This week’s Truth Keepers for Truth Seekers column is about God’s plan for us and that you are a problem solver, not a problem maker.
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You remember where we left off last week? Hopefully it has made you ponder and decide to step out and do what you can do. Even if it seems a seemingly small deed of trying to change things around and make it better that day for some people. Like organising a sports game for some young people who are just wandering around, being bored because no one tunes into them. Or doing a simple science experiment with your child and their friend. Or maybe just giving some fruits of your tree to a family that have none and making them happy.
Or expressing that word of gratitude to those who did something kind for you! Giving a smile to someone who looked a bit grumpy!
Throughout your day there will be so many opportunities to make a little change for someone or more.
Step one is to believe that God has already set up those opportunities for us, called “His big set ups”. Everything is in place but we miss them if we do not look for them or do not expect that or think that things happen “randomly” or by “accident”. They did not and if you happen to become aware or even think back, there were probably moments that you wondered how that could have happened. Or how you bumped into someone you just thought about that needed your encouragement that day or that encouraged you. Step two is to decide: “I will be someone’s light, someone’s hero” and in the process happiness will find you. You can make it a daily habit to do just one nice thing that day for someone else and soon you will want to do more and more because you see the joy it brought you.
A worthwhile documentary to watch is from Tim Ballard who rescued so many children that were trafficked worldwide. (The documentary was made, before the movie “Sound of Freedom”) In one of his documentaries, he films a little brother and sister. In this “institute” (the outside might not be what you think- Tim knew but was on a mission) the little girl would get things at times from visitors but before evening she had already shared it with her little brother or given it away. Why? Because every time the joy she received from giving was greater than the item itself.
A little child in difficult circumstances had discovered the secret. The God given grace and joy of giving, even in dark circumstances.
Contrast that with the last part of the text from our previous column. (Romans 1)
20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification]
21 Because when they knew and recognised Him as God, they did not honour and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
We follow it up today with:
23 And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],
25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it).
Do people realise the exchange they made when they worship something else then the immortal eternal God? When self becomes no 1, when lies replace eternal truths, they can go the way of worshiping something that brings them deeper and deeper into a life they do not want. But although God’s fingerprints (like sunsets, rainbows, magnificent mountains) are everywhere, if we open our spiritual eyes, we can choose His truths and joy!
Everyone enjoys the beautiful sunsets you can see almost every night here in this land. Or the beautiful painted sky after some rain. Or a few weeks ago the “eye” around the sun in the middle of the day. But who acknowledges the One behind that? Is it just science? Or did Someone think about how to put them together? Just like behind your watch and mobile was a thinking being, who knew how to put it together, there was an intelligent being behind Creation.
Behind that sunset and rainbow is a God, an immortal intelligent being, painting the sky again and again - for you and me. To let us know, He cares even if we do not!
Like mentioned before in that beautiful text, in Psalm 139:16 -16 You (God) saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your (God’s) book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
But if we exchange God’s truth with lies and serve other things, it should bring a shiver down your spine of what is next. If you truly know deep in your heart, God is real, and you are supposed to follow His rule book for your own good, but therefore also for those around you, you start looking for real truth. For those opportunities to work with God’s big set ups instead of against them. You declare boldly with God!! Yes! He knows the plans He has for me” Plans for good and not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope. A future of truth and a hope that becomes reality and not stays a hope! And therefore I am the problem solver, not the problem maker.
If you are still with us, next week’s column might be freedom for you but yet others might take big offence. However, true love will speak truth, even when it hurts. And remember, we have lots of help to choose to think clear and clean, say whole some and truthful words at the right time, and do the right thing to change wherever we are in a bit more like heaven.
Be a problem solver this week.
It is up to you.
Blessings
Akhrienuo