Heritage Lutheran Church is a Bible-believing, Confessional Lutheran Church that proclaims the true Word of God.

God’s Higher Way

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:6-9

Why do we suffer this pandemic and all its associated difficulties?  Why now? Why here? Why our nation.  Why does God allow it?  We cannot be faulted for wondering such things, but we must be careful about going from questioning to blaming God.  The truth is that we do not, and we cannot, understand God’s purpose and ways.  God is omniscient. That is, he possesses all knowledge. He knows all things.  Our minds are finite. Our ability to learn, to know, to understand is limited. How can the finite human mind comprehend the infinite mind of the almighty?

God is not hiding explanations from us.  He knows exactly what he is doing.  He has a precise purpose for all that is happening.  But even if he were to try to explain it to us, we would not be able to understand.  We can only, in faith, humble ourselves before the Lord, knowing that we cannot understand his thoughts and ways, yet at the same time trusting in his mercy and grace,

What is the ultimate work of God beyond our comprehension?  Verse 7 says “Let him (the unrighteous man) return to the Lord. And He will have mercy on him; And to our God; For He will abundantly pardon.”  Who can comprehend that love of the Lord?  That he receives the repentant sinner and pardons abundantly?  Who can comprehend a God so loving that he would sacrifice his only begotten Son on a cross?  Who can comprehend the love of Christ that drove him to endure the cross for us?  And if God so loved us then, why would anyone think he does not so love us now?

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth; So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”   Lord, we commit ourselves, including our minds, into your hands. We confess we are not capable of understanding your plans and actions.  We trust in your mercy and grace. We know that no matter whatever dangers surround us, your plan and your purpose must still be accomplished. Give us patience and courage to follow you and trust in you through every danger.  Amen.

-Pastor Anderson