Saturday, January 11, 2014

”an angel of the Lord standing” - Who Thinks of God More


Japan


Who Thinks of God More

There are people earning money, working, say, in a dangerous corner of Fukushima Daiichi.

And there are people earning money, working, say, in well-equipped and comfortable office in Tokyo.

Those who love money and riches in this world would not see differences between them except in that the former are fools and the latter are smarts.

But, when you are working physically and psychologically critical and unbearable condition, you might think about God more often than when you are working in a mighty and sophisticated building.

For example, people living in islands of ever lasting summer have never tried to find a way to God. A congenial climate and abundant foods promised and assured for centuries and more never lead people to God.  Likewise, it cannot be expected that a way to God is needed by people living and working in modern cities as middle-class or upper citizens or rich people, while enjoying gorgeous products of modern technology and refined services provided by well trained people.    

From the beginning materially blessed people have only one value system.  They simply center material and worldly success in their universe.  Being richer and being praised and respected by others for their material achievement are the most valuable thing for them.  They never mind how God sees them, though they are to die soon and face God in person.

Of course, American soldiers fighting in horrible condition in Afghanistan might think of God more often than those working in meticulously arranged offices in the US.  But we have not yet received a report that a saint-like American has emerged over his hard experiences in the War on Terror.

Of course, Muslims  fighting in horrible condition in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and so on might think of God more often than those working in meticulously arranged offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc.   But we have not yet received a report that a saint-like Muslim has emerged over his hard experiences in the decade-long tragedy of the Islamic world.

It must be also recalled that Christ Jesus appeared in ancient Israel before the Jewish-Roman War.  Of course, Israelis at the time fighting in horrible condition against the Roman Empire might have thought of God more often than those living, before the Jewish-Roman War, in Jerusalem and other regions in ancient Palestine in more peaceful condition.  But we have never heard that a saint who must have been as holy as Christ Jesus appeared through Israelis' wars against the Roman Empire which continued to the middle of the first century.      

Nonetheless, that must be the only effective timing for emergence of Christ Jesus.  If Christ Jesus had not come to the world or ancient Israel before the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent diaspora, it should have been extremely difficult for some Judaists at the time to follow Christ Jesus and have faith in Him.

So, historical necessity and fate seem to work more decisively than individual condition and a general situation of people in terms of development of relationship between God and people.

Having thought so, we may still expect that people undergoing hardship think about God or evil more deeply than lucky people.  They must be closer to God or Satan than happy people.  In this context, still we have to believe that God defeats Satan, so easily.    


But for example,
But under the constant threat of violence from the surrounding Muslim countries as well as the so-called “Palestinians” who hope to take the land in its entirety for themselves and aim to kill all the Jews in the process, this tiny nation, just 8000 square miles, is forced to be vigilant at all times in order to protect its people and mere existence.
http://chersonandmolschky.com/2013/12/04/israel-fight-muslim-violence/

Is it hardship enough to invoke angels of God?




*** *** *** ***


Luk 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luk 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.