WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 In our series this morning, we pick up on the question, 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:09.000 when you believe in God, but you don't think he's fair. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:15.620 Every year, a group of us from churches together in Clevedon 00:00:15.620 --> 00:00:21.859 go into Clevedon School and lead a series of RS lessons, 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.480 which are basically an introduction to the Christian faith 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:27.219 for everybody in year seven. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:32.039 One of those lessons is on the subject of suffering 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:36.079 and what Christians believe about how we respond to suffering. 00:00:37.239 --> 00:00:40.679 We begin the lesson by getting the class into two teams. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.500 It's usually boys versus the girls, and we do a quiz. 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:52.439 And one team gets a pile of really, really, really easy questions. 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:59.719 The other team gets a pile of really, really obscure and difficult questions. 00:01:01.579 --> 00:01:06.659 And it's not normally very far into this activity 00:01:06.659 --> 00:01:10.259 before the young people begin to, shall we say, 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.359 express their sense that it's not fair. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:20.739 You see, when we think of suffering, 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.840 that's the question that it raises. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:27.400 Why? 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:31.400 Because life's not fair. 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:36.500 All of us, every human being, whatever culture, 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.660 whatever stage in history, 00:01:37.800 --> 00:01:41.400 we are wired with a sense of fairness and unfairness, 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:43.560 with a sense of justice. 00:01:43.800 --> 00:01:44.740 We hunger for it. 00:01:44.820 --> 00:01:45.740 We thirst for it. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.540 There is something in our DNA. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:54.680 We sense that pain when justice and fairness is not present. 00:01:54.680 --> 00:02:00.360 And it's not just about self-preservation either. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:04.680 We see an injustice going on where somebody else is being treated unfairly. 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:09.280 There is something deep within our being that makes us angry about that. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:20.340 As a Christian, I believe that that is just a reflection of our Creator, 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:22.780 who is perfect justice. 00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.039 We'll come on to that in a moment. 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:28.879 But let's just think a bit more about what it is within us 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:33.000 that gives us that sense of craving for fairness and for justice. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:35.840 It starts at a very, very, very young age. 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:41.560 There was an experiment carried out by psychologists at Yale University 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.479 among infants. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:48.819 And these children were only just old enough to be able to talk, 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:54.019 but the experiment was carried out whereby a child was sat down 00:02:54.019 --> 00:03:00.079 and five bars of chocolate were placed on the table in front of them. 00:03:00.739 --> 00:03:05.780 And the child was given the instruction that you need to share evenly 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:09.019 the chocolate with an imaginary friend. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:15.240 So the child begins to say, one for me, one for you, one for me, one for you. 00:03:15.600 --> 00:03:19.020 It's not that long before they realise the conundrum. 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:23.540 What do they do with the spare bar of chocolate? 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:28.319 And in the vast, vast majority of cases, 00:03:28.679 --> 00:03:31.959 every child who was brought into that situation 00:03:31.959 --> 00:03:36.199 would actually express the preference 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:40.500 to throw the remaining bar of chocolate in the bin 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:44.620 rather than either them or their imaginary friend 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:47.079 end up unfairly. 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:50.700 Now, why is that? 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:54.240 Why is it that from the earliest of age, 00:03:54.320 --> 00:03:57.920 we have that sense, that inbuilt wiring, 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:00.280 that there is such a thing as fairness 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:02.300 and there's such a thing as unfairness? 00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:04.780 And we know the difference between the two. 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.840 And we won't rest as long as we see it in our world. 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:13.980 See, life is not fair. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:22.339 The worst day of my life was when I was eight years old. 00:04:23.919 --> 00:04:25.639 It was about five o'clock in the evening. 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:29.399 I was sat watching Blue Peter with my brother. 00:04:31.659 --> 00:04:33.019 There was a knock on the door. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.180 We peeked through the curtain. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:36.120 It was a policeman. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:38.719 My parents went to the door. 00:04:38.799 --> 00:04:40.099 They were gone a very long time. 00:04:40.219 --> 00:04:41.360 Eventually, the police went. 00:04:41.479 --> 00:04:42.539 The parents came back in. 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:46.180 And the news was broken to my brother and I 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:48.939 that our eldest brother, who was 18 years old, 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.220 had been killed that day in a road accident. 00:04:55.620 --> 00:04:58.260 You carry that with you your whole life. 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:02.300 And there's not a day that passes by 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:08.259 where I find myself struggling yet again 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:09.120 with that question, 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:12.240 how come I'm alive? 00:05:13.539 --> 00:05:14.319 And he's not. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.759 And every single one of us 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.339 has something in our lives 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:22.319 in different ways and different shapes 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.279 and different forms 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:27.899 where we experience that question. 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:28.439 Why? 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:31.500 Life's not fair. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:35.259 It's not fair that one person 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.459 is born into a situation 00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:41.980 where they have far more chance of success 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:44.240 in life than somebody else. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:47.980 It's not fair that one child is born healthy 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:49.379 and another child is not. 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:52.720 It's not fair that 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:57.779 one child every few seconds 00:05:57.779 --> 00:05:59.100 dies of malnutrition. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:03.480 and others don't. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:06.980 It's not fair that some people 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:09.680 who treat others terribly 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.700 or are just lazy 00:06:11.700 --> 00:06:12.640 go through life 00:06:12.640 --> 00:06:15.220 and actually life always seems to bless them. 00:06:15.700 --> 00:06:17.060 And yet somebody else who is honest, 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:17.860 who has integrity, 00:06:18.020 --> 00:06:18.980 who works hard, 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.060 life turns out pretty rubbish for them. 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:24.180 It's not fair. 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:29.100 And in case we're tempted to think 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:31.680 that that struggling that we have 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.180 doesn't even go acknowledged 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:35.040 within the Bible, 00:06:35.280 --> 00:06:37.120 we need to go back and revisit that 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:40.240 because there is lots and lots and lots 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.420 of acknowledgement, 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:42.220 of recognition, 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.399 and of wrestling with that unfairness 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.420 in Scripture. