December 20, 2008

• God works through bad economies for good: A retrospective

  Earlier this week I'd written about the unshakable Kingdom we are receiving...since that time I've received news of some friends whose lives are undergoing some major shaking.

  Let's not forget God is still working in the midst of the bad economy or in the midst of any shaking. He is King of kings and Lord of lords no matter what's happening on Wall Street or Washington, D.C. or London or Tokyo or Beijing or Baghdad or Jerusalem or your hometown...

  We're now experiencing the worst economy in decades.

  I'd like to tell you the story of how God used the bad economy in 1981 to change my life...

  I know many of you weren't even alive in 1981. I was. And I was getting ready to graduate from college with a degree in Educational Research. The economy was really bad at that time. Inflation, high unemployment, high interest rates, and so forth. Well, the job offers weren't exactly flying into my campus mail box (no e-mail back then). So in lieu of a job, Plan B was graduate school. I'd lived all my life in Pennsylvania and had wanted to stay in the east coast area. Plus all my friends were from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. So I ended up applying to four graduate schools, three on them on the east coast, and a fourth in the midwest.

  The first rejection letter came. I was pretty distressed about this. You may ask why since I still had three schools on my list. Well, the thing is that school just happened to be the school my advisor had told me was a shoo-in, my safety school, so to speak. I was so distressed I ended up burning the rejection letter.

  Long story short, wouldn't you know it, but the only school I was accepted at was the school in the midwest, which was the University of Wisconsin-Madison. No one else wanted me, but they wanted me. That was good. It's always good to be wanted, right? Particularly when you have no other viable option. Particularly when you have no job offer or any other acceptance letter in hand. But it certainly wasn't my first choice for sure.

  Up until that time in my life, the furthest west in the U.S. I'd been was Pittsburgh (other than a trip to Hawaii, which included a dinner stop in San Francisco en route).

  The day I received the acceptance letter, my college friends asked me, "So, where's Wisconsin?"

  I was asking myself the very same question!

  

  So that night we got out an atlas and looked it up. No kidding. (In 1981 the internet did not exist as we now know it, i.e.-there was no Google, no Wikipedia, and so on, all of which we take for granted today.)

  Late that summer I packed up my Chevette and hooked up a small U-Haul trailer (which didn't help the car's transmission in the long term!) and drove to Wisconsin along with a high school friend, who'd come along to keep me company. We battled valiantly through the Chicago traffic (whew!) and arrived unscathed in Madison.

  I ended up with a desk in an office on the fourth floor of  the Psychology building. Little did I know God was going to work through one of my office mates to change my life.

  I'd been raised in the church, with religion, but I knew nothing of a personal relationship with God through Christ. And I had all but discarded any remnants of religion years before, only making token visits to church on Christmas and Easter, if that.

  On the other hand, there was a fellow in my office, Paul––well, here's the thing about Paul: he had a Bible on his desk and he spoke about his faith, something people in our family rarely did. He was one of those, um, born-again Christians.

  Despite this huge difference, we did have one thing in common: we both liked playing video games together at the Union (again, this is after Pong but before Super Mario Brothers, Playstation, PSP and so forth). Some of our favorites were Tempest, Centipede and Joust.

  As time went on, I found myself attracted to Paul, but didn't quite know why, especially since we were quite different in many ways, particularly regarding our religious beliefs. His life was centered on Christ and and mine wasn't.

  The school year was over. Summer came and then the end of that summer rolled around, at which time we received our TA assignments for the fall semester. It so "happened" Paul and I were assigned to TA the same class together. I was pretty happy about this since I did like Paul and had found myself liking him even more.

  Since we were TA-ing the same class, Paul and I did end up spending a lot of time together, particularly since I had absolutely no idea what I was doing because I'd never taken a class like it! So he was a huge help (that's an understatement) in showing me the ropes. We also spent many an hour grading lab reports well into the wee hours of the night at the 24-hour Perkins.

  In the meantime, Paul's life and words were a witness to the person and power of Jesus Christ. One thing I found extremely attractive was that Paul had a peace about him I did not have, which came from his relationship with the Lord.

  I had tried men, partying and academics–and it had all come up empty.

  And a big reason I had begun to see it was empty was because I was now far away from family and friends, many of whom were almost 1000 miles away.

  And a big reason why I was now halfway across the country was because the economy was bad my senior year of college.

  When you're away from familiar people and places, when you're moved out of your comfort zone, when you're in the wilderness, so to speak, all your props are pulled out from under you. Everything begins to get stripped away. And it's during those times you often begin to question things. You begin asking yourself some serious questions, questions you seemed to manage to avoid prior to that time, but questions you need to be asking, such as: What is life all about? Why am I here? What really matters in life? Those times are prime opportunities for God to work to get your attention when you've been oblivious to Him or apathetic about Him.

