The speck and the great design.

Matthew 24:1-14

        The other day I saw a picture of planet Earth from space. There was a  small arrow pointed at a spot on earth and it said "this is you." I suppose it was meant to tell you how insignificant you are. That's a notion I certainly do not agree with. Even if you are a spec, Jesus still would have died just for you, God loves you that much. However, we often let ourselves get so self centered that you'd think the sun, moon and stars revolved around us!  It might be a good idea to think about our place in the entire universe.

           The disciples point out to Jesus all the buildings of theTemple. It would seem to be quite impressive. It took perhaps centuries to complete the massive stone buildings. Yet Jesus is saying that not one stone will be left upon another. A pretty bold and perhaps scary thought and in 70 AD the temple was in fact destroyed.

            Have you ever had the occasion to be in the midst of post hurricane mess? I mean, the hurricane comes and leaves, trees strewn all over, wires down, electricity out, every sort of modern convenience is disrupted. If you have taken the time to think about our life, it is pretty impressive overall. The way we drive around, long distnaces, the appliances and luxuries we live with. I admit to liking air conditioning very much and what would we do without TV??

           When life is disrupted we can easily get that feeling of us being a speck on planet earth.  The damage seems like envisioning the massive Temple buildings being destroyed, not one stone upon another. It does happen though and often in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, like in the middle east, it happens over years and years of dehumanizing and torturous  actions.  Once again, you seem as a speck trying to survive.

             It might be difficult on some levels to beleive God cares for just me, that one speck on planet earth in the midst of a crazy world spinning wildly, almost out of control or in the midst of natural or man made chaos. The fact is, God knows that it does happen. It is perhaps in these turbulent times that God reveals himself most to us in the love and caring of others.  After 9-11, a human cruelty and attack of epic proportions, there was witnessed great acts of love, compassion and heroism. God is fully alive in how we respond to natural disaster and manmade evils. I am also sure he weeps for the victims whom he winds up holding in his all embracing arms. 

            When I think of myself  (or you ) as  speck on planet earth, I still see that picture of Earth from space and how beautiful that blue orb is and that however small I may seem, I am a part of the majesty that it is. God chose me, gay Dan, loving man, to be a part of the thoughtful design. God loves me. God loves you. We are not specks in the shadow of greatness, we are part of the greatness, by his/her design

    

24

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ²Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ ⁴Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁵For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!”^* and they will lead many astray. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines^* and earthquakes in various places: ⁸all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

9 ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰Then many will fall away,^* and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹²And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this good news^* of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.