Chapter 6 ~ Distractions in Life's Economy

"Have you ever looked a man in the eye and killed him?"

It was an eye opening question that seemed to come out of the blue at my breakfast that cool morning. The man sitting across from me, a WWII vet was obviously focused on a time when life's economy dealt him a difficult equation.

As a former member of the 101st Airborne he was part of what history calls the "Bulge". During his descent into enemy territory he sustained a shrapnel wound. He lay in a fox hole for a little over 23 hours before medical help was able to find him.

I think back about his story this morning because of the topic in today's chapter. The question comes to mind, what about the Nazi's? Now, don't get too distracted by that question, nor the next one, what about the Muslims?

Is it God's grace when a group of people are able to take control of a place where innocent people suffer? I think it can be. Again, don't rush the thought. I refer to the passage on Pg. 80 "The sin of the Amorites has not yet reached it's full measure" (Genesis 15:16).

In this statement I'm not trying to justify bad, but if bad is what Grace is for, then why wouldn't it be sensible to think that God is, as scripture says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways." (2 Peter 3:9 Bible in Basic English)

I have to say, when God is gracious to the evil, he is gracious to me! I was once evil. I still have a struggle with sin and it's effects today. I am more than weak when it comes to being able to truly be good, not just put forth an effort to try to appease God and others. As a people pleasing, "salesman" personality, I fight the good fight against offending, sometimes to my dismay.

How about you? Isn't it wonderful that God saw you as you were and still gave you time to see his love in the light of grace?

It know it was for the gentleman above, he wandered for 42 years, leaving home at the age of 14 because of a disagreement with his father over the behavior of his step-mother. He wandered around allowing alcohol to control his life, went into the armed services at 18, went AWOL 2 or 3 times until he was later discharged as undesirable. They took away his awards from his service time in WWII because of an attempted murder charge.

At age 56 he got drunk, called a preacher in the middle of the night and after asking him some questions, prayed with that preacher and gave his life to Christ.

He would later appeal the "undesirable" discharge and be awarded an honorable discharge. He was re-instated with full honors, including the return of his medals.

He is now in heaven and I miss him. I just celebrated his 9th anniversary in heaven this past month.

He was my father.

The same grace my father found, I found. It was the same grace that reached out to the German people on both sides of the political conflict. It is the same grace that reaches to the people on all sides of the struggle today.

I don't like it that evil triumphs for a little while.

I don't like it that people get hurt and derailed by sin.

Some days the fact of evil makes me have more questions than answers.

I wish that I could fix the world, but what would the world look like if my fix was in place?

I think that God's grace is a better tool, since he has the answers and I look to him for the same...

What about Chapter 6 were you "surprised" by?

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor (grace) is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning". (Psalms 30:5 NKJV)