Susan HAS to survive! Her and Karl are still in love... and they both know it...
On a serious note - the first in this post! - it's worth a comment about the reactions to such an event that people have. Harold, a Salvation Army member and re-committed Christian, could be criticised as being naive for suggesting "They're all OK". Many people would react in anger, as Karl did: "What does God say, Harold? Did He tell you why He lets Isabelle survive and not Susan? This God of yours, in all His infinite wisdom!? If ever I needed any evidence there's nothing out there, this is it."
Harold's reaction to this time of crisis is the right one: committing himself to prayer. However, the prayer he prays serves not as a petition to God, but as a way of simply making himself and those with him feel better:
"Dear Lord, we pray for the lives of our families and our friends. Please, we know you'll look over them, you'll protect them and send them back to us safely. Amen."
Being a Christian does not mean living a trouble-free life. Jesus himself said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34). The latter half of Revelation depicts Jesus holding a scroll, while a multitude of "natural" and supernatural disasters occur on Earth. I don't understand the mystery of suffering: but I do know that God is in control. Nothing that happens on Earth will ever catch God by surprise. This is not saying that God causes such suffering; but God can use suffering in order to change us - that is, his followers - to be more like him. The Psalmist says,
"For you, O God, tested us;
you refined us like silver." (Psalm 66:10)
But Harold heads straight for his Protector in this time of crisis, because he knows that is where he will find refuge. He will find God's peace - and it will be a struggle for him to get there, in the days ahead (I haven't read any spoilers, but I'm fairly confident). And there are times in our lives when we do struggle to be in God's presence; times when even the most committed Christian finds it hard to pray. These are the times when it's important to be around our Christian friends and family, for the support and prayers we know they will be able to give. (Cue Harold's Salvo friends?)
Karl's argument is difficult (even impossible) to explain away. But in his emotional outburst is a flawed argument which can be seen in the harsh light of day: First he blames God for what has happened, and that Susan is still missing; then he uses this to "prove" that there is no God. How can God be blamed for something if he doesn't exist?
Susan is a wonderful person. Izzy... well, she's Izzy. It is clear that Karl is both still hurting from what Izzy has done to him, and still in love with Susan. And human nature is slow to forgive, and our love imperfect. But take a look from God's point of view: Both Izzy and Susan are His creations. He loves them both equally - despite the wrongs of their lives. It's the same love that, back in the real world, is offered to each one of us today: a love so powerful that it was willing to sacrifice Jesus, who was "by very nature God", that he should take the punishment due to us for our own wrongs.
So the message to Karl (should Susan be confirmed dead and not found next episode) is: God is grieving with you at the death of His child, whom he loves. But trust in Him - and you will find the comfort that only He can give.
The message to Harold is: Trust and know that your God has not abandoned you. He is your strength, your protector, your fortress. Though all around, waves come crashing down - Christ the Rock does not move.
The message to you, the reader, is: Do you know that you are loved by the living God? Loved so deeply that he was prepared to lay aside his majesty by coming to Earth, humbling himself and becoming "obedient to death - even death on a cross." In fact, " This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (1 John 3:16)
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