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:48.340 It's no accident that the book of Job 00:06:48.340 --> 00:06:49.680 that is reckoned by many 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.420 to possibly be the oldest text 00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:55.000 within our Scriptures. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:58.019 The book of Job tells the story 00:06:58.019 --> 00:06:59.579 of a man called Job. 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:00.959 He was a good man. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:01.800 He was a fair man. 00:07:01.840 --> 00:07:02.800 He was a righteous man. 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:03.819 He lived a good life. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:05.920 He treated others well. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:08.319 He lived his life with integrity. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.019 And yet, bit by bit by bit, 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.959 his life then falls to pieces. 00:07:16.219 --> 00:07:17.680 He loses all his wealth 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:18.379 and his possessions. 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:21.639 His family all dying. 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:25.539 And eventually his own health deteriorates. 00:07:25.719 --> 00:07:27.519 Now, it's not the end of Job's story, 00:07:28.039 --> 00:07:30.639 but it is the story that recognizes, 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:31.860 that engages, 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.539 that agonizes over the reality 00:07:34.539 --> 00:07:35.500 that life's not fair. 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:39.480 The book of Ecclesiastes, 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:43.439 written by this philosopher 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:47.279 who expresses a sense of unfairness 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:47.920 and injustice. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:49.199 In chapter 4 it says, 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:51.519 Again, I looked and saw all the oppression 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:53.560 that was taking place under the sun. 00:07:53.779 --> 00:07:55.560 I saw the tears of the oppressed 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:57.319 and they have no comforter. 00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:59.779 Power was on the side of their oppressors 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:01.680 and they have no comforter. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:05.120 Life. 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:06.060 Life. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:07.480 Is not fair. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:10.819 And the writer of Ecclesiastes 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:12.560 reflects on how they sense 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.240 that at times life seems meaningless 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:15.040 as a result. 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:18.759 And it's in the New Testament 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:20.240 and Jesus, as he teaches, 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:23.060 says in Matthew chapter 5 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.040 that God causes the sun 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:26.819 to rise 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:29.300 on the evil and the good 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:31.540 and sends rain 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:32.500 on the righteous 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:34.500 and the unrighteous. 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:37.759 So if we think for one moment 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.679 that the Bible is there 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.259 and it doesn't even seem to 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:44.440 recognise the unfairness of life, 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:45.360 we need to think again 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.179 because it's not the case. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.240 So life is not fair 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.539 and the Bible engages with that. 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:57.219 But let's be really clear. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.759 Life is not fair 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:02.919 does not mean 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:05.379 God's not fair. 00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:10.539 And if we go through our lives 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:11.600 and all the fairness 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.620 that it deals us 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:13.820 with this idea 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:15.000 that it is God 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:15.899 who is the cause 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:17.179 of that unfairness, 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:20.120 then that will stop us 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:20.899 living the lives 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:22.840 that God wants us to live. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:27.300 I want you to imagine 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:28.740 that 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:31.780 I just grabbed two volumes. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.139 Julian and John. 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:34.100 Could you just stop? 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:34.680 I'm not going to ask you 00:09:34.680 --> 00:09:35.180 to do anything embarrassing. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:36.259 Just stand here though. 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.220 Okay, now I want you to imagine 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.600 that a situation 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.280 has taken place 00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:43.980 between Julian and John. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:45.480 and let's say 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.519 that Julian 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:48.740 has done something 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:49.659 really, really bad. 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:52.159 He owes John 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:53.519 quite a lot of money. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:54.960 You don't, do you? 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.000 I don't think so. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.259 No. 00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:59.019 That would be awkward. 00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:05.620 And he knows 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:06.420 that he does 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:08.159 but he's not going to own up. 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:11.340 And John finds out 00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:12.220 something about Julian 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:13.639 that actually realises 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:15.240 that he's a bit 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:16.000 of a con artist 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.980 and he's done this. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:19.000 He's done it deliberately. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:20.379 He's really fleeced him. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:22.639 And not only that, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.919 he's kind of putting around 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.639 all kind of untruths 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:26.899 about John. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:27.919 He's spreading rumours 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:28.919 everywhere he goes 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:30.600 and John picks this up 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:31.439 and he thinks 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:33.220 Julian's really treating him unfair. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:34.480 And it's not only him 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.059 but he's doing it 00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:36.379 to everybody else as well. 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:37.899 Now next time 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:38.759 they see each other 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:39.059 out in public, 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:39.879 let's suppose they meet 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:40.439 right here, 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.080 it's a Sunday morning 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.860 just before the service. