“Sometimes it looks like God is missing the mark because we’re too shortsighted to see what He’s aiming for.”- Oswald Chambers
Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 23 of The Grave Robber with a discussion of the bold prediction Jesus made when He heard Lazarus was sick: “This sickness will not end in death (John 11:4).” Pastor Batterson states that Jesus knew Lazarus would die, but He didn’t put a period there. Jesus inserted a four-day comma. To quote Dr. Charles Crabtree from his sermon titled ‘God’s Grammar’:
“Never put a comma where God puts a period and never put a period where God puts a comma.”
Mary and Martha certainly felt like Jesus was four days late and four dollars short. Yet Martha balanced her factual statement about Jesus’ timing with a wonderful statement of faith: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask (John 11:22).” Mark explains that Martha was in touch with a divine reality:
“Faith often looks like it’s out of touch with reality, but that’s because it’s in touch with a reality that’s more real than anything you can see or hear or taste or smell with your five senses. Faith is our sixth sense.”
Even when it feels like our dream is dead and buried, we don’t want to put a period there.
Today’s question: During your desert, land between time, how often have you felt that God is missing the mark? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Remember the resurrection”
