I read recently that underneath the religious or belief systems we hold, there are often three possible ways we can view the world: The universe is against us, the universe is for us, or the universe is neutral.
A neutral world believes there is no God against us or for us; we’re basically on our own in the universe. Many good and even religious people subscribe to this worldview. Life has sadly convinced them that there probably is a God, and God might even be just and good, but this God is not actively involved in our lives or history. We can go through all the rites and services, follow all the rules, but if the grace of God hasn’t deeply touched us—which is the full meaning of conversion—we will have no meaningful awareness of God.
But if you and I believe in an indifferent universe for long, we usually move to the second worldview where reality is perceived as hostile, destructive, or judgmental. Not only is God not involved but God also has to be appeased. In such a view of the world God is somehow working actively against humanity: watching us, judging us, critiquing us, and certainly not on our side. Many Christians claim they don’t believe that, but it’s clear that they do from the fearful way they live.
But a third worldview that the world is for us can only be given by grace, though it has a great head start with a loving and merciful family system. In this group the universe is not against us, nor is it sitting out there indifferent. Somehow, it’s on our side! What we see and feel and experience in life can be trusted. We don’t need to pull all the right strings or push all the right buttons. Grace is everywhere. It’s good to be here. Life is perhaps difficult, but it is still good and trustworthy at the core.
But for me it all comes down to meeting God, and until that happens, until we meet a benevolent God and a benevolent universe, until we realize that the foundation of all life is love, we will not be at home in this world. That meeting of God, that understanding experience, cannot be communicated by words. It is a gift given through encounter with the Spirit of God. Its inherent character is best described by three overlapping characteristics: faith, hope, and love. When we experience those virtues, allow them to transform us, and are able pass them on, we are participating in the very life of God. And our benevolent God has given us the Scriptures and Prayer, two great gifts that reveal our benevolent God and help our restless hearts finally rest in Him.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” 1 John 2:15-18.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” Romans 12:2.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” Colossians 3:2.
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” Acts 17:30-31.
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