One word that’s been bouncing around the back of my mind these days is uncertainty.
un·cer·tain
adjective
not able to be relied on; not known or definite
The future is always unknown, but it feels that way more now than ever. And even when times are good, even when a coronavirus isn’t wreaking havoc, troubling questions are still a reality of life, aren’t they?
Often, the answer is simply, “I don’t know.” We aren’t God, so we do not know the future (James 4:13-14).
However, in the midst of all this uncertainty, I simply want us to remind those of us in Christ of one truth that is certain: there are no question marks at the foot of the cross.
Our salvation is 100% settled.
The question of “Will I be saved?” has emphatically been answered by God Himself.
No matter what happens in the days and years ahead, that truth holds firm. Like a ship securely tethered to the ocean floor, we are forever anchored on God’s unchangeable promises.
When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul… (Hebrews 6:17-19).
Because, unlike other religions, Christianity says your salvation depends not on your efforts or what you are able to do, but on what God did.
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29
Again, that’s not to say we won’t grapple with plenty of troubling questions.
For instance: why does God allow so much suffering, including pandemics, in the first place?
I’ll be the first to admit — that’s a hard question. I don’t think there is a satisfying answer, at least on this side of eternity.
Yes, we know that much of the suffering in this world is not caused directly by the hand of God, but allowed by Him. He gives us freedom, and that freedom necessarily allows us to make bad decisions, which often hurt ourselves and others.
At the end of the day, when we ask “Why did God allow it?”, we should echo the words of Abraham, who asked God in Genesis 18:25: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” Like Abraham, we can trust that one day we’ll look back and understand the good that God brought out of seemingly senseless suffering. Our vantage point now is so limited; we only see as if looking at a dim mirror (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day God’s plan will be fully realised and everything will be restored and redeemed (Revelation 21:5).
In the meantime, remember: the most important question has been answered already. Christ has saved us. Heaven’s gates have been opened wide. God’s love triumphed over sin. We are not victims, but victors through Christ!
Oh death, where is your sting?
Oh grave, where is your victory?
“I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Garrett Haley is a native Texan and serves as a deacon at his local assembly in Lubbock, TX. He enjoys reading, writing blog posts, leading church discussion groups, and pondering life’s deep questions. Preaching on occasion and organising church get-togethers are a couple of his other favourite areas of service.
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