Barnabas

The text is taken from the Book of Job.

One day, long before creation, God was walking with Lucifer, before being banished from heaven The conversation varied in its aspects. They spoke of the mathematical set-up of the planets, so perfect for the existence of various minerals and chemicals and on the third one in the solar system where our sun was the planet was perfect for life. They spoke of the intricacies of veins in the tiniest plant and flowering greenery. They spoke of wind and rain and earthquakes and everything the God would use to shape and reshape life.

And Lucifer put this before God. “It is well and good that you can create flowers and planets and things incapable of independent thoughts or ideas and things which ultimately require care or death will ensue. But I’ll wager that you cannot create a being that is eternally loving, beautiful, wise, living in Your truth, and will always be thankful that You are who You are. It can never be done!”

Never say never to God.

God smiled and waved His hand. And there was a baby in a cave, nestled to his mother’s chest, a donkey and a cow breathing softly and providing some measure of heat. He waved His hand again, and there was a bearded young man on a mountain top, alone trailed only by Lucifer. The young man countered everything Lucifer was asking him, and said, “Man doesn’t live by bread alone but on every word of God…Don’t tempt God!”

God waved His hand again. On another mountain top, the same young man was speaking to others and specifically to twelve men that were sitting close by him. He said, “Blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for God hears them all.” And that same man could be seen holding the hands of a child who was paralyzed and the man lifted up the child and the child walked for the first time in his young life. Finally, that same young man is seen on the cross, bleeding, dying, yet looking at those below with the calmest expression of love.

Lucifer prodded more, “That was no ordinary man. What of John or Jane Doe? I’ll bet you cannot create just an ordinary man with human feelings who would come to you. They’ll come to me when I offer them a few moments of pleasure, even if they may die the hard way.”

Didn’t I say never say never to God?

There is an alcoholic standing in a doorway. And he looks into the bottle he holds in his hand and throws it against a nearby wall. He sinks to his knees and holds his head in his hands and cries out, “Help me, I’m so weak…” And suddenly, as if someone heard him, there comes footsteps and there is a person that picks this man up and gives him food and shelter and finds him a job so that he can begin to help himself. And the man struggles to find his way, slipping several times, but he finally accepts that God came into his life and that is for him to change so that he can indeed have a better more spiritual life and live with God in heaven. And he comes to realize that he must choose between a life leading to death or a life with God. As if that is not enough, God’s tour de force. The executive with everything. Good salary, nice home, wonderful friends, loving family. Spends time with that family. Contributes to charitable causes. Tries to be a model citizen. Know the type? And with all this, the executive never gives glory to God. And when he is challenged at church to give time to deliver goods into the worst neighborhood and to feed people at the homeless shelter, his answer was, “I can’t.” But one day, he is robbed of his identity and loses most of what he has. After struggling to make ends meet and losing his house and his job and almost losing his family, the man raises his hands to God and says, “Help me, help me, I am truly weak…” And a voice out of the blue says, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” And the man’s family sticks with him, and he learns to give of himself. He even finds another job that will allow him to do more work with the church. And he gives the glory to God.

But Lucifer was not finished. He walked off, or from what I understand was thrown out because he refused to give glory to God. And then he tempted Eve. And God was ready. Because before man admitted he was a sinner and before man cried out, “Help me, We are so weak…” there appeared a cross and the voice that said softly, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”

Didn’t I tell you, Never say never to God?