Monday, May 30, 2011

The Piper

"We all come back to God in these days of soul-sifting," said Gertrude to Jon Meredith. "There have been many days in the past when I didn't believe in God--not as God--only as the impersonal Great First Cause of the scientists. I believe in Him now--I have to--there's nothing else to fall back on but God--humbly, starkly, unconditionally."

In the days leading up to even her treasured brother Walter leaving for war, Rilla, the youngest of Anne's children was torn. LM Montgomery portrays Rilla as a strong-willed girl growing up to be a woman in the struggles of war and the sending of Canadian men to fight the front lines. To be honest, if I wanted to read a novel on the war, I would not have chosen this one, the last of LM Montgomery's famous Anne of Green Gables 8-book series. But when I came across this part, I just shook my head in awe.

Although I would be glad to hear of someone come before God, baring his soul in the presence of His saving grace, regardless of the circumstance or timing, I still wonder why God seems to be so many people's "last resort". Really? Seriously? This mindset is so...human. In which case, I truly shouldn't criticize. Yet reading Gertrude's response to Walter's determination to answer the Piper's call to war reminds me of something Mrs. Clements said to me in our many, many after dinner conversations: Why do people wait until the very end to rely on God? How is it that people see reliance on God as a last resort, as if He weren't even worth being labeled a secret weapon against our troubles? We should be joyful, excited, hopeful that God is fighting our front line for us! We should not be thinking, 'and last of all, I rely on God...' or, 'At the bottom of the barrel, at least God still remains...' or even, 'I guess now it's all up to God to make the last move...' No, it should be that God is the first we go to, the One we rely on, and the best to put our faith in!

So if you're ever down in the dumps but trying to cheer yourself, off-handedly thinking, 'Oh, at least God is still on my side," think again. God, our Almighty Creator and Life-Giver, our saving grace and loving Father, is in control of all things! I'd rather have God on my side over another any day. Just ask David as he decided to fight Goliath ;)
posted at 9:42 PM by Jo -