There are lots of things that puzzle me about God’s ways.
Some of them are found in today’s passage. Why does Jesus ask the Father to forgive sinners who don’t even know what they’re doing, like me, and like you (Luke 23:34)? Why does it seem as if political and religious leaders, put in place by God (1 Peter 2:13-14), often pay lip-service to Him at best, and usually end up mocking him by their words and actions (Luke 23:35)? Why do nations, including ours, feel as if we have to maintain our freedom by having an overly-huge military, whose very existence seems to mock the God in Whom we say we trust (Luke 23:36-37)? Why, when I’m at the lowest points of my life, and have known the saving grace of Jesus in the past, do I find myself accusing him, just like one of the criminals crucified with Him (Luke 23:39)? Why is it that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Who had done nothing wrong, to suffer and die for us, so that all who believe in Him might not perish as He did, but have eternal life (Luke 23:41, John 3:16)? These are puzzling and deep questions, and there are many more.
I suppose the answer is that such questions are too much for me, and that I need to join the Psalmist in saying I do not occupy myself with things too great and to marvelous to me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother (Psalm 133:1-2). Like the other criminal who simply said Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom (Luke 23:42), and like that child who looks to its mother for comfort, assurance, and confidence, so I need to turn to Jesus to ask that He simply remember me, remember you, remember our nation, remember our world and all its people, this July 4, and each day. And then, perhaps then, I’ll hear those amazing words, meant for my eternity, and meant for now, truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
