As I am approaching retirement later in the year, I have again begun occupying myself with painting. Since portraiture is my preference, I am constantly confronted with the plague of all who would paint portraits – namely, getting the correct likeness of the person you desire to paint.
This “retirement hobby” is fresh on my mind as I have attempted to process the recent plague of natural disasters from around the world and I must admit to joining others in pondering from where and from whom such things arise.
Following the earthquake and tsunami, the Tokyo mayor in his attempt to process the disaster’s impact for his people pointed to “the heavens” as the originator of the disaster. When facing the reality of our life’s calamities, we are all confronted with the persistent dilemma, “Who controls the universe?”
Many in the modern world have been trained with a continuing, enlightened assumption that “there is no God.” “The universe and its realities are at best a cosmic accident,” or so we are taught. In such a barrage we are easily bombarded into distrust—even the distrust that God really exists.
As each of us attempts to paint the portrait of reality’s originator and controller, we are confronted with the major inconsistency, “Can I picture God if I assume that He does not exist?”
The Holy Scriptures would have us consider two complementary passages. The first is straightforward, “… He that comes to God must trust that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him.” Heb. 11:6
The second is simply, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psa. 14:1
So we are left with this question to ponder and answer, “Does God exist … is He real?” or“AmIafool?”
I, for one, would paint a portrait of God as the real person He is.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month’s contributor is Rev. Dennis Schutte, Pastor of Life In Christ Lutheran Church
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