The Big Itch

Shuk In shared this through email today, which I found to be really good. And so I'm going to share it with those who read my blog. Yup.

The big itch
by John Fischer

Here is a thought as big as a worldview. Functioning as a believer in the world begins by thinking like this.

The wise King Solomon once wrote: "He [God] has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people can't see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT) In other words, it seems God has purposely frustrated us. He made us with a capacity for eternal things yet he keeps us from knowing fully what he is up to. And why would he do that unless he wanted us to seek after him and perhaps even find him?

This is God's way. We can't grasp much of this, but we can see that God has set things up so that we are a part of his creation and in participation with it. Part of that participation involves scratching a very big itch. The itch is that we belong to God and live in a universe he made, but he has remained relatively hidden from view. That means a whole lot of people are groping around looking for what they're not even sure of. They might say they don't believe in God, but they are looking for him nonetheless. They have this itch.

Every thinker has it. Every artist has it. Every atheist has it. Every poor and needy person has it. Everyone has an itch to know God. People on drugs are looking for God. Criminals are looking for God. Scientists are looking for God. Philosophers are looking for God. Gays are looking for God. Intellectuals who argue against his existence are looking for God.

Now if this is the case, and we live in a universe like this, if you happen to know God (through the revealed Word of God), have an idea what he looks like (Jesus), and would know him if you saw him (through the things that he has made), then you suddenly have something in common with all these people. You have what they're all looking for. That means that by just being around them, you might bring them some comfort. And for you to be around them is to have your own knowledge of God confirmed by their itch to know him even if they don't admit it.

While I was writing this, my little boy turned on the radio and an Elton John song came on with the following lyrics: Life is precious/Every day's a prize/And sometimes you find an answer in the sky.

If you listen for the big itch, you can find it almost anywhere.