When things go really wrong, who do you call? Ghost busters? The “good hands” people? God?
My teenage son and his friend, Rico, found themselves in a situation.
I’ll let Rico tell it: “Dillon and I were at the market buying some burritos and stuff because we were hungry. I was wearing a red T-shirt
and Dillon was wearing a red hat. Some guys came up to us. It seemed like they wanted to fight. They asked us, ‘What do you claim? WHAT DO YOU CLAIM?’ Dillon said, ‘Jesus. We claim Jesus.’ The guy said, ‘What the h—?’ Just then my two brothers showed up. The guys went away and left us alone.”
At this point, I will re-phrase the question. Instead of “Who do you call?” I’ll ask you “Who do you bring to the fight?”
Yesterday, I was doing errands and to enter one local establishment I walked around a group of four young boys. The oldest was probably 14 years old. It was immediately clear they were challenging each other. Two against two. They exchanged the same taunt back and forth.
It went something like, “Oh yeah? I’m going to bring… “and they would give a name. They were posturing regarding the strength they could bring to a fight. They were bragging about their strength based on who they were connected to.
In his book, “Angels, God’s Secret Agents,” the Rev. Billy Graham tells the story of a woman missionary in China who brought God to the fight. She had that connection. Her name was “Miss Monsen.” Her mission compound sheltered hundreds of women and children.
One night bandits surrounded the compound intending to break down the gates and loot whatever they found. It was a scary time.
The missionary was up all night praying and encouraging others to pray and trust God. Graham reports, “Though fearful things happened all around, the bandits left the mission compound untouched.
“In the morning, people from three different neighborhood families asked Miss Monsen, ‘Who were those four people, three sitting and one standing, quietly watching from the top of your house all night long?’ When she told them that no one had been on the housetop, they refused to believe her, saying, ‘We saw them with our own eyes!’ She then told them that God still sent angels to guard his children in their hour of danger.” (pp. 168-169, Doubleday & Co., 1975)
God takes care of his children. And he’s not limited. Consider Daniel’s experience. Daniel’s story is an old one, but still good.
Daniel was a member of the king’s staff. He performed his duties so exceptionally, the king was considering making him the number one man. Everyone, except the king, would be under Daniel. Of course, the other
king’s men did not like this. They were probably jealous. They plotted to get rid of Daniel. Because they couldn’t find anything wrong with his governing, they figured the only way to get him was if praying to God was illegal. Daniel loved and trusted in God. He prayed three times a day.
They made it happen. The plotting men tricked the king into writing a law that people could only revere the king; they could not pray to God. If someone was found praying to God, they’d have to be thrown into the lions’ pit.
The law was made. Daniel prayed. The men accused him. The king couldn’t excuse him. Daniel ended up surrounded by hungry lions. All night. I have never been in such danger, but if I ever was, I know who I’d be praying to!
In the morning, the king anxiously returned to the lions’ pit to see if Daniel’s God had protected him. Definitely. Daniel reported, “…My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me.”
God is not limited. He can save us wherever we are, even in the bottom of a pit. Death can be surrounding us, staring us in the face. We can survive it. God is that good.
Those who opposed Daniel did not fare as well. After the king pulled Daniel out of the pit, he threw Daniel’s enemies into the pit. In Daniel, the sixth chapter, it says, “And before they reached the floor
of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”
That’s gruesome, but it does underline the importance of knowing who to call on when things go really wrong.
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