Beloved Friends in Christ,
On Wednesday, Felicia Simms of Vernon, BC gave birth to twin girls, Tatiana and Krista. While this was ordinary enough, what made their births noteworthy is that they were born conjoined at their heads. Such births, as you might guess, are extremely rare and risky. Moreover, the mortality rate for conjoined children, in the first days after their birth, is high. Tatiana and Krista have made it over these initial humps. They are alive and well.
But what comes next? Will it be possible to separate them, or will they need to live the rest of their lives joined together? And if so, why does God allow such things to happen?
This question will surely be asked, if it has not been asked already. For the question is a natural one, and one that has been asked in many different ways by many different people.
Jesus' disciples asked the question too. Seeing a man born blind, they asked whether his blindness was a result of his sin or the sin of his parents.
The answer they received was that the blindness was neither a direct result of the blind man's sin nor of his parents. Though it is true that all suffering is a consequence of sin in general, it does not follow that some are afflicted more heavily because of greater personal sin. Rather, the opposite might be true. Human suffering, whether in the form of illness, deformity or economic hardship, may be placed on those who have the inner strength to bear it, thus allowing God to display His healing or deliverance through it in the end. Ultimately, of course, we may never know why God allows certain things to be as they are.
We do however know this, that in our greatest need-our need to be separated from our sin and reconciled to God-God's power and glory were displayed. On Calvary's cross, Christ our Lord took our sin upon Himself and conquered it forever!
In His service,
