"Evidence, Boy!"

I think a lot. Perhaps too much. I think a lot about everything that's wrong in my life. Definitely too much--because there's so much that's right.  I'm convicted every time I look back at the story of the wandering Israelites--the story of how God delivered a people from slavery in Egypt to become a people for his own possession, a people for him to bless and lead into the Promised Land where they would enjoy serving him rather the heavy-handed Egyptians.  Yet, this group of people never entered the Promised Land, or rather their first generation didn't.  Instead their first generation wandered the desert for 40 years till they all but 2 faithful ones died off.  Why? Because they complained. They complained about missing the meat-pots they ate while slaves in Egypt, discontent with the adventure God was leading them on.  Not believing that there was better in store for them at their destination, better RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM leading them as a Pillar of Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night--the Holy Presence of Jehovah.

God allowed a whole generation of Israelites to die off because they complained and did not treasure his Grace.  So why am I still here?  What have I missed out on?

God has been even more gracious to me.  "Evidence, boy!", my friend Tim shouts at me often.  He's good to do that.  I have a beautiful wife who loves the God who made her, loves the husband He's given her.  I have a great family.  I have a great church family--men who are like real brothers to me, who love me genuinely and look out for me.  An awesome small group I get the joy of leading. And then there's all those American "essentials"...the ability to brush my teeth everyday, the roof over my head, A/C, two cars, shirts & feckless ties for work 5 days a week.  That's right, I get Saturdays off too.

So as I mope tonight over not having the cable requisite for witnessing Kobe's impending Olympic glory, not having seen Dark Knight Rise yet, not having more money, more charisma, or more time to do some things I want to do (like blog)....well, the Evidence weighs against me and finds me guilty, of complaining. Of blindness to see "Wow my life is great...Really, it is. It's not naivete, this is real."

Romans 8:32 paraphrase, "God who did not even spare His own Son but freely gave Him to us, how will He not also with Him give us all things He's promised?"  The verdict: God is overwhelmingly good to me.  And His presence & approval is all I'll ever need for everlasting satisfaction.  Even if the list above was clipped, His presence would fill up the lack.  None of those blessings are enjoyable apart from Him, but He illumines each one.

God created me to know Him & enjoy Him forever. Wow.