It’s Funny In A Strange Way
By Chad McComas
The writers and producers of “Evan Almighty” have captured the comedic irony of what it would be like if God showed up today asking someone to build an ark like Noah did. There is no doubt that the world has moved far beyond where God intended it and we can imagine that He’d like to start over, but what would it really be like to have God ask me or you to go totally against the tide of the world? Will we think it is funny? Will we be anxious to jump in and get stated on construction? Will we want to tell our friends and eventually our enemies what we are doing? I think not.
I remember when my father-in-law became a Christian. His biggest worry was that God was going to make him do something strange. Perhaps that’s the same concern that many believers have today. God is going to have me stand on a street corner with a sign saying “the end of near.” Most Christians don’t want to stand out in the crowd let alone at the head of the crowd.
So, “Evan Almighty” may be a comedy. Many of us may laugh out loud, but I expect that many of us cringe a bit inside thinking that it may be us next. We believe that God does have a timetable for this world. He has a plan. He will bring it all to a conclusion soon. He will be asking us to give His message to the world. He will be asking many of us to stand up in the crowd and go against the flow. But He will be the one doing the asking. Too often when we decide “we” have a message for the world we misrepresent God. We jump in trying to do the Holy Spirit’s job when we don’t have the credentials.
Jesus promised us that when it is time…we will have the message to give. We will have the strength to give it. And we will do it right!
Jesus told His followers: “On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:18-20
And when the Holy Spirit is working through us people will take notice. They will see God’s power. Remember when the disciples stood up against the religious leaders of the day? They made an impact. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
The bottom line for all of God’s messages through time, including Noah, is that God is in charge, He has a plan, He cares for His people, but His mercy and grace don’t last forever.
Chad McComas is the editor of The Christian Journal. He writes from Medford, Oregon. info@thechristianjournal.org