God’s Work
I subscribe to an email daily joke on Quora (I don’t even know what that platform is or is for). Some days they are worth reading, other days not so much. Anyway, here is today’s “joke” …
It’s flooding down on the Bayou and everyone is scrambling….
One man climbs to the roof of his house. And waits for help.
About come by, and asked if he wants to be carried to safety.
He say “No the Lord will save me.”
Another boat come by and asked the same question.
He relies, no the Lord will save me.”
Finally, he’s up by the chimney and the water is still rising.
A helicopter hovers above him and asks if he needs help.
He say “No, the Lord will save me.
He drowns and meets god in heaven and asks “lord, why didn’t you save me.”
“I sent two boats and a helicopter, what were you waiting for?”
I would describe this not as a joke but more along the lines of an allegory or a story with a meaning. My interpretation of the implicit meaning is that God answers prayers but not necessary in the way we think they should be answered and using other people as part of his sovereign plan.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” - Philippians 2:12-18 ESV
To complicate how God works his plan for the universe, we were talking about this passage in a Bible study just a few days ago.
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”- Hebrews 13:1-2
I wouldn’t begin to say that I have an understanding or even a good idea of how God works his sovereign plan for the universe. However, one thing I’m sure of is that he works through us and we need to be good stewards of the resources God has made available to us.
Just like the man in the allegory, we need to realize that we may have to reach out to grab God’s planned hand to save ourselves or maybe to be the hand reaching out to someone else to save them.
