HORRORS OF A WORLD WITH SIN
There is so much suffering in this world. So much suffering. It’s one of the most common reasons unbelievers have put aside considering the existence of a so-called all-loving God. There is so much trauma in life that one wonders how a loving God, with all His wisdom and foreknowledge, would allow so much to transpire. We expect God would have stepped in by now and stopped the bloodshed, the conspiring, and evil from ever continuing.
Evil, trauma, and suffering are the horrors of a world with sin.
NOT WITHOUT A PURPOSE
Until sin is eradicated, the horrors won’t stop; and sin won’t be eradicated until the words of Scripture are all fulfilled. When a Christian claims God is in control, what we don’t mean is that God won’t allow suffering, pain, or trauma. What we do mean is that God is in control of which horrors occur, when, and why. The pain we experience isn’t without consequence, but is also not without purpose. God allows the pain we experience according to what will give Him glory; namely, that what starts as suffering, results in repentance, forgiveness, and freedom from sin.
DISCIPLINE TO MATURE
Some of us might get caught in the web of viewing God’s allowance of pain as an indicator that He is either evil, or that He is not omnipotent (all-powerful). That is a lie from Satan. Let’s think for a moment: Is a parent evil/out of control for allowing their child to experience the consequence of making a bad decision in order to understand the reality of inevitable repercussions? Worded differently, if we allow our child to fall, knowing the fall won’t kill them but will teach them the discipline to get back up again, will we stop them from learning to make that kind of choice? Would we really want to stop them from ever falling and consequently prevent them from maturing?
What kind of adults do we want our children to become?
WHAT IT TAKES TO TRULY LIVE
If God is all-knowing and all-loving, will He not see every opportunity in our lives that will cause pain, but which will also mature us into the type of adults who can give Him glory and lead others to repentance and the abundance of life that Christ offers us through salvation? Would God not allow those circumstances, those horrors and traumas to take place to ensure that when we fall, we don’t die but that we learn to truly live?
Is this not the same type of fall and suffering that every hero endures before they are the hero we love so much? Between every superhero, and every character that represents the best in all of us, don’t we all suffer before we become the man or woman God ordained for us to become through the glory of His perfect will?
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD
Remember, what the devil intends for evil, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20). God isn’t morally corrupt for allowing evil. He is morally perfect in the way He can use evil and still make something beautiful from it. He can use our mistakes to be someone’s blessings. He can use our failure to build up a success. He can take death and make it into life. Our God is an awesome God, and there’s nothing that’s impossible with Him (Luke 1:37)!
SO WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD?
So what if we have to suffer for a little while in this life before an eternity of peace, joy, and love? So what if we’re judged and rejected because of faith here so we can be with the King of Kings and Lord of lords forever and ever? So what if we don’t get a large social media following because people are more interested in the lies of the world than the truth of the Gospel? So what?? Which master are we serving? Which eternity do we really want?
BUILD FAITH UPON SOLID ROCK
That one choice, the choice to pick up our cross and follow Him all the days of our lives and never stop being refined into a better Christ-follower is the only choice that matters in this entire lifetime. It’s going to hurt. It’s not going to be easy. But Jesus overcame the world, so cling to God, every moment of every day (John 16:33). Stay close to the Word of God. Feed on His promises. Strengthen your faith and build on that solid rock that is Jesus Christ.
A GOD OF LOVE, MERCY, AND GRACE
Don’t listen to the world! We don’t need the internet to find Jesus. We need the Gospel, and a humble, broken and contrite heart to repent and live a new life for Christ. Christ starts inside, and builds outwards. We don’t serve a God of rituals, we serve a God of love (relationship), mercy and grace. He extends His forgiveness in Christ.
If we’re suffering, hang onto Him! Hang on tight to His Word! Stay close to the Holy Spirit. Keep listening to His counsel and keep trusting in the love of God overflowing through you. There is joy in the morning (Psalm 30:1-5).
Photo by Lucía Garó on Unsplash
