A Reflection on the Anniversary of Black Saturday in connection with 1 Peter 1 - "The Ever-present God"

Twelve months ago today horrific fires hit Victoria. In places like Marysville, Kinglake, Flowerdale and many others, there was the tragic loss of 173 human lives, so much animal life, countless properties, and the landscape was blackened. We saw pictures of heartache across the media, and some of us may know people who suffered loss. Our hearts went out to these people, who like us, were just going about their daily lives.

Then we responded with donations of goods and money. There was an unprecedented response to the various appeals that were set up; even Midnight Oil re-formed to perform at a fundraising concert. The broad community response was heartening, and brought a ray of hope to those who had lost a lot if not everything.

We were caused to think about where God was in all of this!?!

We hopefully concluded that God was with the suffering, seeking to offer comfort and peace. God was also active in raising up a human response to this tragedy. God’s hand of compassion was hopefully recognised in all those who selflessly sought to help. These people, whether they be CFA or Salvation Army or Red Cross or Baptist chaplains, or just general collections of volunteers, exhibited the best of what it is to be human – that which most resembles God as seen in Jesus, and touched people with real expressions of love.

We might have been caused to wonder why this would happen!?!

We probably concluded that this sort of thing – raging fire – happens in this world; and that humans in certain places and at various times get caught up in this. Such a fire could be through lightning – the most natural of fire-starters, or electrical faults – where there could have been less maintenance than there should have been, or arson – where the worst and most destructive of human activity is experienced.

There is much natural ‘fuel’ for fire out there, and the need to balance all the environmental and practical concerns is very complex. Even though the earth continues to spin on its axis and orbit around the sun, there remains a certain fragility about the earth, that is exposed through earthquake, tsunami, volcano eruption, tornado, flood, drought and fire.

Then when human beings are factored in, through either their deliberate or neglectful behaviour towards this planet, we can definitely understand that stuff will happen! This is a fragile environment being managed by broken people. If not for some level of seeking after God, and God’s faithfulness to us, life might have all ended by now.

The Apostle Paul, some twenty centuries ago, remarkably understood all this when he wrote (in Romans 8:19):

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.

The story of CFA volunteers remembering the hell of Labertouche North Rd on Black Saturday available at: www.heraldsun.com.au/news/cfa-volunteers-remember-the-hell-of-labertouche-north-rd-on-black-saturday/story-e6frt7jo-1225823440240

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.

Some people, whether they believe in God or not, respond with compassion by their own choosing when certain circumstances arise. Others might turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. However, for those who believe in God and follow Jesus in life, there should certainly be a developing and growing commitment to the welfare of others.

This is what Peter teaches in his letter. If this early Christian movement, so much in the minority and facing so much opposition, is going to survive, then they better think about the needs of others. Peter was not thinking about those outside of the church so directly in his time (being in such a survival mode), but our understanding of Jesus’ mission would certainly take our minds out into the world as broadly as possible (when indeed we are so free to act).

God’s creation, so badly affected by negative human behaviour, awaits those who have committed themselves to Jesus, to properly exercise their freewill in caring for the whole earthly environment. Those who are truly inclined towards God’s Will - will be revealed in how they respond to each crisis of suffering. As Peter’s letter in the first chapter points out, an outgoing and outpouring love is the most tangible sign of spiritual maturity (1 Peter 1:22). This is all about offering hope in the very face of hopelessness.

We can partner with God in this, for this too is what God is all about … offering the possibility of renewal in the midst of ruin. Built into creation itself, as well as within the human being, is the capacity for re-birth.

Let’s backtrack a bit to examine this source of rebirth and this motivation to love.

When Prince William recently visited a property destroyed by fire, it was interesting to hear the property owners talking about the signs of regrowth in the trees … here were tiny little green shoots of hope. Something new has emerged out of what appeared dead! This is the capacity for nature to regenerate that God originated in the beginning. Hopefully people might also recognise the capacity of humans themselves to be able to experience such a renewal.

1 Peter chapter 1 encapsulates this human process of regeneration in the midst of the challenges of life. This was a letter addressed to widely spread Jesus-followers to encourage them in their walk with God. Encouragement was absolutely necessary as they faced persecution for maintaining their adherence to the way of Jesus.

We read of the writer’s praise for the God who has made possible such a second chance at life … a re-birth into a new life of purpose and hope, and his thanksgiving for a God who will honour all his promises concerning ultimate salvation. This has all come out of God’s gracious act of mercy enacted in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our new life is God’s own life fused to our human personality. And we thus rejoice in knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, and believing in Jesus. Faith that brings renewal and salvation was much needed, long awaited, and spoken of by the prophets of old. Our life rests assuredly in God’s hands.

