading a group of men through a transformational study titled Heart of a Warrior. If you are interested, you can find out more information about it at the blog of its author, Dr. Greg Bourgond here. Through the course of Heart of a Warrior, each man is lead to examine his heart by evaluating four elements that ultimately cause behavior: his central beliefs, his core values, his worldview and his motives. Central beliefs are building blocks that are used to shape and influence how we view the world.

Recently, while reading my devotional passages from Job, I felt led to explore two central beliefs in light of my current situation. The first one is that
God is sovereign; the second one is that God is good. These might seem fairly elementary, and I would agree. If I don't believe them 100% at this time, then how I view our circumstances will be affected.

God is Sovereign. I have no doubt that God is the ultimate authority in the universe. No atom is outside of his control. He is knowledgeable about Ian's condition to a degree that I cannot grasp. He has also been in control of this situation from before I was born, overseeing the training of his doctors, orchestrating every aspect of Ian's treatment. If He has anything less than complete control, then He is no longer God.

God is Good. This
is where I've been having trouble; it's taken me three attempts to get this post completed. If God is good, then why did He let this happen to Ian? I can understand that He has purposes that are beyond my understanding. Also, I know that men with far greater insight have wrestled with this issue for centuries, so it's pure hubris to think that I will be able to grasp this. But that won't stop me from trying.

Where I was running into trouble was that I forgot about the fallen state of our world. While it is correct that God has a purpose and a plan for Ian's condition, it's just as true that we live in a cursed existence, in a creation that declared war with the Lord of the universe. The result of that choice of separation has been all of the suffering that mankind has experienced.

If God chose to not interact with us, then Ian would still have his tumor. I was assuming that the baseline was a tumor-free Ian, whereas the truth is that because of the nature of this world, any health that we enjoy is a blessing and a mercy from God. Additionally, my merciful and compassionate Lord is watching over this situation, using it for His glory. To someone who is unfamiliar with God, this might seem cold and uncaring. The greater truth is that Ian's condition is being used to draw men, women and children closer to God. Instead of limiting his goodness to one little boy, our Heaven Father is lavishing His goodness and care, offering His gift of unmeasurable grace on everyone who looks at our websites.

I've been doing my best to be very conscious of how I pray for Ian. It's not a matter of whether God can heal Ian. Of that, I have no doubt. This is a being who spoke the universe into existence. Galaxies, nebulae, planets were formed by His will. Healing a seven-year-old is not beyond Him. But I pray that God's will is that Ian's health be restored. If He chooses not to heal my son, does that mean that He is not good? As long as I have a correct perspective, the answer is definite; He always has been, is now, and always will be
a good God:

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

In the day of my trouble I will call you you,
for you will answer me.

- Psalm 86:5-7


The difference is that my definition of "goodness" is often too small and selfish to line up with God's purposes.

4 Comments:

At July 24, 2008 5:57 PM , Blogger Brant Skogrand said...

Tom,

Thanks for leading us through Heart of a Warrior -- you're doing a great job.

Are you attending Advance III in September?

Brant

 
At July 24, 2008 7:20 PM , Blogger Tom Henderson said...

Thanks. I appreciate the encouragement.

I am planning on going to the Advance III. I'm hoping to get one or two other men to go with me.

Is anyone interested?

 
At July 24, 2008 7:30 PM , Blogger Brant Skogrand said...

I am interested, just so long as I don't have to choose football as my sports activity. :>)

Brant

 
At August 9, 2008 9:53 AM , Anonymous Kim Spady said...

Tom - I just found your blog and am enjoying catching up, though am overwhelmed by the number of your posts I want to read! I had to respond to this post, though, because it is a question I've struggled with since our son's DIPG diagnosis. I've never for one instant doubted that God can heal Caleb. I do, however, struggle with the fact that He may decide not to heal him. That is, after all, the decision He has made regarding most of the DIPG kids. So, how can He be good? He is allowing us, who He loves with a love beyond our understanding, to go through such pain.

I've been reading CS Lewis' book "The Problem of Pain" and you summarized what I'm getting from it -- we simply cannot understand "good". Every thought we have is tainted by our sin nature and we can see "good" only from our selfish perspective. Somehow, in the eternal and Godly realm, God will work all of this for good -- the good that He sees and plans.

Sometimes I look forward to heaven just so I can have these answers I so long to have. But more often I think that when we arrive in heaven, it will be so wonderful and we will have such peace that these questions will fade away.

Blessings to you all -
Kim Spady
www.carepages.com/carepages/keepingupwithcaleb

 

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