Last year, I posted some articles from my blog on Child Sex
Abuse on a Facebook page for prayer requests from a certain church. It wasn’t
long before I was blocked from using that forum with no explanation.
Was it because Child Sex Abuse is such an obscene topic? It’s
an obscene crime, even when I redact the hideous details and terminology it doesn't make it better.
The point is, a lot of 21st century Christians don’t
want to deal with this. For some, it’s too hard emotionally – some of us have
been sexually abused and may not be ready, or willing, to deal with it yet.
"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them now". John 16:12.
It may also be that the incredible tragedy of Child Sex
Abuse just messes up our clean and simple idea of a loving, gentle,
all-powerful God.
Another reason may be that we hate to be dragged down into
the valley of death and despair, mountaintop experiences are much more
palatable. But Jesus never allowed James, John and Peter to remain on the Mount
of Transfiguration – He immediately led them back down into the valley where
their lives were threatened, their hearts were broken, and they found only
despair – until Christ was risen!
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Jesus told the disciples that they could not bear to hear
what He had to say to them. Some of us may be there, unable to cope with more
horror stories. If so, it may be because Christ has not ‘risen’ in you.
"Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart
will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you". John
16:22.
The disciples had to go through that valley before Jesus was
resurrected and before He was ‘risen’ in their hearts. Are you willing to go
through that valley? Some of us take a few steps down the mountainside then
quickly retreat back up the mountain, thinking that we’ve done something for
God. But God doesn’t retreat! And we find ourselves far from His Presence – He is
no longer with us as before.
You can continue in that vein and avoid going very deep into
the valley, but that would not place you in good standing when you are standing
before the glorified Christ. It will not earn you that treasured accolade, “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant!”
Have Courage! Have Faith! Walk in the valley of the shadow
of death and fear no evil!
Perhaps the greatest evil is to see evil and do
nothing about it.
Come with me into the valley and allow the Son to rise in
you!
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