The Bubble Gum Machine
by Rev Wilbur Witt
We are tested in many ways. We can be ashes, or fine gold. It’s all up to us. God does not bring evil. He gives us the ability to cope. He gives us knowledge and faith. Not foolishness! Like the man trapped on a roof during a flood who turned away three attempts to save him waiting on The Lord. After his folly he met The Lord.
Sometimes the events are indescribable. Six million Jewish people. Wars and rumors of wars, and broken governments existing only to line the pockets with the people’s money. Or twenty-seven little ladies at a summer camp. All gone. In our grief we have to blame someone.
Despite his intense questioning, Job expresses a profound conviction that, even if God were to "slay" him, he would still trust Him.
For what other choice do we have? Bad things happen to good people, but good things happen to bad people. And The Lord said, “It is what it is!” Well, I don’t think He said it exactly like that, but words to that effect.
What it comes down to is putting words on God’s mouth. Joseph Smith put a whole book in God’s mouth. Jesus just quoted scripture. The biggest miracle is freedom of choice. No! Think about it. Consider the possibility of God making a creature that can actually think for himself. “But,” you may ask, “If God is all knowing, doesn’t He know all outcomes!”
The "union of God and man" is a concept found in Christianity, most prominently referring to the hypostatic union, where the divine and human natures are united in the one person of Jesus Christ without mixing or confusion.
When Jesus came down he assumed a mortal body. All the trials and tribulations without resorting to calling legions of angels, even at His crucifixion. He wanted to experience what we experienced. That way no one could say to him, “You don’t know.” And He capped it off with, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The words of mortals down through the ages.
But God did not forsake us. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” He put man in charge! And then stood back to see what man would do. And man did “man” things. Mostly to women with a few exceptions, but God watched His man. God wanted a partner, not an AI. A partner with a mind of his own, but filled with the blueprint of the universe. And God watched man take the blueprint and observed what he would build. But we ain’t there yet. Far from it.
The only thing man is good for is repeating mistakes. From Nero to Hitler man tries to get it right, and so far he never does. Man takes, “Be fruitful and multiply,” edits it, and comes up with, “If it feels good, do it!” It’s a good thing Goes has infinite patience.
So, when you wonder about the twenty-seven little girls, ask yourself. Who put them there? Who built a church camp on a banks of a river known to lose its temper on occasion? Yesterday I watched high school girls coming out of class at Central Texas College where they take classes for gifted students. Fine, beautiful teen Texans. All heading to the promise of a bright future. Oh sure, some will fail. Wrong boy, bad habits, we’ve all been there, but by and large one day they’ll walk down the aisle with their father on their right. A walk those little ladies of Camp Mystic will never take. They were chosen for another walk. And I will never completely understand, and my eyes will never dry until I see them again. Because Jesus is all that does make sense.
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