Cyrus!?! Cyrus who!?!

Monday October 20th, Isaiah 45: 1-7 God's Message to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom he took by the hand To give the task of taming the nations, of terrifying their kings— He gave him free rein, no restrictions: "I'll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I'll break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances. I'll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables— Confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Cyrus was not a man of God, Cyrus was an opportunists. God however used Cyrus and led him to bring freedom to the Israelites held in captivity in Babylon. Whether you believe in God or not, God is in charge, even of you. God’s plan will prevail, end of story. There are failings and wonderings in our lives, but God is in charge. So if God can use Cyrus, and if so much of the Old Testament praise is heaped on Cyrus, why do we have such trouble honoring those who, by our standards are outside the faith, for their faith? Perhaps it is because in the back of our minds, we might just think we are in charge. Ha!! Fat chance!!! God is in charge.! Our job is to learn to live with that. When we do, we get a glimpse of Heaven.