Riding on Cloud 9

Did you know that Relient K is my second favorite band of all time? Well, they are. They’ve got some great ska-punk, punk, pop-punk, pop, and some slow tunes. Today I was enjoying “Let it All Out” from their Mmhmm album. A few lines in the song resonated with me:

“and You said I know that this will hurt
but if I don't break your heart then things will just get worse
if the burden seems too much to bear
remember the end will justify the pain it took to get us there”

This song pierced my heart as my thoughts were drawn to the awful memories of heresy spreading like gangrene amongst my circle of friends. I vividly remember my heart breaking as I saw friends abandon the faith and following after wolves in sheep’s clothing. This was a time in my life when I had real enemies.

But I knew then, as I know so much better now, that this was part of God’s purposes. The entire calamity in my life was from the Lord. God knew exactly how those trials would cause me pain, and yet He had those things happen just as He wanted.

Today I have the luxury of hindsight. Today I can see more clearly why God brought these trials upon me. I needed to have false teachers removed from my life. I needed to learn to appreciate certain doctrines like the future coming of our Lord on the Last Day. I also strongly believe that the Lord wanted to test my faith and my commitment to His truth.

By His free grace, my God has granted repentance to nearly everyone led astray by this destructive teaching. But there is more. God has completely restored my friendship with my best friend, Scott. The past two weeks I’ve been riding on Cloud 9. I’ve had so many blessed friendships over the past few years, but no one could replace my friendship with Scott. His older sister, Jen Nelson, *ahem* … I mean Jen Whitlatch, told me recently that we are two peas in a pod. It is very true.

The last line of the song is something I honestly apprehend. God not only predestines the ends, but also the means to accomplish those ends. This means that everything that happened over the past 3 and a half years was not some meaningless evil. They were for my benefit, and the benefit of all the believers involved. I was telling this to my good buddy Mark last night, and he reminded me of Romans 8:28, “28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (NASB). This verse is one that we are all are familiar with, but it has brought such joy to me. The Lord really does mean well for His people … in all things. Praise God for such mercies.

Trusting in the purposes of the Lord,
Case of Base