An opinion piece appeared in the news this week entitled "Why is school prayer only allowed during tragedies?" I will not rehearse the article here, but I will say that in the past few weeks, I have read about tragedy after tragedy, or one horrific crime after another, and God cannot be pleased with mankind, the crowning achievement of His creation.
When we as Bible-believers dare to mention God's wrath, or His judgment, or even openly talk about sin and the corruption of the world, we are seen as heartless, condemning, holier-than-thou people. Yet God's Word is pure, and true, and at all times sharper than a two edged sword (Heb. 4:12, understand when this was writen and you'll see the author meant there is nothing more powerful), able to pierce and judge thoughts and one's heart, cutting to the core of any issue.
In that light, I read Proverbs 1, this morning, and seriously wondered how close God is to this point with us, maybe our country, maybe the church, maybe society as a whole. I do not want to be overly dramatic, yet this passage made me shutter.
23 "Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30 They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
31 So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices."
God pleads with people to come to Him on His terms. He is there to hear the believer when trouble arises, which it will. He is also there to hear the praises of His people in good times. So, with all due respect to those affected by recent or any tragedies, we should indeed cry out to Him for help, but we should also not take Him for granted on less tragic days.
It is good that God is thought of as a source of help when tragedy strikes, and it is up to us to really explain to them who He is. We can echo the call of Wisdom in Proverbs 1, and we can pray, and pray hard, that people will finally listen to Him. God is very, very serious. I pray it is not too late.
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