  And that's exactly what He was doing in my life at that time.

  It'd come to the point where I was seeking peace and could not find it. I was seeking satisfaction and had not found it in any worldly pursuits or earthly things.

  So here I was in Wisconsin. And now I not only liked Paul, but I found myself wanting to marry him, which made absolutely no sense at all to me since we were so very different in so many ways, particularly the religion thing. Oh yes, and I didn't really even know him that well.

  One night that fall as I was riding in a car on a long trip with a group of friends, I had a lot of time to think. It was a clear night and the moon was full. I looked out the car window up at the moon and prayed to God, though I knew Him not at that time, "I like him. I want to marry Paul. If You are real, make this clear to me. I don't understand this. Are You real? If You're really there..." I can't remember exactly all I said then.

  All I know is that Jesus does not turn away any soul which comes to Him.

  Soon after that came "the talk." (All you singles out there, please pay attention!) By "the talk," I mean the talk every Christian absolutely must have if he or she is attracted to a unbeliever, for this was the very position in which Paul now found himself. Not only was I attracted to him, but he to me. He came to my apartment and told me he was a Christian and I wasn't, so that was a major problem. That that just wouldn't work. That he couldn't date or marry an unbeliever. He continued on...

  The "funny" thing about all this was prior to "the talk," I'd gone out and bought a Bible. I told Paul my plan was to read it and see if it were true...and to find out was up with this Christianity thing. I figured that might take a year or so. I didn't really know. All I knew is that from what I had seen there seemed something to it. I knew there was something that Paul had that I wanted. Something he had that I needed. He had a peace I didn't have. He had a sense of direction I didn't have.

  Well, it didn't take a year. Within a week, God spoke to my heart to show me He was what I was missing. He was all I needed. He was the satisfaction I was looking for, which was why all my other pursuits but had come up empty.

  Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find...
  (Charles Wesley)

  Paul had given me some Christian magazines to read and some albums to listen to. One of the albums (no CD's then) was Amy Grant's "Age to Age," which included the song "Got To Let It Go."

  Lord, here's my heart, I've been keepin' it from you
  And I've got to let it go
  Holdin' on just brings me worry
  Got to let it go
  Come and take it from me, hurry
  Got to let it go
  Got to let it go
  Got to give up all of my control

  I liked the album and had listened to the song several times. But then one night after midnight I found myself listening to the song and crying. That was what I needed to do: I needed to let my heart go to God. God was the One I had been looking for in all my pursuits, but I didn't know it. All my pursuits were leaving me empty and without any peace. That's what St. Augustine was talking about when he said our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Him.

  Because of the move away from family and friends, I became aware of that restlessness. God brought me to rest in Him because of the bad economic times, because I wasn't able to get a job, because I had to opt for Plan B and apply to graduate schools, because I was only accepted at one school, because things didn't go according to my plan. God had a different plan. He was orchestrating and working through all those circumstances so I might see my need of Him and seek after Him and find my rest in Him just as Paul describes in Acts 17:

  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for In him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your own poets have said, For we are indeed his offspring.

  God determines where we live so we should seek Him. That's exactly what He was doing in 1981 in my life as He arranged and ordained circumstances so I might end up in Madison, in that particular office with Paul, where I should seek after Him, feel my way toward Him and find Him.

  In 1981, yes, I moved from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin (or should I say He moved me), but the following year there was an eternal move: God transferred my soul from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of His Son. I was dead but He made me alive together with Christ.

  (And in case you're wondering about what happened with Paul and me...we did end up marrying not long after I was saved, and we will soon be celebrating our 26th anniversary.)

  So, when you're looking at today's bad economy, or at any event that has happened or is happening in your life today, when you're seeing things aren't going according to your plan, remember God is still at work and He is still in control. Nothing takes God by surprise. He is working all things according to His good purposes and plans.  He is still reigning as the sovereign King. Of the increase of His government there will be no end. Regardless of what we may see, He is working all things, even bad things, for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And the amazing and mysterious thing is He was doing that for me even before I knew Him because He already foreknew me.

  No matter how dark and bleak and discouraging your current circumstances may be, you can trust that the Spirit of the omniscient and omnipotent God is still hovering and moving just as He was at the beginning of the creation:

  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

  

  Our God is the God who walks through the bad economy with us. We have a God who goes with us through the waters and rivers, through the fire, through the storm on the sea. Look away from the bad economy...look away from the waters...look away from the fire...look away from the storm...Look away to Jesus, for He is walking with you and standing with you in the midst of your current storm, whatever it might be. God works through both the good and the bad to accomplish His sovereign will.

  
  Our God is the God who summoned a famine on the land

  God has a plan for His chosen people and absolutely nothing will keep it from coming to pass. We don't understand it, but brothers and sisters, we have a God who summons famines (and bad economies) to accomplish each and every one of His glorious promises for those He's redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.

