Going on A Journey

Last time, I told you about Chris, who would take us on a journey as we were on the train. In this next post, I will recall where we went and what we explored. 

The Journey Begins

We had no idea where Chris would take us. We looked at each other and questioned where is this coming from. We were definitely involved with someone who knew what he was talking about 

“Since you asked Jolien,” continued Chris. How can it be that there is war and so much violence, and on the other side, you need to believe that God is love? Those don’t line up with each other. And Herman tried to explain it. I felt a bit uncomfortable just trying…

Chris just kept on going: “Jolien, I also have a question for you. Do you believe all we see around us is created by God? “

“Absolutely,” answered Jolien, and Katie nodded in confirmation. 

“That is a good start,” said Chris, “I never understood the Big Bang Theory anyway. It’s as if someone wants a new dining set. He buys some wood and puts it in the backyard overnight. During the night, a big storm comes. And in the morning, he opens the door, and voila, the new dining table is complete with chairs, freshly sanded and painted in the desired color. Come on, guys… That doesn’t work for me. It’s a fairy tale.”

The girls looked at each other, and Katie whispered, “See, I told you last week in science class that we had an argument with the teacher about creation.”

She looked and smiled at Chris. “I like your point of view on the subject.” 

What Does Love Have to Do With It

“Excuse me,” I said, “but what does your point of view have to do with Jolien’s questions. God is love, and why is there so much evil in the world.”

“I am glad you bring this up, Herman. You know a lot of people have the wrong thought about God, and maybe you do as well.“

He looked around at each of our faces and continued. “God is holy and wholly different than we humans. The problem is that many folks try to grasp some sense of who God is, by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to a certain degree, putting in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn’t much, and then calling that ‘God.’ And while I’ve seen a noble effort, the truth is, that it falls pitifully short of who God really is. God is not merely the best version of us that you can think of. He is way more than that. Above and beyond all that you can ask or think.”

“Hmm, interesting,” said Jolien, “but to me, they are just words. They don’t make much sense.”

“And still, Jolien,” Chris continued, “Guess what? He still wants to be known. Not only as the Creator but far more than that.” 

He said it with such a small and tender voice that listening to it, I felt eager to find out more. At this point, we stopped at a train station in Zwolle. It was quite busy here, too. A lot of people coming and going.

Can We Enjoy Life?

“Woah,” said Chris, “You see that billboard over there?” 

He was pointing at a huge board on the platform. 

“That is my favorite soccer team.” On the billboard, we saw the Dutch National team with great players like Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Marco van Basten, and Rund Gullit (I love his hair, by the way).

“Are you a soccer fan?” Katie asked with unbelief.

“Absolutely,” said Chris, “Anything wrong with that?”

“No,” I replied, “but I was not expecting such enthusiasm from you because…

Chris interrupted me, “Do you think that we have to just sit in a dusty corner at home, wrestling and murmuring about the good and bad in life? And one day, when we go to heaven, it will all be better?

That’s maybe how you look at it, Herman. But watching a soccer game is just fine, as long as you keep things in perspective. Don’t make the players an idol, and just enjoy the game!”

“I love listening to John Denver, especially the song ‘Country Roads, Take me Home.’”

Chris was whistling the song as if he composed the song himself. 

“I am very fond of him, but to me, he is just like anyone else. Ever heard the expression, ‘We are in the world, but not of the world?’ When you walk away from things you really like, without a problem, you are a free man. ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8:36)

Jolien said: “Isn’t that a verse from the Bible?”

“Bingo!” Chris replied, “the young man from Nazareth 2000 years ago, covered in sawdust, helping his father in the workshop, said it. Jesus Christ was His name. 

“That’s what I thought,” said Jolien with a smile on her face, thinking about quoting Bible verses. 

A Painful Home Life

Although, she grew serious as well. You could see that she had difficulty expressing the pain and sorrow she was about to share. 

“I came from a strongly religious family. We never missed church gatherings or other special meetings from our church. Everything looks fine on the outside, and my parents do their best to present themselves well. But I know things are not good at home. It really hurts. My father drinks a lot and fights with my mom when he comes home late. I can sometimes hear hit my mom when I am in my bedroom. 

