You Are Here

Psalm 97: 1-2 ( NIV)

1  The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;

    let the distant shores rejoice.

2  Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

You are here.

Those words help us to orient ourselves when we are lost or trying to find your way. Those words can be found on a red dot on a large map along a trail. Those words help you understand the world around you and they also help you define one moment in time compared to the rest of your journey and your final location. Yet those words are only helpful if you trust the designer of the map. If the mapmaker is trustworthy, the map will help you find your way.

Danish philosopher Kierkegaard is quoted as saying, “Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards.” To judge the impact of actions we must have the knowledge of the long term impacts of each of those actions. In October of 2001, we were devastated by the news that our adoption had fallen through. We had already had a baby shower and named our son Lucas Michael Hill. After years of waiting, we were finally going to have a son. Then we were contacted by our adoption agency saying there was an issue with Russia and our adoption dream was crushed. How could this happen? Why? This was the most painful experience we ever had as a couple up until that point. What seemed like our worst day was really a turn along our path to finally having a family. Lucas was lost but there was another boy that had just become available for adoption and that boy would change our lives forever. Without the pain and loss we suffered in October of 2001, we would have never experienced the joy of raising Bryce. We were unable to understand the reasons behind the pain of the moment until we had the opportunity to look back on the path we traveled.

God is holy and all knowing. He knows the impacts of all of His actions and how the story ends. Righteousness is God’s holiness in action. We may not always understand His actions but if God is holy then each action is right. We often try to make sense of a situation without considering it as part of a bigger plan and larger story. Just as the “You Are Here” dot is one moment along a larger path, our pain is part of a longer path. We ask for answers but what we really desire is assurance.The book of Revelation provides assurance.

Revelation 21:4  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

We don’t know the final  impacts of our actions but God knows the outcome of each of His. With God there are no unintended consequences. The pain of today is just part of a much longer path. God has told us about what is waiting at the end of the path. In the end we will find no more death, sorrow, or crying. I smile when I think about the  day when I walk through the gates of Heaven. I hope there will be a large sign with a big red dot that says “You Are Here” and we will be able to look back on the path we traveled and stand in awe of God’s righteousness.