“There are no atheists in foxholes” goes a timeless aphorism. Proving that at times of extreme fear and concern religion is brought to the surface of the most irreligious of souls.
I met a veteran who told me that he had made promises to God in the heat of battle that was fuelled by nothing but terror. He said that those prayers and promises were of a world where everything was literally splitting apart around him. A world where his ordinary prayers could ever fit—before or since.
Many of us will never know such extreme situations, and for that, we must count ourselves blessed.
People are too easily caught up in the rhythms and distractions of everyday life to ever stop to hear God’s call to ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ At best they think of God as being remote and non-interventionist. Their prayers are few and far between, even non-existent.
But God has “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccl.3:11). There is a yearning for the eternal God in all of us. We long to know Him and to communicate with our Giver of Life. But most are not willing to pay the price of drawing near. Complete surrender is a price they consider too high to pay.
Thus, a strange standoff is set in place. Man stands in his world getting what he wants, and by the trick of his mind he sets God off in outer space; until needed, of course.
God is not restricted to the imaginings of man. He cannot be moved about as if He were an expendable pawn. No one moves Him. Instead, man moves further into darkness in order to avoid Him. Light is exchanged for darkness. Nothing can make sense until they heed James’ advice to:
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jm.4:8).
Calling the wanderers home is a desperate job we are called to do. And by God’s strength, we will go forth.
John Staiger