I cannot understand how God can be love, and I see all this trouble and sorrow in my family. Not to speak of all the violence and wars going on in the world.”

With tears in her eyes, she grasped for Katie’s hand. 

The Question of Evil

“Jolien,” Chris started, “I am so sorry to hear all this, my dear. But I still think you have the wrong picture of the nature of God. Instead, this is what you should take with you in your journey of life. Ask yourself this question: ‘Do you believe that God is only good?’ 

I know deep in your heart that you don’t believe it. 

You think that God orchestrates all the evil in the world. He does not, my dear. He is only good. He is only light; there is no darkness in Him. And one of the jewels of His character is love!

Darkness is the absence of light, and hate is the absence of love. Evil is the absence of good. 

When you turn on the light in a dark room, the darkness disappears, right? 

We, of course, all agreed with that statement. 

“So, you say that God doesn’t orchestrate the evil, but when I get punished through circumstances by God…” Jolien started.

“Woah, Woah, wait,” Chris interrupted, “See you have a wrong picture about God and think He is there to punish you. 

When you do wrong in life make bad choices (sin), it carries out the destruction itself, my dear. It is another side of the coin. 

If we want to find the real cause of the evil in the world, we need to go back to the very beginning, when the first man was put in the Garden of Eden, which is the presence of God, by the way.

The first man chose independence instead of a relationship, and because of that, all hell broke loose. Adam had to face the consequences of his choice. 

Never blame God for the evil around us and in us!

No woman or man is immune to this evil, sadness, and mess. 

Tickets Please 

At this point, the conductor came to see our tickets.

“Good morning, everyone, have a great time together?” he asked. 

“Wonderful,” said Chris, “Do you need my ticket?”

“Yes, please,” was the reply. 

My mind was still mulling over what Chris had said. How was it possible to meet someone like this? All four of us did have a wonderful time, where we could be open and honest, even though I started it all with an awkward question for the girls. 

“Come on, sir,” the conductor said to me, “I don’t have all day.” I quickly grabbed my train ticket and gave it to him.

He stamped my ticket and grumbled, “I have three more train carriages to check before we arrive at the next station.”

He stamped the tickets, and we continued the conversation.

Clipped Wings

“God created us to depend on Him and have a relationship with Him so that He can express His love toward us,” Chris said, “Love always leaves a significant mark. 

When mankind chose independence in Adam, it got all messed up. Adam chose to go his own way. 

But instead of scrapping all of creation, the Trinity rolled up their sleeves and got right into the middle of that mess. That is what God did through the carpenter of Nazareth, Jesus Christ.”

Jolien, Katie, and I were hanging on every word. Trying our best to follow Chris’ train of thought. 

“We are created to be loved,” Chris continued, “to have a relationship with our Creator. Birds, at least most of them, are created to fly, right? But if you clip the wings, the bird is grounded. It limits the ability to fly.”

Chris paused to let us think about this statement. 

“We,” he finally continued, “are created to be loved. So, for us to live as if we are unloved is a limitation.”

I nodded my head, not so much in agreement but more to show him that I was listening. 

“Living unloved by God is like clipping a bird’s wings and removing its ability to fly. If the problem is left unresolved for a long time, the bird starts to forget that it was created to fly in the first place. 

You know what, Jolien? You are looking at God through a knothole of your pain. You will see so little of Him and who He really wants to be for you. 

“Sir, is this a flying lesson?” Katie said. She said with a big smile and an open mind. 

“You can call me Chris. No sirs, please. And maybe, yes. Let’s fly together and have fun. I love this conversation, and Herman, I liked the way you started it. A bit awkward. 

We all laughed, even though I still had some mixed feelings.

A vendor with some snacks came by. Chris and I bought a coffee while the girls treated themselves to a chocolate bar. 

If you are curious how this conversation continued, tune in next time. 

God Bless you!

* Inspired by W.M. Paul Young, author of “The Shack.”