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:42.860 How is John 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.620 going to feel about Julian? 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.899 Is he going to want 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:47.759 to go up and talk to him? 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:51.279 Is he going to really 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:52.419 want to hang out with him? 00:10:54.939 --> 00:10:55.699 Is he going to, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.919 let's say that they're forced 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.039 into having to talk 00:10:59.039 --> 00:10:59.539 to each other 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:00.519 because they suddenly 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:01.159 find themselves here 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:01.819 by accident 00:11:01.819 --> 00:11:03.279 and then they get themselves 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:03.939 into conversation. 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:05.779 Is John going to 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:06.699 open up to Julian 00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:07.519 about anything? 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:08.439 Is he going to share 00:11:08.439 --> 00:11:09.279 what's on his heart 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:09.740 or mind? 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:10.860 Is he going to entrust him 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:11.940 with anything about himself? 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:14.320 Is he going to confide 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:14.700 in him? 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:17.000 Of course he's not. 00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:19.060 Thank you both. 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:21.259 You see, 00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:21.899 the reality 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:24.080 in our human relationships, 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:25.100 if we've got it 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:25.600 in our head 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.759 that another human being 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.320 has treated us unfairly, 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:30.180 we're not going to want 00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:30.700 anything to do 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:31.440 with that person. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:33.760 Now, 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:35.040 if you're carrying around 00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:36.520 that set of thoughts 00:11:36.520 --> 00:11:37.260 in your heart 00:11:37.260 --> 00:11:38.120 and in your mind, 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.680 it will radically affect 00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:41.200 the way that you 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.520 interact or not 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:44.580 with that other person 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:46.340 and the chances are 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.180 it's going to rub off 00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:47.960 on the way in which 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:49.120 you relate to other people 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:49.700 as well, 00:11:50.260 --> 00:11:51.080 whether they have 00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:52.080 treated you unfairly 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:52.500 or not. 00:11:54.380 --> 00:11:54.800 Now, 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:55.900 if that is the extent 00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:56.740 of what happens 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:58.240 when we carry that around 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.840 about another human being, 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:02.100 how much more so 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.860 does it affect us 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:04.860 when we carry 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.780 that set of thoughts 00:12:06.780 --> 00:12:07.639 and feelings 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.480 around in us 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.320 about God? 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:12.399 If it is our conviction 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.000 that God is unfair, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.040 that he is unkind, 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.660 that he has treated 00:12:15.660 --> 00:12:16.600 us unfairly, 00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:17.240 that he treats 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.280 others unfairly, 00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:19.700 you're not going to 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:20.560 draw near to God. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.160 You're not going to 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:24.000 want to confide in God. 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:24.460 You're not going to 00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:25.440 share with God 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.720 your innermost feelings. 00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:27.240 You're not going to 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.840 want to pray 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.780 and you're not going 00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:32.120 to be able 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:32.879 to interact 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.700 with others 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.740 in a way 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.600 that somehow 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.139 stands outside 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.519 of those feelings 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.040 that you have 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:39.780 about God. 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:42.100 If you believe 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.480 that God is unfair 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:45.240 and is responsible 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:47.120 for that unfairness, 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:49.500 it's going to 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.379 lock things down. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:55.419 Now, I'm not going 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:56.360 to suggest for one 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.259 moment that there 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.439 is a simple answer 00:12:58.439 --> 00:12:58.759 to this, 00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.360 because there's not. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:05.939 But when we look 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:06.539 at the Bible 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:08.679 and when we look 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.519 at the way that God 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.639 is presented to us, 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:11.980 we see, firstly, 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:13.659 that life is unfair. 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.360 But secondly, 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.799 we do not see a God 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.659 who causes 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.620 that unfairness. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.460 We see a God 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.939 who enters 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:24.679 into it, 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.139 who takes it 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.600 on himself, 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.279 who engages 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.519 with that life 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.939 of suffering 00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:36.759 and that life 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:38.240 of unfairness. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.639 We do not 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.620 have to be 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.279 in that place 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.600 where we understand 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.480 something 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.779 in order to believe 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.659 in its truth. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:48.719 death. 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:51.179 And if we're 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:51.819 waiting for that 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:52.219 moment, 00:13:52.339 --> 00:13:53.159 in this side 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:53.639 of eternity 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.059 at least, 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.699 where we feel 00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:55.159 that we've got 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.199 everything neatly 00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:56.939 sorted out 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.179 and we understand 00:13:58.179 --> 00:13:59.779 how it is 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:00.919 that there is 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:02.279 so much unfairness 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.019 in the world, 00:14:03.219 --> 00:14:03.879 if we're waiting 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.480 for that time 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:04.899 where we think 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:05.219 we're going to 00:14:05.219 --> 00:14:05.779 get all of that 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.500 sorted out 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.480 and stitched up, 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:07.899 we'll have a 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.639 very long wait. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.639 God 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.639 is 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:12.199 but from the 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.699 other side 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.299 of eternity 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:14.000 comes the 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.460 God of 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.000 eternity 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.279 and from that 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:18.740 place 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.439 enters our 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.179 existence 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.759 and all its 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.139 pain 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:24.720 and all its 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.139 suffering. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.899 You may have 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.259 heard this 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.299 reflection before. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:34.979 At the end 00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:35.579 of time, 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.120 billions of 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:38.779 people were 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.439 seated on a 00:14:39.439 --> 00:14:40.120 great plain 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.899 before God's 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.240 throne. 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.259 Most shrank 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.120 back from the 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:45.899 brilliant light 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.579 before them 00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:48.139 but some groups 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.079 near the front 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:50.479 talked heatedly, 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:53.099 not cringing 00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:54.859 with cringing 00:14:54.859 --> 00:14:55.519 shame 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.759 but with 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.579 belligerence. 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.519 How can 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.699 God judge 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.100 us? 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:06.980 How can 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.460 God know 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.360 about suffering, 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:08.899 snapped a 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.879 young brunette. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.819 She ripped 00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.299 open a 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:12.819 sleeve to 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:13.299 reveal a 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:13.740 tattooed 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.179 number from 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:14.679 a Nazi 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.360 concentration 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.059 camp. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:16.759 We 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.159 endured 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.639 terror, 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.340 beatings, 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:18.939 torture and 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.299 death. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:22.600 In 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:22.879 another 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.259 group, 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:23.879 an African 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.519 boy lowered 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.059 his collar. 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.819 What about 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:26.119 this? 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:26.659 He demanded 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.219 showing an 00:15:27.219 --> 00:15:27.759 ugly rope 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.059 burn. 00:15:29.119 --> 00:15:29.479 I was 00:15:29.479 --> 00:15:30.079 lynched for 00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:30.879 no crime 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.399 but being 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:31.839 black. 00:15:35.359 --> 00:15:35.939 In 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:36.179 another 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:36.619 crowd, 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:36.979 there was 00:15:36.979 --> 00:15:37.439 a pregnant 00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.099 schoolgirl 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:38.739 with sullen 00:15:38.739 --> 00:15:39.119 eyes. 00:15:39.359 --> 00:15:39.799 Why should 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.319 I suffer? 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:40.879 She murmured. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.219 It wasn't 00:15:41.219 --> 00:15:41.839 my fault. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.299 Far across 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:45.819 the plain 00:15:45.819 --> 00:15:46.539 were hundreds 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.079 of such 00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:47.459 groups. 00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:48.519 Each had 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.059 a complaint 00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:49.819 against God 00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:50.500 for the evil 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.219 and suffering 00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:52.000 he had 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.439 apparently 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:53.139 permitted in 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.699 his world. 00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:56.059 How lucky 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.679 God was 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.059 to live 00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:57.579 in heaven 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:58.439 where all 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.019 was sweetness 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.659 and light, 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:00.500 where there 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:00.859 was no 00:16:00.859 --> 00:16:01.539 weeping or 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.299 fear or 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.019 hunger or 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.479 hatred. 00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:05.819 What did 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.399 God know 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:06.939 of all 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:08.179 that humans 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:08.659 had been 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.319 forced to 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:09.919 endure in 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.479 this world? 00:16:11.239 --> 00:16:11.599 For God 00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:12.419 leads a pretty 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:13.239 sheltered life 00:16:13.239 --> 00:16:13.839 after all. