Acts 12- Multiple Pasts, One God

Acts 12 starts with the story of two of the disciples, James the brother of John and Peter.  King Herod arrested both of these men but two very different things happened to James and Peter.  James was executed.  Peter was miraculously saved by an angel.

We are left with a very big question.  Why did God allow James to be murdered and save Peter?

I'll answer this question with another question in my life.

This weekend I was able to go visit a ministry called Breaking Free.  Breaking Free helps free women from the bondage of sexual slavery and prostitution.  It is an amazing ministry but the stories that the women have lived through are sickening.  It is disgusting to hear what some monsters, who call themselves men, can do to another human.  I was pissed listening to the woman telling these stories and I asked "How do you not want to kill these men who do this?"  The woman explained that many of the men who do this were victims of sexual abuse.

These men, most of whom were sexually abused, became such monsters.  They prostituted these beautiful women.  They stole their dignity, self-worth, purity, and souls.  Much of this because of the pasts of these men; because someone had molested them.  Why would God allow them to be molested and therefore become so awful?

When I was young, about kindergarten or 1st grade I was playing with my friend Marshall.  As we were playing in my room Marshall pulled his pants down.  He then asked me to kiss his penis.  Now as a little boy I don't know why, but this seemed very strange and wrong.  Why would it seem so wrong to a very young kid?  I don't know.  But I immediately went downstairs and told my parents.  It turns out that Marshall had been molested earlier.  But the point is, why did God spare me from unwittingly doing that?  Why did He somehow let me know that it was wrong?  How would my life be different if I had innocently done that disgusting thing?

Why did God spare me, but allow sickos to make other little boys into troubled men?  But for the grace of God I could be like them.

We can't understand why God saved Peter and not James.  We can't understand why our pasts are different than someone else's.  We can't understand why one person get trouble and another gets blessing.  But we can know this: 1) God is going to end all sin and suffering 2) we can trust our God because He is in control even when we don't understand.

We have multiple pasts, but one God.  God is the God of the troubled and of those on Easy Street.  Rest in His control and remember that He works everything for good for those who love Him.  Trust Him today.