In a podcast that I was listening to earlier today, the host said to his guest that "We really need more shock and awe these days." I found that a curious thing, because this particular podcast had been recorded last summer in June.
The reason I found it curious is that the host is not a Christian in any sense of the word and yet, can we deny that comment was a bit foretelling in what we are currently experiencing. After all, what is more shocking and perhaps a bit awing than how the world is responding to the pandemic that we are currently dealing with. Shocking for certain. Perhaps we are waiting to see the awe part. I don't know.
What I was thinking about in this, however, is what can be a more shocking and awing thing than our lives in Jesus? Keeping our eyes set upon Him, we will see so many things that will shock us about His love and grace, and cause a great deal of awe at how He handles us in His love.
I know much of the time when we think of the words, "Shock and awe", we are likely to think about a fireworks type of visualization. What comes to my mind at least, is the finale of a fireworks display on the 4th of July when we see all of the flash and booms of the fireworks. We have come to expect that type of results. I think that's probably our American way of thinking, but I'm not sure.
One thing that does strike me, however, is when God showed his revelation to Elijah:
'And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord ." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. '1 Kings 19:11-12
God was not in the wind. God was not in the earthquake. God was not in the fire. After all of those things passed by, Elijah heard the low soft whisper of God's voice.
So often in this life, we are looking for God in the "whiz-bangs" and "whoosh-booms" around us, but where He truly is, is in the quiet. In the stillness of silence. In the quiet place where we can completely focus on Him and what He wants to say to us. But how many of us are listening for Him there?
