Boxes

I like boxes. 

Boxes are great. I especially like the ones that are very sturdy, because I have lots of teacher stuff that needs a safe place. Sturdy boxes are useful for canned goods and tools and breakables. Very functional!

I like pretty boxes, too. They are nice for saving letters and keepsakes, like a collection of shells or crystal rocks. There is an air of promise or mystery about a pretty box, too. One design might boast, “I hold costume jewelry,” while another might whisper, “Here are letters from your lover.”

Mailing boxes are good. Sometimes I send fun things to the grands for holidays or just for no reason. Boxes–most of the time–keep stuff together in the mail. 

Definitely, our world is better because of boxes …

Some of the tme!

Unfortunately, sometimes we construct “me-shaped” boxes, and we try to make things fit inside that should not be–like God.

A Me-Shaped Box

I have heard an awful lot lately from people who disagree with God:

          If He were really God, He would stop these storms.

          If He were really God, He would stop these wars.

          If He were really God, He would promote this candidate or that candidate.

          An act of God? That’s not very loving! 

          If that’s what serving God is all about, I don’t want any part of it.

It is a dangerous choice to believe that we stand in judgment of Him. And some people are pretty passionate about it.

What about these?

• Original sin? You mean holding people guilty for things over which they have no control. How is that remotely just?
• What did Satan do? He stood up for himself. He said he wasn’t going to give in to God’s demand to be worshiped. How is that a crime?
• What happens to the billions of people who never even hear of your path to salvation? How is sending them to hell for all eternity merciful or just when they have no choice in the matter?

It’s easy to reach wrong conclusions when you don’t know Him.

Truth is …

God the Father could have created little god-shaped boxes and wrapped us all up nice and neat, stacked us on the shelves of heaven, and been done. It would have been much tidier.

Instead, He opted for no box for me, no box for you, no box for anyone created in His image and likeness. He made us supple and lithe and mutable–and He loves us that way, unstackable as we may be.

Whether I like it or not

His decisions are not governed by my understanding of things. His direction of the universe is not swayed by my opinion. His words are not shaken because I think they are unfair or even unkind. My perception of all things is observed through a glass, darkly.

This is the way it is, and I have found no better explanation:

Psalm 115

1 Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in heaven;
    he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    eyes, but cannot see.

6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.

10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.

11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—
    he is their help and shield.

12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
    He will bless his people Israel,
    he will bless the house of Aaron,

13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
    small and great alike.

14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,
    both you and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
    but the earth he has given to mankind.

17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
    those who go down to the place of silence;

18 it is we who extol the Lord,
    both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord.

Yes, I like boxes and they are very useful, but I will not attempt to make God fit into one. If He did, well, He wouldn’t be God!

God bless you! I pray you feel how precious you are to Him!