Steve Massey: God is present in acts of compassion

Where is God in all of this?

When an earthquake kills thousands in Nepal; when Christians are martyred in Syria; when a brave public servant is gunned down in Coeur d’Alene … where is God?

I’ve heard the question several times in recent days in response to the randomness of tragedy in our world and in our community.

It’s a question well worth positing. And it’s a question that refuses pat answers and easy consolation.

When our hearts are heavy with grief, so is the heart of God.

This world that is too often violent, unjust, and indiscriminate is simply not the world God created. God created a perfect world and declared his creation of life and natural order to be “very good.” In a word: perfect.

God’s perfect world is spoiled by sin. Sin – people choosing their own ways against God’s perfect ways – has ruined not only human relationship with our creator but has terribly tarnished creation itself.

Even death, the Bible tells us, is the consequence of humanity’s first parents’ sinning against God. “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many.”

Because God is infinitely good, loving and patient, the consequences of sin that dominate headlines these days do not get the last word. The light of God’s hope and grace shines through this world’s present darkness.

Hope and grace shine brightly as people give selflessly of their time, money and energy to help those hurt by tragedy.

Where is God in all of this? He is present in the hands of those pulling earthquake victims from rubble. He is present in the feet of those who sacrificially go where needs are numerous and hard to reach. He is present in the hearts of those who go without materially so that others’ material needs can be met.

With each act of compassion, there is a sense in which God is saying, “It’s not always going to be this way. Sin and its consequences ultimately will be conquered. I am here.”

But this is just a whisper of far greater compassion.

Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God’s compassion. Jesus is God, who left heaven’s glory and came into this world as a man. He lived perfectly among imperfect people like us, showing us the true nature of God.

In Christ, we see that God is holy, just, loving, gracious, powerful, sovereign.

Jesus lived as a man and did what Earth’s first man and the rest of us failed to do – Jesus lived out God’s holiness. Incredibly, he then gave his life, dying on a cross, bearing the judgment that God’s justice demands for our sin.

On our behalf, Christ defeated sin’s ultimate consequence: spiritual death, eternal separation from God. And he offers to exchange his perfect life for ours. He allows us to accept the judgment he bore, though innocent, in place of the judgment we deserve from God.

The Christian’s hope is that this present darkness, however prevalent, is no match for the grace and power of God. One day, the Bible says, God will return this world to its intended perfection.

Until then, our creator is putting his love and patience on full display by allowing sinful people to turn to Christ as their savior before it is too late. “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Tragedy always begs the question: Where is God in all of this?

May God give us grace to share his compassion in the midst of tragedy, and know the hope of his promised deliverance.