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.299 So each of 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.879 these groups 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.619 set forth 00:16:18.619 --> 00:16:19.139 a leader, 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.659 chosen because 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:20.939 he had 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.840 suffered the 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:22.300 most. 00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:24.720 A 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.080 Holocaust 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.860 victim, 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:27.920 someone from 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.400 Hiroshima, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.500 a sick 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.000 child, 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.540 a tortured 00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.040 man. 00:16:33.640 --> 00:16:34.420 In the 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:34.920 centre of 00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:35.420 the vast 00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:35.980 plain, 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:37.800 they consulted 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.480 with each 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.360 other and 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:39.940 at last 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.360 they were 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.900 ready to 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:41.560 present their 00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.140 case. 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.420 It was 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:44.280 rather clever. 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.980 Before God 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.580 could be 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.180 qualified to 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:50.620 be their 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.060 judge, 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.360 God must 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.660 endure what 00:16:53.660 --> 00:16:54.200 they had 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.680 endured. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:56.480 Their decision 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.600 was that God 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.220 should be 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.020 sentenced to 00:16:59.020 --> 00:16:59.540 live on 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.360 earth as a 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.040 human being. 00:17:03.400 --> 00:17:04.259 Let him be 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.059 born a 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.299 Jew. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.579 Let the 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.380 legitimacy of 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.120 his birth be 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:09.640 questioned. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.559 Give him a 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.059 work so 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.680 difficult that 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.220 his family 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.700 will think 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.140 him out of 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:14.740 his mind. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.420 Let him be 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.420 betrayed by 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.039 his closest 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.779 friends. 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.840 Let him face 00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.700 false charges, 00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:23.779 betrayed by a 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.680 prejudiced jury 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.779 and convicted 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.840 by a cowardly 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.300 judge. 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.800 Then let him 00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:29.500 be tortured. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.160 At the 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.100 last, let him 00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.000 see what it 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.980 means to be 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.940 terribly alone. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.039 Then let him 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.460 die. 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.860 And let there 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.620 be no doubt 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.460 that he died 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.420 an ugly 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:45.840 death. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.740 let there 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.220 be a great 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:48.759 host of 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.539 witnesses to 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.519 verify it. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.359 As each 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.639 of the 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.019 leaders 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.339 announced 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:57.319 their portion 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.659 of the 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.039 sentence, 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.339 loud murmurs 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.099 of approval 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.399 went up from 00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.199 the throng of 00:18:02.199 --> 00:18:03.240 people assembled. 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:05.599 When the 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.079 last had 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:06.419 finished 00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.220 pronouncing 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.980 sentence, 00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:08.980 there was a 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.199 long silence. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:12.819 no one 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.440 uttered a 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.840 word, 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.140 no one 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.559 moved, 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.700 for suddenly 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:22.140 everyone 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:24.660 knew that 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.220 God had 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.080 already served 00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:26.700 his sentence. 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:26.900 sentence. 00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:30.860 We don't 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:31.240 have to 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.100 understand 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:32.960 something 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.340 in order 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.120 to believe 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.120 in it. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.819 But the 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.720 idea that 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.460 we have in 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.059 our hearts, 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.059 in our minds, 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.120 of what God 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.100 is like 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:48.980 will determine 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.920 the way in 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:50.700 which we go 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.360 about our 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.039 lives in 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.799 relation to 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.299 God and 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.819 in relation 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.400 to each 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:55.680 other. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.900 And my 00:18:58.900 --> 00:18:59.519 question to 00:18:59.519 --> 00:18:59.920 you is, 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.360 do we 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.700 have even 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.920 any hint 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.440 in that 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.100 understanding 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.660 of God 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.240 that he 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.720 just might 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.340 be unfair? 