SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

Every morning when I wake up I always turn on the TV to check the weather and the latest news. It seems to me that lately the bad news just keeps getting worse by the day! Whether it's the rising cost of oil, the Democratic race between Obama and Clinton, the threats scribbled on the walls of school campuses, or the terrible devastation in Myanmar! All this and more are competing for headline news each and every day. So far the situation in Myanmar is leading the group.

With the devastation of Saturday's cyclone hitting Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, efforts to bring aid into Myanmar has hit a brick wall. Their very own government is being a hindrance to the relief efforts being offered by various countries, including the US. Myanmar is situated in southeast Asia, bordered by India, China, and Thailand. Formerly under British rule, it has come under international criticism due to its military dictatorship rule and its human rights practices. It's going on 8 days and still the government of Myanmar is not allowing any foreign aid workers or supplies into the country. Now finally, after days of refusing US aid, Myanmar's military leaders have agreed to allow one US military plane to deliver relief supplies to more than 1 million residents left homeless by the cyclone. As I was reading the news articles online, I was amazed and appalled at the fact that aid and relief was so close and available, and yet was not doing any good because of the obstacles in the way! The US has 6 C-130 planes ready to go that are waiting in neighboring Thailand ready to bring water and much needed supplies. Due to a mistrusting military government, many of the Burmese people will probably die because their government is not allowing the necessary supplies and people to come in! Talk about being so close and yet so far!!

I'm looking at this and thinking, "Is this really happening? Aren't we living in the 21st century? Haven't we "evolved" beyond this already?" It reminds me of a similar predicament that is a major problem affecting mankind to this day. The problem is sin. We have a Savior who is more than willing and ready to come to our aid and yet many are unwilling to allow Him in! Similar to the mistrusting government of Myanmar, many are not willing to trust God with their lives. People are not willing to surrender control of their lives to the one who created them! That would involve giving up control of our lives and our will to someone other than ourselves. And we can't have that now, can we?! We need to be in charge of our own destiny! Make our own place in this world! What does God know about running our lives?! Hmmm, let me see....He created us, therefor He should know us better than we know ourselves. I guess that qualifies Him as the perfect person to run our lives! And since He also loves us more than anything , He will not steer us wrong!

Not only is He more than able to come to our rescue and aid, He really wants to put us back on the track to recovery. He wants to restore us from the 'disasters' of this world and save us from our mortal enemy, the Devil. Yes, He is waiting at the 'door', waiting for us to give the OK to come in and mend our broken hearts, heal our hurting spirit, and rebuild our minds. Will we allow Him in, or will we be like Myanmar's foolish government and hinder the very one who can help and bring salvation to our much needed souls?!

God is there, so close, and yet for some, so far because of their unwillingness to allow Him in!

May we find it in our hearts to allow Him access to our lives! It will be the best thing we can ever do!


5/09/2008
James