It occurs to me today that I should take a moment to post one of the most interesting quotes I have heard of late.

"I am not entirely on anybody's side because nobody is entirely on my side. The are, of course, some things whose side I am entirely not on."

This was spoken by Treebeard, a character invented by JRR Tolkien in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The brilliant author Tim Keller takes this quote and applies it to God. God does not act entirely to benefit us as individuals, nor does he intend to harm us or work against our every aspiration. However, there are things that God is entirely opposed to (i.e. evil, sin) and does not abide.

The problem with so many people's spiritual lives today is that they look at the world and judge God based on what they see. Is the world lovely and enjoyable? Then God is good. Is it fraught with pain and suffering? Then God is unjustly working against us. Likewise, we observe the world and our own lives and judge God, declaring that he is "acting" against us (hence "Act of God" has often come to mean an outrageous disaster). We see God as being on our side or not on our side. What's wrong with this picture? (Hint: Finite trying to command infinite...duh-duhduh)

So, how should it be? It is clear. We should seek God, align ourselves to God, and be on his side. The implications of this are vast, but I believe that it only makes sense. This solves so many moral problems. We always look for lines not to cross, what we can do but not be "sinning." But if we are not on God's side, if we do not care to align ourselves with him, what does it matter anyways? If you show no love for someone but try not to offend them for maybe half of your life, is that really going to be good cause for them to be on your side??? Of course not. In the same vein, if we are aligned with God and doing the proper thing to honor God is our first priority, how can we do wrong? It is then that we say, "God works all things to the benefit of those who have been called according to his purpose" and "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

I do not claim to be properly in step with these thoughts, but the revelation has really changed my perspective and hopefully will change my life as well. Tim Keller's The Prodigal God is wonderful if you're looking to delve into this from a more reliable, intelligent source.