  In Psalm 105 we can read about the Lord God's continuing faithfulness to His own children.

  Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
  his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
  6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
  children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
  7 He is the Lord our God;
  his judgments are in all the earth.
  8 He remembers his covenant forever,
  the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
  9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
  his sworn promise to Isaac,
  10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
  to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
  11 saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan
  as your portion for an inheritance.
  12 When they were few in number,
  of little account, and sojourners in it,
  13 wandering from nation to nation,
  from one kingdom to another people,
  14 he allowed no one to oppress them;
  he rebuked kings on their account,
  15 saying, Touch not my anointed ones,
  do my prophets no harm!
  16 When he summoned a famine on the land
  and broke all supply of bread,
  17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
  Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
  18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
  his neck was put in a collar of iron;
  19 until what he had said came to pass,
  the word of the Lord tested him.
  20 The king sent and released him;
  the ruler of the peoples set him free;
  21 he made him lord of his house
  and ruler of all his possessions,
  22 to bind his princes at his pleasure
  and to teach his elders wisdom.
  23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
  Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
  24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful
  and made them stronger than their foes.
  

  Can we not rejoice at God's continuing covenant faithfulness to the nation of Israel?

  But in the midst of His faithfulness, did you happen to notice verses 16-19?

  When he summoned a famine on the land
  and broke all supply of bread,
  17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
  Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
  18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
  his neck was put in a collar of iron;
  19 until what he had said came to pass,
  the word of the Lord tested him.

  Brothers and sisters, our theology simply must allow for our God to be a God who summons famine on the land and breaks all supply of bread.[1] Of course, our finite minds can't really understand that.

  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34
  For who has known the mind of the Lord,
  or who has been his counselor?
  35 Or who has given a gift to him
  that he might be repaid?
  Romans 11:33-35.

  God is God and we are not. God's ways are higher than our ways, and, to be blunt, we are not going to understand His ways all the time. One thing we don't understand is that God's plan for His people involves suffering, things like famine and bad economies. We don't like that.

  But Peter reminds us that God allows His children to undergo such trials only "if necessary."

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:3-9.
  

  
  There is a specific purpose in God allowing trials in the lives of His children. Notice the phrase "if necessary" in verse 6. God doesn't indiscriminately and haphazardly pull a name out of hat and say, "Oh, boy, I think it's time for Karen to have a trial today." No, God has a particular purpose in the trials He permits and ordains for us: so our faith might be tested and purified so it might bring Him praise, glory and honor. They all come to us through His sovereign hands, the hands that were pierced with nails for us. The trials may grieve us, but we are still God's children. His love for us is certain. He is still guarding us. He is keeping our inheritance for us. Jesus Christ, our hope and anchor, stands sure and steadfast.

  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain...Hebrews 6:19.

  We must confess that we don't always know what God is doing but there are things we can know and be certain of even when we don't understand. We can be sure that nothing can ever separate us from God's love for us which is in Christ Jesus. We can know without a doubt that God is continuing to work all things for good for us, even though it may not look like it to the naked eye.

  Yet, that said, most of us don't like the prospect of famine...

  We don't understand why God summons famine. We don't know why God summons bad economies...

  But we do know He still reigns in famine and in the bad economy.

  And we do know God is continuing to work out all His glorious purposes for His children, even in famine, even in a bad economy.

  And we do know nothing can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus, not even famine, not even a bad economy.

  As children of God we are not exempt from famine, from bad economies and the like...If you're hearing that, you're hearing a sugarcoated false gospel.

  As we undergo trials and experience perplexing circumstances, we need to go back to Him and to His Word for comfort today, so we might continue to walk by faith and look ahead with certain hope to the glory awaits us.

  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25.

  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:16-18.

  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:17-18.
  

  May God give us grace to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what our circumstances–good economy or bad, calm weather or storms, plenty or want. That is the lesson Paul learned and the lesson we also must learn:

  I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11b-13.

  Let us remember that God's covenant with us is sure and steadfast no matter what is happening to us, no matter how bad the economy, no matter how violent the storm–because Jesus Christ is our surety, our guarantor, come what may. All God's promises in Christ are yes and Amen.

  He is the Lord our God;
  his judgments are in all the earth.
  8 He remembers his covenant forever,
  the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
  9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
  his sworn promise to Isaac,
  Psalm 105:7-9.
  
  Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:7-9
  
  On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
  
  The Lord has sworn
  and will not change his mind,
  You are a priest forever.
  
  22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:18-28.

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:3-9.
  

  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5:10-11.

  
  

  ---

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Lyrics are subject to US Copyright Laws and are the property of their respective authors, artists and labels. Commercial use prohibited.

  [1] Please see John Piper's messages on Ruth: Sweet and Bitter Providence here and here.

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