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:11.600 Because as 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:12.080 long as we 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:12.740 do, things 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.660 will be jammed 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:13.880 up. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:14.460 We won't 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:14.840 be able to 00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:15.380 move forward. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.259 I want to 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.700 think about 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.299 and pray about 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.799 that in just 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.160 a moment. 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:20.680 As we do, 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.039 I want to 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.519 share with 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.000 you one 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.480 last image. 00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:26.500 Earlier 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.099 this month, 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.579 somebody 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.000 called 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.660 Denise, 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.660 I'm going 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.019 to pronounce 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.579 this wrong, 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.140 I know, 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.119 Denise 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.420 Muller-Koronek 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:35.339 broke the 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.259 world land 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.400 speed record 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.900 on a bike. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.480 Can we have 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:39.940 a picture? 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.400 When I say 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.900 a bike, 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.259 I mean a 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.279 pedal cycle, 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:44.779 not a 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.339 motorcycle. 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.140 Denise, 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.460 she's 45 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.220 years old, 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:52.539 and she 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.059 pedaled 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:56.940 at 183.9 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.420 miles an 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.660 hour. 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.819 To give you 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.640 some idea, 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.259 she did this 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.860 over a course 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:03.880 of 3.5 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:04.360 miles. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.360 That's 00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:07.220 roughly the 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.279 same take-off 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.100 speed of a 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:10.220 Boeing 747. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.900 Now, in 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.339 case you're 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.000 thinking, it's 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.559 not an 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.319 ordinary bike, 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:16.980 although it 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:20.240 is in Utah 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.079 across the 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.779 Salt Plains. 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.019 She was 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.940 towed along 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.420 by a 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.880 dragster racer 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.940 across the 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.559 Salt Flats, 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:30.339 and you can 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:30.680 see the 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.400 cable that's 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:31.819 attached to 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.400 her bike. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.779 That towed 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.620 her up to 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.559 about 100 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.079 miles an 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:38.140 hour, at 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.839 which point 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.980 she flicked 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.539 a switch, 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.599 the cable was 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.259 released, and 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.839 she pedaled 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.819 to the rest 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.059 almost additional 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.960 90 miles an 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.539 hour on top 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:47.980 of that. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.259 Now, obviously, 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.579 she's pretty 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.000 good at 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.500 cycling, but 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.240 the bike's no 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.100 ordinary bike. 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.519 The bike has 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.039 fixed gears. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.880 It's a gear 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.600 ratio that is 00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:05.500 so steep that 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.500 it is impossible 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:09.000 to pedal until 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.019 those wheels are 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.579 travelling at 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.420 100 miles an 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:12.660 hour. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.299 Hence, the 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.019 need to be 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.960 towed along up 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.460 into that 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.100 speed. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.059 But once it 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.740 reaches that 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.319 speed, the 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.039 gears kick in. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.259 And I wouldn't 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.039 say they do all 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.660 the work, of 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.000 course they 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.400 don't, but 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:27.819 they do an 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.319 awful lot. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.700 Now, I just 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:31.519 want to hold 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:31.840 on to that 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:32.160 image. 00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:35.680 Imagine you 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.100 get on that 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:36.620 bike and you 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.420 try to pedal 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.600 it. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.660 It will be as 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.420 though the 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:39.900 gears have been 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.940 welded tight. 00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:41.519 They won't 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.980 budge. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.480 It would be 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.039 impossible if 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.559 you just 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.139 try to 00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:45.839 move forward. 