What do you do in times of crisis? That question was posed to the attendees at a corporate training conference. Everyone had an answer. Depending on the moment, some replied that 911 was the most appropriate call. Others talked about technical support staff. Managers said they would seek out senior staff members or those with experience. In all, human interactive dependency dominated the conversation. The conference leader then probed the subject of sickness or death. He asked, “Where do you turn in times of physical loss?” The crowd became silent. Few, if any, knew what to say. A handful spoke of doctors; others of friends or family.
I have watched the degeneration of our society in times of crisis, sickness, and death. There once was a day when people gathered in the church to pray and seek God. Later they moved to the town square or some other public arena. The evolutionary movement saw people sending out thoughts and prayers. Most recently people are sending out what they call “warm thoughts” to those who are suffering. Secularism has become so prevalent; God is so distant and prayer is so foreign, people now send out “warm thoughts” in times of loss.
My question is, “What are warm thoughts?” Do they save the sick? Do they comfort the hurting? Can our thoughts restore broken lives and wounded hearts? No one is allowed to say, “We are praying for you” for obvious reasons. Prayer denotes that Someone is on the other side of that prayer. Uh oh. Prayer means that there is a God and our society cannot give credence to God. The acknowledgment of prayer is the thread to creation. If we propose prayer, it might mean that we did not come from the RNA molecule, but that God formed us and spoke the worlds into existence. Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves…”
Paul wrote of this nonsense. 1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Paul said, 1 Corinthians 1:20 “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” The world’s idea of “warm thoughts” is nothing more than foolishness. Prayer is our connection to God, Who is our strength.
When there is sudden death, I’m praying for the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace and comfort from The Comforter. My thoughts won’t help no matter their temperature. My God is the Help and Strength. He is the lifter of my soul and my refuge in times of trouble. I submit that we call on God, especially in times of crisis. We turn to Him from Whom all blessings flow. For He is God and there is no one like Him.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole