Measles. She was in a panic about the measles. There’s an outbreak, my friend said, and some kids even with the vaccine had come down with measles. What else can be said? Modern medicine works hard to eradicate a terrible illness, and still it rears its ugly head.
I sat there quietly, because I probably know the truth. But, I don’t really like it.
We all, and I do mean to be that all-encompassing, spend our lives striving. We take medicines, we exercise, we spend enormous amounts of money on our health, in order to add hours, maybe even days to the length of our lives. Regardless, at the end of the day, the truth? It isn’t doable. We can search for the keys to long life and and health and such, but they are elusive.
In Deuteronomy 29, God chooses to renew his covenant with the Israelites. The entire chapter is spent reciting what He has done for them, and reminding them of how they should respond. Then the final verse of the chapter says this:
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Secret things.
A good friend, struggling with his health has often been a physical reminder of these words. No matter what we do, and what we think we know – there are things we will NEVER understand on this side of eternity. Our Heavenly Father claims some secret things, answers to questions that only He knows.
My first thoughts about this revolve around this question: Why? God, why do you have to allow things I don’t understand? Why can’t you let me in on the secret? Why should one have a long full life, while another’s life is cut short?
And I don’t know His answer.
But, I do know: the things that He has revealed belong to us. What does he say in Matthew? Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow has enough of its own cares. Not one of us is able to add to our height. It is no secret that He promises to care for His children, to meet our needs, and to love us without condition.
And so, I realize what is required of me: Trust. Without full disclosure of the secret things, I have no control. There is only surrender in exchange for all that striving.
daily portion 