Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHO CARES?

WHO CARES?

When one looks at the present world and all that is happening, it is easy to ask the question as to whether anyone really cares or not. Do our leaders care? Do politicians really get bothered by how they act and speak? Is there any actual concern for individuals and how they exist and live and how they must feel? Individuals seem to be just invisible pawns in the overall scheme of world events. So does anyone really care? Does God care or is He also in the same category as everyone else?

To be in a situation where care seems to have been abandoned is really not new. In fact,  if one reads the book of Judges, it will soon be evident that whenever Israel abandoned their walk with God, it then seemed as if He abandoned them. It was only when the nation repented that the relationship with God was restored and the sense of abandonment abated. This happened frequently enough that one would think Israel would have gotten a clue, but it recurred over and over again.

Even in the time of Christ, the same feeling ensued. Those who were with Him for years still didn’t understand that Christ cared. When, in the boat on Lake Galilee, in the midst of a storm, the disciples, fearful for their lives, awakened Jesus and said:

…“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 

(Mark 4:38)

Matthew also records this as:

 

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, 

saying, “Lord save us! We are perishing!” 

(Matthew 8:25) 

But Christ chastised them to a degree and said:

…“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

(Mark 4:40)

But are we not essentially the same? Do we not look at what is happening around us and wonder where God is? When something untoward happens do we not question why God hasn’t intervened even though in many cases we tend to forget or deny His very existence. We forget the care God has for us and His statement that:

 

I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

(Hebrews 13:5)

This actually is a statement that has been repeated a number of times in the Bible

He [God] will not leave you nor forsake you. 

(Deuteronomy 31:6,8)

…I will be with you. 

I will not leave you nor forsake you. 

(Joshua 1:5)

…my God - will be with you. 

He will not leave you nor forsake you… 

(1 Chronicles 28:20)

So, it is clear that there is evidence throughout the Bible that God is with us and that He cares for us. There is evidence that He is concerned as to whether on not we are perishing in the midst of a storm or even if we only have no bread. But in turn, we have to remember that of which God is capable.

…Why do you reason because you have no bread?

Do you not yet perceive nor understand?

Is your heart still hardened? 

(Mark 8:17)

If we truly want to know and understand how much God cares and wants to be with us, then we have to be aware of and understand what He has done and can do. If we understand and believe His record, then we should be able to believe and understand His love and care for us. And in turn, we need to reciprocate in our love and gratitude to Him. 

Just something more to think about.