1. We are incapable of knowing the mind of God.
2. We know God's compassion.
Why does God allow people to die, even people who God loves? In my work with hospice I encounter people who struggle with this on some level, everyday. Those who are aware of and watch their loved ones move toward death struggle greatly with God's mind in it all. After all, they know that the person they love who seems to be near death is a saint. They have touched so many lives and done so many wonderful things for others that their presence on earth is sorely needed, especially in the life of those struggling with their impending death. "Maybe it's our faith that is the problem. Maybe if we pray more and rightly God will answer our prayers. Yes, that must be it. If we call on the Lord in earnest faith and feel the presence of the Lord in our moment of devotion, then surely Lazarus will not die. If God is present, there life is and that will surely heal him. We are people of faith after-all, and God does answer prayer. We should never give up on God. We must believe that God will heal him/her." The only problem with this thinking is that, Lazarus died again. He was raised but is not still walking on earth today. He eventually died. Death is a part of life, either life with God or life apart from God, with all who God loves, whether they love God or do not love God. Death happens. When the person does die, then one who believes this way is faced with either: a. my faith was not strong enough, or b. God is perhaps not as loving or available as I believed, or does not act like I think God would act.
How can such as loving God allow this to happen? It happens. It is a part of life. Since before the story of the fall and consequences for it, we have struggled with why life is finite and difficult, and why we must suffer all manner of pain in life, and eventually the loss of it. Yes, most of us believe that God could intervene and change this, and why God does not ultimately eludes us. That may be an expression of our belief in God's omnipotence or an expression of our expectations out of a sense of entitlement for believing in God. Still, most of us believe that God is loving. So, when Jesus gives the purpose of Lazarus' death as a lesson for others in God's presence and power, some take it to mean that it points to the even greater glory of life eternal in heaven, which leads some of them to think that we are not supposed to grieve the loss of this mundane, earthly life but rather celebrate the new, eternal life in heaven as believers. "If we are really believers, we will believe that what our loved one has now is so wonderful that we should not grieve at all, and in fact, grieving is a sign of a lack of faith in eternal life as a promise of God." The only problem with this thinking is that, even saying that He knew the purpose of Lazarus' death was in his being raised and glorifying God in it, still Jesus wept, at the very least for those who were grieving. God in the flesh wept for someone who was grieving. The empathy and compassion of God for lowly humanity is shown in this emotional offering, yet again. We grieve, not for the person who died, but that we have lost their presence with us. When others support us in our grief or we support them, we are sharing what is meant to be shared - empathy and compassion.
We are incapable of knowing the mind of God. Books are full of people who believe otherwise, but God is "immanent but wholly other". God is not limited to our logic or reasoning, our prejudices or biases, our compassions or complacency, our love or apathy and our values or ideologies. God is God. We are not God and are incapable of knowing the mind of God. We learn, we strive and we grow. It is in the process of having God revealed to us, even in our struggles to "get a handle on" God that means growth for us. It is in the seeking that we find more than we knew before, even in our frustration at not fully knowing, that brings us to a new place in our spirituality and humanity. It is in the baffled not knowing that we eventually know more, if we continue to strive. And that is life with God. It is enough, even more than enough.
Even in the struggle, frustration and bafflement, we strive believing in God's compassion for us, and that is enough. It is that which unbinds us and sets us free, even in death. It is the love of God that makes it all possible. The love we know. The compassion we know. The mercy and grace we know. That is what gives us new life, ultimately, even in death or especially in death. Life in this part of God's Kingdom or life in that part of God's Kingdom - it is the Love, Grace and Mercy, the compassion of God that transcends the great chasm - it is that within which we ALL live, whether in this part or that part of the Kingdom. That revelation of God is certain, even while we struggle with the mind of God.
Pastor Jamie
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