I Will Love You On One Condition...

The recent turn of events that involve deadly flu strains and hurricanes reminded me of a mission story I read years ago.  Far off on a tropical island, a plague swept mercilessly, taking the lives of many school aged children, all except the girl's academy.  This little batch of girls prayed all night claiming the promises in Psalm 91 and owed their survival to God's response to their prayer. In my mind there is no doubt that God heard those student's prayers and that He protects His children but what about those children of His who pray for relief and die anyway?

"For it is He who delivers you from the snare  of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence...You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow  that flies by day;Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.  A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, itshall not approach you. "   Amidst life-threatening  hurricanes and flu strains, will we cling to this promise?  I say we should most definitely take God's promises very seriously, however, what happens if you do get the plague- or worse - your baby perishes in a flood?   Will you curse God?  (Think of Mrs. Job)   If you found out that God allowed your loved one to die or worse - was the direct cause to that death where would you put your hope? Would you still have any?   After I read an article on the Avian bird flu, the words of Job ran echoed through my brain, " I will continue to trust God even if God kills me. But I will defend myself to his face. " ETR  or how about this one,  "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will  argue my ways before Him. " NAS.

I'd like to leave you with a few questions: Did Jesus love because men and women adored Him? Did He stay faithful in spite of the massive emotional, mental and physical pain that shook Him to the core? Did He denounce Judas for being a traitor or did He bend down and tenderly wash his feet exchanging love for hate? Will I only love if I know I am loved and would I continue to love God even if I had proof He despised me and His sacrifice was a hoax?