Look UP

My neighbor tells me there is no God,
That the idea of God is a fantasy, birthed of human weakness, ignorance, and fear.
My neighbor says only fools believe in God.
And to tell you the truth,
If I narrowly look at the world today -- at my country (sadly)
It is hard to find evidence of God.

Man’s inhumanity to man -- terror, murder, ruthlessness --
Reeks of a godless world.
Individual human selfishness -- prejudice, greed, pride --
Shout out of a godless world.
Entertainment -- violent, profane, erotic,
Blasts godlessness into our homes, our bedrooms, our minds, our hearts.
Immorality defiles the land. 

I see a gray world spiraling downward into darkness.
Take a look -- where can you find evidence of God?
Is there any in me?

Dear neighbor, please look beyond your “self”,
Beyond your opinions and your pleasures, your bigotry, and your bias,
Beyond your clubs and cliques and closed circles,
Beyond the headlines, the bylines, and the “news,”
Beyond the blood soaked sod, the blades that slice off heads,
Beyond empty voices shouting their digital narcissism.
Please look beyond the media promoted filth and degradation that fill our airwaves --
And if you see no God in me, please look beyond me too.

Dear neighbor, look up!
Follow the scent of the honeysuckle and see the butterflies,
The flowering foliage, towering redwoods, gentle rolling hills, snow-capped mountain peaks,
The sun, the sky, the gentle rains, the dust of His feet (Nahum 1:3).
You must look up from this sin-weary earth
And see the beauty of the cross --
To see the glory of the One who woos you, warns you,
Calls you, draws you --
Out of desolate doom and judgment
And into the light of His truth and deliverance.

Look up with me, lift up your head, because redemption draws near. (From Luke 21:28)

~ Suzie

 

---