...And Justice For All

" 'Woe to the obstinate children,' declares the Lord, 'to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge.  But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.' " [Isaiah 30:1-3]

It is incomplete and wholly inaccurate to speak about the good news of God's healing plan (aka the gospel!) without discussing sin. Sin, at its core, is choosing a temporary fix to our problems rather than God himself.  A pastor at church yesterday said that sin happens when we choose the creation over the creator.

We can see the consequences of sin in action everyday, and even our responses to these events can lead us astray when we seek earthly vengeance over eternal justice.  The very same grace offered to us by God is the grace that we must utilize to respond to the affects of sin in our lives so that we do not get caught up in the same trap. We've got to turn to Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith and will not leave us hanging dry!

Later on in Isaiah 30, God lays out a clear plan to help the "obstinate children" of Israel find their way back to peace.

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it... Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!" [Isaiah 30:15 & 18]

 So today, as I remember the nations around the world, and reflect on my reasons for beginning this journey, I recognize that I too, sometimes fall into the trap of sin by looking for human-created solutions to human-created problems.  Instead, I look to the hill to where my help comes from, and it is the Creator who makes all things new, and who can bring true justice and insert his peace in this dynamic world. And I pray that you can find this peace as well!

Click on the flag to learn more about each location!

       

Today's Locations: Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands