Chardon United Methodist Church

Reflecting on the message today, I look at the crazy world that we live in, and wonder what good is left.  During our prayer time every Sunday we have way more concerns than joys.  Cancer seems to be taking out another one of our friends and family each week, and there are storms and wars, and violence and…it never ends.   What kind of place is this that we live in?  Did God create a world of disease, violence, distrust, war, and disaster?  Is that the Promised Land that was chosen for the Israelites and their descendants?  Why did he put us here if all the Earth has to offer is heartache?

       The answer…God didn’t put us here for that, he intended this world to be a beautiful, peaceful place.  Like Rob Bell said, God has never forced himself on us, and has never forced us to act a certain way.  He has given suggestions, but all throughout history, we as a people blatantly ignore them.   And this world that we live in is what we have to show for following our own plans and our own rules for living.  There is good news though, God still loves this world and wants it to be the way he created it.  It can be a beautiful place full of love and understanding.  We need to start by making the best of what we have right now.  We need to see the small things that we can do to make this world the kind of place that God created it to be. 

       Here is a challenge for you (and me) every time that you see, say or hear something negative or disheartening, make it your goal to counteract it with something positive.  It doesn’t have to be an equal exchange, just do something positive.  If you hear about a terrible storm on the news, go visit someone in a nursing home.  If someone is diagnosed with cancer, help a neighbor shovel the driveway.  It won’t change the storm, and it won’t cure the cancer, but it will plant new seeds of joy for someone else.  Your positive act will be a light for someone else who needs one. 

       When we look back at the time that God has given us on this Earth that he created, will we be able to say that we lived how he would want us to live?  He cares so much about this world that he gave his only son to save it.  Do we want to be at the gates of Heaven knowing that we just waited out the storm of this life, or do we want to be there with our heads held high, knowing that we made Him proud by using our gifts to live how He would want us to live, that we valued this beautiful gift that he gave us enough to do something to make it better?  We have the choice; complain about the world as it is, or fix it.  I challenge you to fix it, one good deed at a time.