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.339 As long as 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.079 we have an 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.159 idea in our 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:50.799 minds that 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.319 God is 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:54.379 unfair, that's 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:54.759 where our 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.319 life is. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.659 We can move 00:21:59.659 --> 00:22:00.379 through our 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.139 lives with this 00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:02.059 sense that, 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.960 yes, there is a 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.159 God. 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.859 We believe in 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.019 God. 00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.000 But as long as 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.559 we have it as 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.200 part of that 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.680 belief that God 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:11.759 is unfair, we're 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.059 not going to 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.379 move. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.619 Only when 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:15.940 you're given 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:18.299 that toe, when 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.399 you're given 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.839 that pull up 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.359 to the 100 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.859 miles an 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.679 hour, only 00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:23.960 when you 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.759 experience that 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.359 move that 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:25.960 comes from the 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.819 external source, 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:30.299 when God's 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.159 spirit engages 00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:33.079 in your life and 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.779 shows you his 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.659 reality in a 00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.139 way that we 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:37.039 can't understand 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.720 but nevertheless 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.500 know is real, 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.919 then we move. 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.579 And sometimes 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.339 we can look at 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:44.759 some of these 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.700 heroes of faith 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.740 that we read and 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.419 hear amazing 00:22:47.419 --> 00:22:48.399 things about them. 00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.259 We think, how 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.940 on earth did that 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.059 person get through 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.619 that and still 00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:52.339 believe in God? 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.819 It's not a 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.440 question of how 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:54.919 they got through 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.559 it and still 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.059 believed in God. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:56.940 It's because they 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.639 believed in God 00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:58.539 but believed that 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.259 God was not 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:01.960 unfair, that they 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.519 were able to 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:02.799 peddle. 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.220 And because of 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.139 the reality of God 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:06.899 in their lives, by 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.419 the dynamic 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.139 presence of his 00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:10.000 Holy Spirit, that 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.000 was beyond that 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.519 sense of 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:14.140 understanding, that 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.799 not only did 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.519 they begin to 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.859 move, but they 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.440 were able to do 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:18.759 the most 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.220 extraordinary 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.880 things. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.880 And so what I 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.259 want us to do 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.000 now is to pray. 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.240 We're going to 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:32.039 pray and, you 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.240 know, every 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.000 single one of us 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.519 has experienced 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:36.099 unfairness at 00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.640 some point. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:39.280 And it might be 00:23:39.280 --> 00:23:39.920 now that as we 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:42.120 come to pray, as 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.840 you think about 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.880 unfairness as a 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.720 theme, you might 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.300 be thinking of 00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:46.280 something that has 00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:47.160 happened a long 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.280 time ago in your 00:23:48.280 --> 00:23:49.120 life or in the 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.740 life of somebody 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.400 else you know. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.920 It might be an 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.800 experience of 00:23:52.800 --> 00:23:54.460 unfairness that is 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.640 present, live, and 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.520 active now. 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.500 It might be a 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.560 sense of insecurity 00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:02.400 or anxiety over a 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.320 feeling that you're 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.120 not sure of but you 00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:05.200 think that unfairness 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.980 could be out there 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.360 somewhere. 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.380 But what I want to 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.339 suggest is as long 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:11.220 as we have alongside 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.360 that unfairness, and 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.480 everyone, everyone 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.200 without exception 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.160 experiences something 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:17.559 in life like this, but 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.720 as long as we are 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.860 carrying in our 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.740 hearts and in our 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.200 minds this sense that 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:24.620 actually God is to be 00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.279 blamed for that 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.819 unfairness, it's like 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:28.200 trying to move 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.519 forward on a bike 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.579 that's welded fast.