And this is so important to hold onto given how hard life was at times. We might be spared some difficulty and suffering as we cling to God, however not all of it. We are not exempt from all the world’s turmoil, nor the grief and pain of this life. And as we put Jesus first in our lives, with all that this means on a daily basis, we should expect some opposition, even if it’s only a little vilification or harassment (because of our attempt to positively challenge the prevailing culture). While enjoying God’s good gifts, we will still feel the pain of our losses and various reverses of fortune. We shouldn’t doubt the reality of our relationship with God just because we endure trials!

After all, if life on earth were a constant joy without difficulty, how would we remain sensitive to our ultimate need of God? As we read in verses 6 & 7, suffering reveals the genuineness of our faith, such faith of course being absolutely precious in value. Faith is more precious than gold because it takes us further!

When gold is refined, its impurities are removed by a fiery process. Our faith (and our life) is refined by our testing challenges. Thus, we can look beyond our difficulties to what God is bringing out of them and through them. We become stronger. The way in which we deal with our trials can also reveal Jesus in all his light, and bring honour to God. Indeed, how we act in any circumstance should prove that our faith is genuine.

Facing reality in times of crisis can create opportunities for new creative responses that would not have been otherwise pursued. Suddenly the tool-bag around the builder’s waist has way more tools in it, and thus has broader applications to tasks that might arise. Peter himself had to rebound from the torment of past failure and more recent incidents of persecution, to stand determined and active in his faith in the resurrected Jesus. So Peter spoke with some credentials in this area. Without being brought so low and embracing humility and dependence upon God, Peter may never have been able to rise to such heights (in the power of the Spirit).

This chapter goes on to talk about the discipline required of the Jesus-follower, which is a proactive call to become a modern-day effective credible disciple of Jesus. This is because God doesn’t just redeem us, but brings truth to bear on us as well, which begs a reformation of our life.

So that returns us to where we were earlier – where we see that the ultimate application of our experience of regeneration and our purification in the truth (verse 22) – is loving deeply from the heart out of a genuine mutual love for other people. [To have our souls “purified” is to cleanse or restore the health of our souls.] The assumption drawn on here is that naturally our experience of faith and salvation will draw us toward a corporate worshipping community in which we can grow in our capacity to love others.

Now, love is God’s greatest motivating factor. We can’t really have God’s life within us and remain unchanged (in terms of our attitudes to others). Yet, how hard is it to love others following past experiences of abuse, rejection and the destruction of trust!! It’s hard enough to love ourselves let alone loving others!

How hard is it for trees to regrow following being totally assuaged by thousand degree temperature fire!! That would seem hard alright ... yet ... God makes it possible!!!! It is within the capacity of all creation – environmental and human – to see beauty emerge out of the ashes (refer Isaiah 61:3).

And so we, who have experienced so lavishly the love of God, should allow God to work in our lives, so that we can love in such a way as to reveal Jesus whenever and wherever he is needed, and especially where suffering dominates. The Greek adverb translated “deeply” in verse 22 in terms of describing our degree of love, could also be translated “constantly” or “persistently” – there is a sense of effort involved. And this “agape” love has been defined as “a self-sacrificing desire to meet the needs of others that finds expression in concrete acts” (E.A. Blum).

In this way we partner with the ever re-creative and ever-present God in seeding new (green) shoots of hope. “Love is the authenticating sign of a renewed life” (Donald Senior). And thus we are well-placed to respond to all need as it presents itself. We can participate in the redemption of our community, not just in our own limited strength, but in the effectiveness and wisdom of God working through us.

In this, I suspect, we would still need a burst of confidence! And where would our confidence come from? 1 Peter 1:23-25 reminds us where! Our confidence comes from the living and enduring ‘Word of God’! Whereas our human flesh is frail, just like grass and flowers in the face of fire, the ‘Word of God’ stands in its constant worth forever, providing the good news of hope.

If this ‘Word of God’ can become imbedded in our minds and hearts enough, we will have the confidence to make a difference for good. And the ‘Word of God’ is not just the pages of the Bible with all their helpful teaching, but essentially the one in person who the Bible points to … Jesus! This term ‘Word of God’ in its most general understanding would refer to God’s self-revelation, which would include both his spoken (or written) word and the personification of that ‘Word’ in Jesus. Jesus will never lose his relevance nor his throne. Does this inspire you??

I hope I am like that green shoot rising from the ashes of total destruction, giving testimony to the regenerating love and mercy of God operating in my life and in the world. You thought a ‘desalination plant’ was a big project … well God has embarked on a massive overhaul project with me, dealing with my hurts and fears along the way.

God lives in the suffering of his people everywhere, calling humankind into solidarity with his hurting world. We can be stirred by stories of terrible loss and brave heroism remembered this day, but we can also take to heart our call to love and to participate in the rebuilding of God’s world. As we read earlier from Romans:

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.