Daily Wisdom 06-17-2008 An Angry Young Man

A hostile young man who was involved in witchcraft and led a life of crime, was diagnosed as having a fatal disease. Frustrated and outraged, the man directed his anger to a 'so-called spiritual being' he heard some refer to as "god." With fists clenched and eyes raised upward he shouted: "If there is a god up there, then take this terrible disease away from me now!"

The man waited and nothing happened. He still had the marks on his skin which were a constant reminder of his impending death. "Just as I thought!" he shouted, still looking toward the sky, "You're a phoney!" The angry young man scuffed his heals in the dust of the ground and walked off mumbling to himself.

Why didn't God answer this man's prayer? Surely God knew that this individual was in need of healing. Certainly He has the ability to intervene...yet God remained silent. Why?

The Bible tells us that God always answers a pure heart, but various Scriptures also mention that there are reasons why God will not answer prayer. Such causes for unanswered prayer are: hypocrisy, neglect of God's laws, forsaking God, idolatry, self-righteousness, lack of faith, asking amiss, and living in sin. (See James 4:3, James 1:6-7, Jeremiah 14:10, Proverbs, 28:9, Mark 7:6)

"Behold, the Lords hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness." (Isaiah 59:1-3)

Sin and evil is contrary to the nature of God. How can we expect one who is holy, pure and good to dwell in a heart that holds hate for Him and His word? Where there is not repentance, there cannot be forgiveness (I Kings 8:33-39).

The young man in this story did not desire to know God or abandon his life of sin. In his heart he knew that he was content in his evil ways, and merely was calling on 'this god-person' as a last ditch attempt to find healing from his illness. Because this man had turned his back on God. God, being the just God He is had every right to turn His back. Fortunately for many of us, He does not always react this way.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide", "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations", a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit http://www.melanieschurr.com