ALLOW GOD TO REVEAL HIS GLORY DURING ADVERSITY
A REASON FOR SEEKING GOD
Few things in human history will elicit an intense yearning and strong fascination than a discovery of a remedy when there are so many who have been sick. Large crowds of people will make every effort to get their hands on it. No matter what it takes. Out of desperation. This is the REASON why large crowds of people are so EAGER TO FOLLOW Jesus Christ wherever He went, even to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
JOHN 6:2
“And A LARGE CROWD WAS FOLLOWING HIM, BECAUSE THEY SAW THE SIGNS THAT HE WAS DOING ON THE SICK.
Why is this? Perhaps it is because whenever we become vulnerably weak and destitute, we are forced to fervently search for outside help. Helplessness and humiliation make us humble enough to accept the failure of absolute self-dependency. When that happens, we are given the marvelous opportunity to appreciate and experience God’s glory. God’s solution to every desperate human condition is always a SIGN. They always point to God’s awesome ability.
MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS
In the economy of God, the most glorious moments of our lives are not when we are satisfied with having everything we need, but in those times when we are brought down to our knees because of OUR OWN INADEQUACY. This is when His precious GRACE prevails over our lives. The Apostle Paul was suffering hard when he asked God for an intervention. He shared to us what God has revealed to him instead:
“But he said to me, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Interestingly, John relates this event in John 6 with the celebration of PASSOVER. Passover reminds them of that period when they were saved from slavery NOT BY THEIR OWN WORKS BUT BY GOD’S GRACE through the death of innocent lambs. Israel then entered the wilderness where they were ENTIRELY DEPENDENT UPON GOD. In the desert it was different. There was extreme temperature (from 60 to 70 degrees Celsius) in the daytime. There were no shops in which to buy food. Venomous serpents and formidable enemies abound. Above all, there was no water, and without water a man cannot survive. But they survived that difficult journey for many years because GOD GRACIOUSLY AND MIRACULOUSLY PROVIDED FOR EVERY NEED. He was revealing to His people that He is the ALMIGHTY GOD who will always be dependable for those who trust Him. The multitudes that Jesus healed and the events surrounding the Passover are acute reminders of THE FAILURE AND DEFICIENCY OF HUMAN RESOURCES. But it is also a beautiful stage for the GLORY of GOD’S POWER AND ABOUNDING GRACE.
A TEST FOR ALL
When humanity suffers a crisis that frustrates his capabilities and intelligence, he comes to a crossroad that forces him to choose how he will perceive and receive it. Will he continue the path of self-dependence and try his best to find solutions? Or will he become humble enough to recognize his weakness and turn to God with trustful dependence so that God can reveal what He is capable of? I believe, this is one reason why God allowed a pandemic. It is to unveil our human inadequacy so that WE COME TO HIM IN FAITH and DEPENDENCE. If we do, He reveals His glory, but if we do not, and still trust our sufficiency, we remain in our folly. That is why for everyone, it is a TEST.
1 PETER 4:12-13
“Beloved, DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY TRIAL WHEN IT COMES UPON YOU TO TEST YOU, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad WHEN HIS GLORY IS REVEALED.
May our days of affliction become a time for God’s revelation. And our days of weakness expose us to God’s greatness.
In everything we do, we give Him glory.