Throughout the whole U.S.A., the 4th Thursday of November by tradition has been set aside to give thanks to God for all the blessings we received individually and collectively, as a family or as a nation.
Thanksgiving Day commemorates our appreciation for what the Almighty God has done for all of us. Indeed, these blessings come in many forms. Some are thankful, inspite of Sept 11 2001, for relative peace, safety and tranquility. As global terrorism continues, local attacks of evil left victims with mangled bodies in streets of London/Europe, concert areas in Las Vegas, Florida Pulse gay bar , hallowed church in Sutherland Springs,Texas and other “soft targets”. Still, many are blessed with good health or recovery from disease or festering ailment and have escaped being riddled with bullets or bomb blasts. Some give thanks for job promotion or financial security, and others for improved relationship with their loved ones .
While these are legitimate reasons to be merry, many are not so fortunately endowed and are in the midst of suffering, pain and despair. One may ask, why some are blessed and others cursed?
What did I do to deserve this?
While there are immutable laws that bring about blessing or curse, i.e., blessing follows good deeds and curse comes because of evil deeds, they are not necessarily exclusive. There are evil people, who in our eyes and yardstick, flourish and good people who are swaddling in a series of failures or setbacks. Even so called blessed and chosen nation Israel went thru slavery in Egypt and even now does not have peace and security with their neighbor-states. Abraham, Moses, etc. died in hope, without seeing the promised land. David, Job, Daniel, to name a few in the Old Testament account, suffered. Even the apostles were in constant danger for their lives, including Paul, considered chief of them all. But, most of all, the man-Jesus, the very begotten Son Of God, the most blessed of all men, experienced the worst curse of all, dying a horrible and painful death by crucifixion. Brethren, the wisdom, power and control of God are transparent in these events occurring in man. Consider the following verses that should give us proper perspective of who our God is:
“Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another for dishonor?“[1]
“…Wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.“[2]
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.”[3]
“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity(evil): I the Lord do (or allowed) all these .“[4]
“Behold, I have created the spoiler to destroy“[5]
“If there is calamity in the city, will not the Lord have done (or allowed) it?”[6]
He prepared “..vessels of wrath/mercy…”[7]
These preceding verses undoubtedly focus on God’s ultimate authority and sovereignty to do or not do whatever/whenever he wants, to any of his creation. He is incomparable, unique and the only one[8]. So unsearcheable are his ways! It is therefore apropos for all of us to heed the advise, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”[9]. The time for “judgment” of evil will come in due time.
A Bright and Awesome Future
Notwithstanding whatever fate has for us in this present world, it pales in comparison with what God has in store for us ultimately. The blessing we now have is muted by the enormity of our future. The “curse” that we now suffer will be forgotten knowing fully well the supreme gift destined for us to have.
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For how many among us would consider it a blessing being in an exalted position as CEO/President of a company or institution? How about being in the White House staff, or being President yourself ? Or, for that matter, being a member of your favorite exclusive club,e.g., Honors Club, Debate Club,Golf Club,Chess club, or Country Club ? Take your pick, and all of us have this need, want and expectation to be in an elevated and better position. Yet, what if you know that God has, in fact, planned for us to be in a position far greater than anyone can imagine, better/higher than angels (Psalms 8:4-8; Hebrews 2:6-18) and “one” with the Father. Notice,
“God…is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of..infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.“[10]
In the article “Destiny of Man”(11) and Deification of Man”(12), one can see that we are created in the God-Kind, a very exalted “species“ and not in the “plant kind, animal kind nor man-kind”.
We are now in the process, an “ongoing creation”, started by Jesus to be a part of the “temple“(body) of God, a Family of Gods, a God-Kingdom. This is a supreme and exalted position reserved for us even before we were born, nor have done any works(good-or-evil), a testament to his mercy, faith, grace and love.
Indeed, the wisdom of God, the depth and breadth of his sapience are far supreme. Let us therefore rejoice for when we think we are cursed, we are in fact blessed; and thinking we are blessed, we “ain’t seen anything yet” !
By: Aladin Mariano, MD
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL !
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