Recently, we watched as another great tragedy unfolded in a small community outside of San Antonio, Texas.
A crazed man went into a small church and killed 26 men, women, and even children. Who would have imagined you could go to church in the morning and such a tragic event would take place.
Many people will say, “Where is God?” “Why wouldn’t God stop this horrible event?”
To those who read the Bible and believe that God is the all-powerful God, there is no doubt that He certainly could have intervened in this situation.
Unfortunately, with regards to this event, and many other circumstances where people have asked where God is, He has not chosen to do so.
However, we can see where God, in His providence, intervened in human history when He sent His Son to reconcile mankind. The center point of the Gospel declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
This is an example of God intervening in the affairs of men, to rescue us and to fulfill His divine purpose. Yet, when we read the scriptures, we should understand that when God created man, He created us to have dominion over the works of His hands. This means that He has created us with certain responsibilities, including self-government…leaving many things in our hands.
As the details of the attack came to light, we learned of a heroic neighbor who heard the commotion and got his gun to fend off the intruder, in turn saving many lives.
This exemplifies an unselfish human response; he laid his life on the line for others.
While being interviewed, the man said he was not a hero because he was scared throughout the event.
We often think a hero is someone who is not human. In fact, a hero is a very human person willing to overcome human responses to fulfill an altruistic goal.
This is indeed the fulfillment of God’s goal for us, a willingness to overcome the human condition to live a step higher. This step higher takes us into the realm of life that God is calling us to.
Christianity is the call to live a life above what we can live under just our normal circumstances, to the life of extraordinary circumstances.
When we make this choice, God says He will be with us to help us. The Apostle Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
This should be the declaration of all Christians. We are not living in an ordinary time, so it will require us to do extraordinary things.
Let’s live about our natural inclinations!
This is quite different than the present philosophy of our time. Most of the call today is to bring expectations down to the human condition, rather than to take the human condition to a higher level.
This is promoted as the loving way, where we accept one another for who we are, rather than placing expectations on one another. Throughout human history, we have always understood the need to live above our natural inclinations.
Role modeling for fathers and mothers are a good example of this. Although there is a natural side to both paternal and maternal instincts, many of the actions require self-sacrifice to be fully accomplished.
This does not happen if we only think about what is convenient, or satisfying, for ourselves personally.
Therefore, we need support, as well as guiding encouragement, from others who will motivate us to the life we are called to live.
I have committed myself to the church, because I see the church as a vital and necessary support to live the good life. It is also the place to find the help we have need of, the help of Jesus Christ, who said, “Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
Will you join me in finding the best part of you, through a commitment to seeking Jesus Christ and His transformational power for your life? Let’s not settle for selfishness when Christ is calling us forth as heroes, to live selfless for the kingdom of God!
The Rev. Loren Covarrubias is pastor of Mt. Zion