First, let me make some qualifying statements. 1. I
believe God loves his creation and has its best interest in mind.
2. I believe that God can work miracles when it comes to protecting His
people. I have experienced this protection myself when on the mission
field. 3. If it is God’s will that no harm come to you, it
won’t happen. Also, if something were to happen, God was not surprised by
it and will use it for the good of those who love God and are called according
to His purpose.
Still, I think it is presumptuous to believe that God
will always protect us from harm. To believe that, since
God wants me to do something I will be protected, is short sighted. Also,
when stacked against history, it is wrong.
How many Christians in the armed forces have been wounded,
maimed or killed? What about people called to the mission field?
You can read the bible and see people who do the will of God don’t
have a life of ease and prosperity. Quite often, they pay with their lives.
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs documents people who paid the price for their
faith.
The bottom line needs to be this: God’s purposes
are more important than any individual. He wants the gospel shared with
all nations and all people. I do believe in praying and asking for safety
for our loved ones in all things. I also believe it good to trust God
will provide safety, even providential safety. However, in the times He
elects not to provide such a blessing, we must be prepared to say as Job said
after Satan gave him his worst, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh
away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Lord, please don’t let me have to say such a thing.
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