The survival of the fittest: Stronger, Faster, more Clever, and more Prolific. Progress is made, beasts get stronger, the prey more clever, the small more prolific and the brains of the upright, seemingly smarter and smarter. Evolution as a term carries so much weight that I'd rather not use it, but we are indeed heading some where, advancing and improving but not entirely in control. Whatever this progression is or is not, God takes the strongest, smartest, most clever and most prolific, while they careen out of control with only enough sense to perpetuate themselves, and puts them under his rule. Under his rule, if they do not submit they will be destroyed, or more likely they will destroy themselves. In a world where God is having his way, the strongest, most clever, most prolific and smartest will care for the weakest, most disabled, abused and most in need.
We see glimpses. We burn with a desire to care for others. But we also see great destruction. We feel the consequences of the fact that God has not asserted his will with the full force that he could (should). If he did, we would be no more. He is waiting in his mercy to bring his peace and his judgment. He has also decided to use his people as a tool for his will to be done.
In Isaiah 11,
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
If you were made strong, or smart, or clever, or prolific, you were made so under the authority of Jesus Christ. Both Evolution and the Bible would tell you to be fruitful and multiply. But in the beauty and grace of Christ you are also told care for the poor, the weak, the needy and the burdened. In our fantasies and in our hearts, we yearn for a Super Hero, someone strong to protect the weak. If survival of the fittest is the rule, where on earth did this powerful idea of benevolent sacrifice come from? It came from the Creator of all, who gave us the finest, truest example of complete Strength and complete Sacrifice. Only one deserves to be called Savior. Because he is strong and because he saves, in the end the first will be the last and the strong will give way to the meek. As much as this may mess with our current sensibilities, this is the way perfection and peace will reign.
From Matthew 5
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
