The world was shocked on Friday to learn a meteor had
exploded close to Russian soil sending shockwaves that shattered windows,
knocked down brick walls, and left about 1000 people injured. When fragments
pierced the atmosphere plummeting to earth one section fell through an icy lake
80km from Chelyabinsk. As people captured on video the trail of an unknown
object as it streaked across the morning sky they were unprepared for what
happened next. Suddenly, blinding white light exploded before their eyes and
the streak burst into an impressive trail of billowing smoke and fire. Approximately
two-and-a-half minutes later a thundering sonic boom blasted the area setting
off car alarms, hurling glass shards, rocking the ground, and causing people to
cry out in terror. They would have wondered, “What just happened? Did something
hit us? Was it a plane exploding? The asteroid? A rocket? A missile?”
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| near Chelyabinsk, Russia |
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| Chelyabinsk |
He indicated that as many professional and amateur
astronomers across the world were focused on tracking the path of the largest
asteroid ever to pass this close to our planet, this meteor came out of
nowhere. While most meteors are detected in the night sky, this one occurred during
broad daylight and caught everyone unaware.
Although scientists are able to answer many questions
about what happens during such incidents, they are still baffled by a great
many “why’s”, “what if’s”, and “how long’s”. As one program host remarked, “The
only thing we know for sure is that we just don’t know.”
In discussing the ongoing research around another
asteroid that is predicted to come even closer to Earth in 2029, scientists
understand that in order to discover answers about how this heavenly body is
going to act and what course it will follow they must know it – its nature, composition, and what materials it contains.
They likened it to an enemy and said, “You have to know and study your enemy if
you want to know how to stop it.”
Hmmmm…all of this got me thinking about the latest lesson
I’ve been studying in “Discovering the Voice of God”. Priscilla Shirer says, “Often
we seek to know God’s direction more than we seek to know God. We bypass the
relationship because we would rather have answers about us. God wants to speak
to you because He wants you to know Him; knowing His direction is just a
by-product. God seeks to reveal truth about Himself because this knowledge will
lay the firm path you can walk to fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.”[ii]
For me to have the knowledge and answers I am looking for
regarding the course my life is to follow, I must know the nature and character
of God who lives within me. There must be an active and ongoing relationship
between me and my Lord. Knowledge about
God is not enough. Hearing Him is
not enough. I must know Him well-enough that I begin to experience His character living out through me. Only then will I be
eager to follow His leading and obey what He is telling me to do. This is when
I really begin to listen to His voice and discern that it is Him speaking to me
rather than another voice, opinion, influence, or my own desires.
Likewise, for me to recognize the deceitful voice of my
spiritual enemy, Satan, I have to do more than just have knowledge about him. I
must learn about how he works, his nature, his weapons, and be prepared to use
the countermeasures God has equipped me with as a Christian. I don’t know him
to be like him but to stop him and destroy his efforts to defeat me.
When Moses descended Mount Sinai to find the Israelites
worshiping the golden calf instead of God, he was angry and felt discouraged
and defeated. How could he ever lead these people to the land God had promised
them? Would God even go with them? He said to God, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead
these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You
have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If I have
found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to
find favor with you.” I love God’s response, “My Presence will go with you, and
I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14) Later God reassured Moses of many of His attributes
giving him the courage to do what God had required of him.
I want to know
God – really know who He is and what He is able to do in my life.
Until next Sunday,
Kathy
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