July 2007

Something’s Wrong

            I was driving along watching two birds in the sky.  One was a large crow; the other was a small sparrow.  One was picking on the other.  But it was not the large bird attacking the smaller one, it was the little sparrow attacking the large crow.  The sparrow had the advantage.  He was quick and maneuverable.  The crow was large and slow.  If both were standing side by side on a tree branch the sparrow would never thought of attacking the crow.  But the question that entered my mind was, “Why is the sparrow doing that?”  I think the answer, in part, is, “because he could.”  He could get by with it, and it did not matter that it was unkind, unfair or that it hurt the other bird.  He was enjoying the attack, and knew the crow could not fight back.  It is part of the falleness of the world that shows itself even in nature. 

            Something is wrong with the world.  I see it everywhere.  It happened the other day as I ran over a small tree stump and ruined my push mower.  I ordered something over the Internet and the eBay seller cheated me by selling me something defective, and he would not make it right.  Neither would those in charge of eBay help me in the negotiations.  Weeds grow freely in my yard and my wife’s flower garden.  There are spots I can’t get grass to grow, and some of Sue’s flowers are dying.  But the weeds are doing fine.  Some of the finest people I know are battling life-threatening diseases, while brutal dictators who enjoy torturing people seem to enjoy great health. 

            Something’s wrong with the world.  When God created the world he pronounced it “Good!”  But something happened.  Men and women wanted to eat from a tree that would give them the knowledge not only of good, but evil as well.  It was open rebellion against a loving God, from whom the first people of creation had experienced nothing but good.  Their rebellion led to further sin and the world fell away from God.  Adam and Eve’s appearance and moral nature changed.  Nature changed.  When evil entered the world at our invitation (and we continue this tradition to the present moment), something became wrong with the world.  Sparrows pick on crows.  Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people.  The world itself is not what it once was.  The Bible says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22).  And we would say, “Amen.” 

            But something is still right with the world.  Love and enthusiasm brighten our days.  Unexpected kindnesses come.  God’s promises and blessings come to us in many forms.  They are the promise of more to come.  Paul writes, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).  All things will be right. 

Sustained by God’s promises,

Rod