With that preface, my latest muse has been the somewhat un-explainable natural phenomenon that is lightning. Although scientists have figured out a lot about what causes lightning, they are still at odds about the exact conditions under which it occurs. The same goes for tornadoes and many other weather-related extremes. To that I say, you can't tame a Lion (Hosea 11:10, Revelations 5:5). No matter how much we attempt to understand the world around us, I firmly believe that, if we are being honest with ourselves, we will eventually get to point where the only plausible explanation is intelligent design, i.e. God did it.
The more I research the vast amount of information we do know about lightning though, the more I am seeing a majestic meteorological metaphor. Bear with me here as I set the stage with some science talk.
There are many different types of lightning but one of the common forms that we see actually starts from the ground up. That's right, if you slowed that nearly-instantaneous flash of light down, which is a feat in and of itself, you can see that the lightning is starting from the earth and branching upward, towards the heavens (see video below).
When a storm cloud has formed and an electrical field has been established, all that is needed is a conductive path for the negative cloud bottom to contact the positive earth surface and cause a lightning strike. The final path is not created instantaneously though. In fact, there are usually many separate paths of ionized air stemming from the cloud. These paths are typically referred to as step leaders.1
Still with me? Hang in there. I'm going somewhere with this.
There are various factors that affect the direction of the step leader. We are taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line; but in the case of electric fields, the lines of force, called flux lines, may not follow the shortest distance, as the shortest distance does not always represent the path of least resistance.1 (credit: science.howstuffworks.com)
Some of you are "resisting" the academic "path" this blog just took. Okay okay. I'll get to my point.Lightning is a powerful connection between the earth and the heavens.
Faith is also a powerful connection between the earth and the heavens.
I believe the Kingdom of heaven responds to faith and when we exercise it in an extraordinary fashion, powerful things happen; a very real connection between heaven and earth forms. I don't think God can resist getting involved when we are asking things according to His will (1 John 5:14) and actually believing them in our heart.
If there was an economy in heaven, I think the currency would be faith. First off, what value would money or precious stones hold in a place where the streets are made of gold? Secondly, all throughout the bible, God seems to have the strongest relationships with people who place all of their trust in Him; Noah, Abraham, Elijah, David, Peter, Paul, the list goes on. They all leaned not on their own understanding but submitted that God had a bigger plan in mind, which of course He always does. (Proverbs 3:5,6)
So, just like ground-to-cloud lightning that needs a step leader to emerge from the positively charged earth surface, God is just waiting on a positively charged leader to emerge among His people so He can show off with them.
Take note as well that the path the lightning ends up taking is not always the shortest path but rather the path of least resistance. God is not looking for the "best option" or the most likely candidate to impact the world. Societal status, reputation, credentials - He doesn't care about that stuff. He searches the hearts and minds and bestows the favor and honor (Jeremiah 17:10). He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). He wants your heart and all of it.
When lightning strikes, it's impressive. I don't think that many would be in dispute of that. The same goes for when God shows up, whether it's in changing someones life, breaking off an addiction, healing someones sore back, or literally parting the seas - it immediately evokes a response from all who bore witness. For some that response is one of worship and attributing the glory and honor where it is due. For others, the response is fear, and they withdraw.
"His lightnings light the world;The earth sees and trembles."
Psalm 97:4
A single lightning strike produces temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun (and capable of sending a DeLorean back to the future). Jesus said "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (John 14:12)
When the conditions in the atmosphere of the kingdom are just right, our faith reaching up - a "step leader" on the ladder to heaven - forms a connection that triggers a release of power that can be seen and heard all across the earth.
@KyleHopson1
References:
1 http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/lightning4.htm
