"[Ahaz, King of Judah,] burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites." - 2 Chronicles 28:3
My children laugh at me. Sometimes I'll stare at something in disbelief as if my stare is going to change the reality. Kinda like a McDonald's that doesn't have a caramel sundae on the menu, of which there are many such McDonald's in Birmingham, AL.
Only worse. Much worse.
I read the words in today's Daily Bible verses "[Ahaz] sacrificed his children in the fire," and I almost need to read it twice.
Or stare at it in disbelief as if my stare is going to change the reality.
But, it happens. Earthly parents do unspeakable things to their children everyday. And I'm not just talking about Saddam Hussein who, for these and countless other unspeakable deeds, was himself executed on December 30, 2006.
Just yesterday, I was with a family who still tastes the sorrow of things their mother did years ago. Moreover, we all know way too many children who have seen their mother or father's backside, walking away from them, as the abandoning parent chose some other lifestyle or relationship over their own children. I'm not talking about making a loving decision to put your infant child up for adoption. I'm talking about abandonment.
I read an article the other day that said that the abandonment of children has become more prevalent than the abuse of children as the primary social problem in many regions of the world. Sadly, that's probably very old news.
Maybe if we all stare at it in disbelief long enough our collective stare will change the reality.
It won't.
Man, oh man, this is depressing.
It's a good thing that life in a broken, fallen, sinful world doesn't have the final word. It's a good thing that neither Ahaz, King of Judah, nor any other painful, relational reality has the final word.
God does.
The Lord of Life, the King of all Creation, the Master of the Universe, who stared death and the devil in the eye and raised Jesus from the dead as a foretaste that, for all who believe, the one true God has the final word. And the final word of the Lord of Life is a word of Life.
Like the final word that the Lord of Life spoke through Isaiah to those touched by unspeakable sorrow. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15)
Did you hear that "God will not forget you!" Though the world and even close relatives may have abandoned or forgotten you, "God will not forget you!"
And you can stare at God's words all day long, but it isn't going to change the reality.
You are loved, cherished, and remembered by the one, true, almighty and merciful God, who is with you and serves you everyday, through, His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So God be with you, and have a great day!
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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