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The Bible Says
Mary and Martha were broken hearted. They had sent Jesus an urgent request to come and heal their brother, but He deliberately waited till Lazarus was dead before He arrived. Did God deliberately refuse to answer their prayers? Anne Graham Lotz has written a remarkable book entitled, "WHY?" I will share some of her experiences because I am sure they will serve to inspire you, as they have me. On page 49, she challenges her readers with these words: "HAVE YOU EVER SPECIFICALLY PRAYED for something only to have the prayer go unanswered and the situation get dramatically worse? "Have you ever prayed for your mother's health to improve only to have her condition weaken then deteriorate further when she had a negative reaction to the medication she was given? "Have you ever prayed for a job to be more productive only to lose out on a promotion and then receive notice that you were being fired from the company? "Have you ever prayed for your child's well-being only to have him or her drop out of school then be injured in a tragic car accident or become addicted to drugs? "Why? . . . . . "As other Christian parents have done, I have prayed, without ceasing for my children throughout the years. One of the promises I believe God gave me for them, and a promise I have claimed again and again in prayer, is Exodus 15:1-21." (I suggest you read this passage in your own Bible) "The promise God seemed to give me from this ancient hymn of joy was that He would supernaturally overthrow anything or anyone seeking to hinder my children from being in His place of blessing for their lives. I believed that God would be our strength and song and our salvation as a family so that together we could exalt Him! "Then cancer struck my son. And Hurricanes struck our property. And fire struck my husband's office. And the devil himself struck vital family relationships. Staggering from one disaster to the next, I felt the sea walls collapsing, not on the army that was pursuing me, but on me! In fact, in some areas, my head is not above water yet! "Why? Why does God let things go from bad to worse for those He loves---those like me? Like Martha and Mary? "Yet, consider this: When Jesus expressed words of encouragement concerning Lazarus's condition, Lazarus had already died! Was Jesus lying? Was His promise some sort of empty "hope so"? Was He just toying with Martha and Mary's feelings? NO! What Jesus said meant . . . that Lazarus's sickness did not have physical death as its ultimate purpose. "that God has a greater purpose than our immediate comfort. "that getting what we want, when we want it, is not always the best for us or glorifying to God.
--unquote In order to accomplish ultimate victory Satan would have to be more powerful than God and God would no longer be Almighty. Satan has power, but he can go only as far as God permits him to go. Satan is a formidable foe. He can cast us into a "fiery furnace," but Christ will walk with us in the flames (Daniel 3:25). Satan can lower us into a "lion's den," but God is able to lock the lion's jaws, so they are unable to harm us (Daniel 6:22). Satan can delay the answer to our prayers, but God will eventually send His warrior angel, Michael to overpower the forces of evil so that our prayers reach Heaven (Daniel10:12-14). Why, then, doesn't God answer our prayers?
No! Faith the size of mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). People who have no faith seldom pray. If we have enough faith to pray, God will encourage that spark into a flame.
Jesus prayed, "I Know that that you always hear me" but when He prayed, "Father, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39 NKJB), He had to "drink the cup" to the bitter dregs. Why? Because Jesus was submissive to the Father's will.
David Bloom, a young television news commentator with the National Broadcasting Corporation, gave his heart to Christ while reading Chuck Colson's book, "Born Again." He joined a weekly Bible study class and was making great progress in his new faith in Christ, when suddenly while on a foreign assignment, the Lord decided to take him Home. What a disappointment to all evangelical Christians! But he did leave a lasting witness for Christ. The e-mail letters read at his memorial contained a glowing testimony of his sincere faith in Jesus Christ. David Bloom was extremely popular. That Cathedral was filled to capacity with some of the most prominent members of our society, at David Bloom's memorial service. Did God have a purpose in his untimely death? WE'LL UNDRSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY. |