"Where Is God?"

Scripture Reference
John 11:32-36

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "LORD, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, LORD," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessing rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorrow from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him.

Sunday June 13, 2010 was a sad time for our pastor and church family, a dear friend departed this life. As believers we have read the words of Christ about the great things of the the eternal world. And as we gathered for worship the questions in my heart were "we have studied the things of eternity, do we believe them truth?" Would the crosses and comforts of this present time make such an impression on us if we did not believe?

Pastor Collins, full of emotion asked "Where is God?" When we are overwhelmed with pain we often do not see clearly. As believers we are to cast our burdens upon the Lord, "He will sustain us" -- hold us together and hold us up! It's our faith, life, love, and final salvation that is uppermost to God. Our greatest cares and burdens He promises to take care of.

In all the afflictions of believers Christ concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend(verse 34). Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Believers are to draw from this example that we may comfort the afflicted.

Believers remember that Christ has taken upon Himself our greatest burden. He took up the cross for our sins. He did this when we did not seek Him! Shall He not hold us up and hold us together now, without question? Peter writes to us: "Cast all your care upon Him, for HE CARES FOR YOU." (I Peter 5:7)