DOES GOD REALLY CARE?
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7
A hymn that I often recall answers the question our sermon title asks. It is entitled “Does Jesus Care?” The words by Frank E. Graeff and the music was written by J. Lincoln Hall.
“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Does Jesus care when I’ve said "goodbye"
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.”
Indeed, if God is concerned about the well-being of the little sparrow, how much more is He concerned about our welfare. Jesus said to His disciples, "Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
I. GOD CARES ABOUT THE “LITTLE THINGS” IN OUR LIFE:
One example was the miracle of the “floating iron ax head”.
“But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed.’ So the man of God said ‘Where did it fall?’ And he showed him the place. So Elisha cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself.’ So he reached out his hand and took it.” II Kings 6: 5-7.
We learn an important truth from verse seven. God will set the table before us but He will not force-feed His children. God, through Elisha, performed this miracle not because of the value of the ax head but in spite of its miniscule value. It was the distress that His servant was experiencing which concerned God.
Can Christians expect the same loving concern today for the “little things” in our life? Jesus said we can. “Yet not one sparrow will fall to the ground without your Father knowing.” Matthew 10:29
II. GOD CARES ABOUT THE “BIG THINGS” IN OUR LIFE:
Nothing can be considered bigger than our very life. The value of life causes all other things to pale in comparison. Does God care about the big things that we confront in our lives? Let’s see what God’s Word has to say about this matter.
Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp." But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there." And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold an army with horses and chariots were all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So the LORD struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria.
As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?" He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. (II Kings 6:8-23)
Can the Christian today expect the same wonderful protection from the forces of evil as Elisha experienced that day in Dothan? We find the answer in Romans 2:11: “For there is no partiality with God.”
III. THE PROOF THAT HE CARES IS EVIDENCED BY THE GIFT OF HIS SON TO DIE FOR OUR SINS!
Paul wrote, “What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32
Peter confirms our assurance that our Lord cares when he wrote, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7
So beloved, in the words of the song, “Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.”
AMEN.
