May 23: Of Atheists of Good Will

2 Samuel 2:12-3:39

John 13:1-30

Psalm 119:1-16

Proverbs 15:29-30

A Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias, died last week.  Perhaps maybe more appropriate, Ravi Zacharias, a Christian apologist expat on temporary assignment away from home, was recalled to headquarters permanently last week.  I'd watched a few snippets of him on YouTube, but when I heard of his death I was led to start reading his work.  

One of his books is called "The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists", written in response to atheist Sam Harris's book "The End of Faith".  Ravi wrote it to "tell young men and women - all who ask the hard questions about the meaning of life - that atheism is bankrupt for answers". I'm only partway into the book, but I already recommend it.  

One of the points Ravi addresses is the atheist's assertion the reality of evil means there is no god.  As young a Christian as I am, I've already gotten this a lot from people I've spoken to about our Lord.  They are, by and large, good, loving people who struggle to reconcile the concept of an all powerful, loving God with the existence of suffering.  If He is all powerful, then suffering must exist at His behest.  And if He is all loving, then why would He permit suffering?

Ravi's four page response is a weighty meal of word and thought, brilliantly prepared and needing much more thought and reflection to even begin to properly savor and digest than I have been able to muster.  I will keep trying, but for now I find my answer in today's readings.  

What Judas did was evil, unfathomably so.  Evil not on the order of 6 million Jews or all 85 million people killed during World War 2. No, Judas's evil was far, far greater.  He caused the death of God. 

And yet, interestingly, the God who most certainly could have stopped it - DIDN'T.  In today's reading, we see Jesus actually prod Judas on: "What you are about to do, do quickly." Jesus could have prevented His own excruciating suffering and death - but He CHOSE NOT TO.  He permitted the evil to take place - AT HIS BEHEST.  

Let's think about this for a second, and remember we have the benefit of hindsight.  WE KNOW why Jesus permitted this - so that He might win the single greatest victory ever, over sin, make atonement we could not make, and restore us to relationship with God.  This was the greatest good God called forth from what, to the disciples as the time, had to have been the most unthinkable betrayal, unfathomable sin.  Perhaps when we are tempted to doubt God when bad things we don't understand happen, that we might remember the disciples were there too.  And their faith was rewarded.

Father we pray for everyone - ourselves included - who struggle to fit your infinite wisdom into our limited perspective.  Rather than demand circumstances conform to our wishes, help us to humble ourselves and acknowledge that Your ways are above ours, Your thoughts are above ours.  And remind us You are in control, even amidst tragedy we cannot understand.