September 20, 2026 Text: Isaiah 55:6-9
Dear Friends in Christ,
What world events have happened in your life, and you know exactly where you were? For my generation it would be 9/11 and the space shuttle Challenger explosion. I was a Junior at Illinois State, living in my balcony room at 302 W Vernon in my fraternity. I was getting ready for class, had my schoolboy 19-inch color TV on when it happened. For a moment like with 9/11 or the assassinations of Kennedy and Martin Luther King, you stand there stunned. A bright sunny day, watching the sky and the explosion. Science is not foolproof, the human mind is fallible and there are risks in any high-risk technology. I watched and thought . . .
“HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN?”
These moments happen more than we are aware of. Space shuttles don’t just explode in flight. Planes don’t just crash into buildings. People aren’t just gunned down for no reason. But all of this happens. Kingdoms and leaders fail. Economies crumble. Friends betray. Our plans don’t turn out the way we hoped.
Scripture shows how common the “How can that happen?” can occur. Only four people on earth and Cain murders Abel. Jacob tricks a blind, dying father. God’s followers build a golden calf. A disciple betrays His Master.
The Apostle Paul knows that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). His deep thoughts could be troubling. Luther struggled with his faith. He knew turning in on yourself was detrimental. We all do it. Our inward battles can crack our outer shell.
The Lord steps into our made for ourselves hell and does the “How can that happen?” He kept feeding the Exodus mob even as they complained. He healed Naaman. He engaged the Samaritan at the well. He allowed the lame to walk and the deaf and mute to speak. Don’t you think the crowds stood there stunned? Knocked for a loop? His grace was in motion.
Doesn’t this same grace of our Savior empower us? Our society is all about giving second chances. To the prisoner, the soldier, the unwed mother, the fornicator, the embezzler. Why might we help the helpless or serve those who hate us or keep being kind to a friend who turned their back? This is the way of God’s grace. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, but sometimes they trickle down to us. It can all be hard to comprehend.
Does God’s grace ever threaten us? Are we only comfortable when in control? Do we still base his graciousness on how good we have been? Anyone have to spend a moment in timeout this week? Do we strut that grace? “Yea, I really looked good stopping to change that flat tire. Surely, that is worth something.”
God saw a world in need. He saw a world that needed Him to intervene. He could not be a Creator who just washed his hands of the mess we have made it. Look at the text, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (v. 6). We have access to the Father. He knows my inmost thoughts and actions. He knows yours too and yet He approaches us. He wants to help us break free.
God became one with humanity. In the flesh. One man dies for all men. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). “How Can That Happen?” Why would the Lord do that? Because of His love. He is love. His nature. This is the only things He knows. He resurrects and still reigns. He still pardons our thoughts and ways because of His forgiving thoughts and ways. He is present in the Word – How can that happen? – and in the Sacraments – How can that happen? Grace, my friend. Grace.
After Challenger in ’86 we were confident NASA would get it figured out and it wouldn’t happen again. But it did in 2003 with Columbia on re-entry. A different problem, but again no guarantees. I saw a recent sit-down interview with the director of that flight, and he talked about the good he saw in people as they help walk and collect pieces in East Texas, the volunteers that fed the government people that made their home there for months. The humanity of man was on full display. 9/11 remembrances had some of those same stories. How Can That Happen? The grace of God that died and rose for us. The knowing that life is bigger than us. The eternity that awaits. This is what motivates the parents to forgive the drunk driver who kills their child or the person that lets go of the hell someone put them through. You watch it and have the same reaction I do. How can that happen? Could I do it? We can because God’s ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Amen.