Seeing likeness...mourning differences


Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
If I have denied the desires of the poor, if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless-
if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or a needy man without a garment,
and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the fleece from my sheep,
then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.
~ Job 31 ~

For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'
~ Deuteronomy 15:11 ~

Why will they never cease to be in the land? Why will we always have poor? Part of me has always wanted to believe socialism: that if we could just improve distribution enough, force people to be fair and just, we could eradicate hunger, sickness, and crime. You know, make a heaven here on earth! I cry out in anger and despair that children like this beautiful little boy, Dennis, waste away in orphanages without proper nutrition or physical care. This little boy will die because of the heart defect he was born with. He is Rosy's age, and he weighs 12 pounds. He is so beautiful! Why is his life so different than my children, chubby cheeked and laughing as we jaunt through life running from joy to joy, overfull and blessed all of our days? I have a heart to adopt children, yet there is no way that I can take all the children, even all those on this one website, and care for them well. What am I to do? Is it even "Christian" to cry out in anger and despair? Yes! Resoundingly, YES, I believe it is. What I rail against is sin and death...the consequences of sin and death. That they seem to be unfairly meted out is not my business. My business is that I am a sinner, I am surrounded by sinners, a world full of them. What else can I do but cry out that we do, indeed, have a blessed hope, even in the face of such poverty and wretchedness as this? He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men...live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking forward to that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed... (Titus 2 excerpted)

There’ll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes;
But a glorious morrow when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be no more weeping when Jesus comes;
But a blessed reaping when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

~ There'll Be No Dark Valley, William Cushing, 1896

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