Saturday, October 27, 2012

Life’s Questions

Life is filled with questions. Troubled by what he saw in the world, the Prophet Habakkuk was a man who sought answers from God. Habakkuk saw a dying, hurting, and unjust world, and it broke his heart (Habakkuk 1:2-4). At the time, violence and injustice described Judah from the evil reign of King Manasseh (697–642 BC) to the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC). So, Habakkuk took his questions directly to God, in prayer.

Then God spoke to Habakkuk, telling the prophet to write His answer plainly so that the people would see and understand. God revealed to Habakkuk a vision of His glory (Habakkuk 2:14) that brought the prophet to solid faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and joyful praise (Habakkuk 3:16-19). God told Habakkuk that evil and injustice will not win, but eventually evil doers will be judged, and God’s goodness, power, and love will triumph.

Like the Prophet Habakkuk, we can also bring our questions and complaints to God. God wants us to come to Him with our struggles, problems, and doubts, as well as our joys, praises, and love. God is real and working in this world. Even more, God wants a personal relationship with us. We can trust God!

The teachings of Habakkuk gives everyone sound reasons to exercise faith and commitment to the supreme, holy, and just God (God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ, God the Spirit). Habakkuk 2:2-20 reminds us that the living God is not an absentee god. God is living, breathing and in control (Psalm 47:9; Acts 17:24-28; Colossians 1:15-20). On the surface, God’s power is not always visible, but God controls every situation and circumstance. Even more, God will ultimately bring justice to His world (see Habakkuk 2:2-3, 14). Judgment may not come quickly, but God’s judgment of evil and sin will come. God is still in control of this world and He will not overlook sin.

So let us all seek God’s high standards of faith and morality (e.g., see Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Psalm 15; Amos 5:4; Habakkuk 1:12; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 2:4). Those who love, trust, and obey God will find joy and happiness in Him (Habakkuk 3:18; Philippians 4:4) and live victoriously under any circumstances (Habakkuk 2:20; Habakkuk 3:16-19). The book Habakkuk begins with a complaint, but ends with one of the most beautiful songs in the Bible.

I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! Habakkuk 3:18-19 (The Message Bible).

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