Why Does Evil Exist?

Why does God allow pain and suffering?  If He is a loving God as scripture says He is why does He allow, murder, rape, incest, child abuse and death?  If He is all knowing and all powerful why does He allow evil to exist?  This question is often asked by unbelievers because they don’t understand that God didn’t create sin. Man created sin.   God created man to live in paradise with Him.  He didn’t create robots but instead gave us freedom of choice and in doing so we chose to sin and through that sin suffering entered the world. 

Sin and chaos will continue to increase as the second coming of Christ draws near.  The tempter, the liar, the author of sin is hard at work making our world a place where evil is good and wrong is right and Jesus is irrelevant.  The world wants us to believe that all religions lead to heaven.  If you’re “good enough” you will go to heaven when you die seems to be the prevailing belief.  Some churches don’t even teach Christ crucified because it might offend someone.    But the bible is clear:  There is only one way to heaven and that is by professing faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

Our world will continue to grow darker and darker until the glorious return of Christ.  We will continue to see an increase in tolerance towards sin and intolerance towards Christian faith and beliefs.  It has already begun and it is only going to get worse.  Pain and suffering is part of life because man chose to sin.  But joy and contentment is also part of life for the believer.  Only Christ can give us the inner peace and comfort our souls crave.  Even when our world bottoms out we have the hope and the joy of knowing our Savior is with us and in the end everything is going to be alright. 

Scripture

“But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die”  Genesis 2:17

But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction.  Job 36:15

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."  Luke 2:14

We Are not Promised Tomorrow.....

This week a friend of mine lost her 21 year old daughter to cancer.  Her pain was so real to me and I just wanted to hold her and make it all better.  It’s hard to lose someone you love (no matter how old they are) but losing a child or grandchild is the hardest.  

Her daughter stood before the congregation in July of this year and gave her testimony.  It was an emotional story of the last year of her life.  She was newly married and was diagnosed with brain cancer.  She was so sick and had such a long hard road ahead of her.  She told us of her immense anger toward God and the world because of her illness and that anger was consuming her. 

She had her whole life ahead of her and she was angry that illness had stopped her dreams in their tracks.  She was a young, newly married young woman with hopes and dreams and plans of a life with her husband and she felt it was unfair this was happening to her.  Why wasn’t God listening to her prayers?  Had He abandoned her in her time of need?

One night God let His presence be known as she remembered a bible verse. “Come to Me, all who weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest”  Matthew 11:28  She felt the anger slip away and it was replaced by the peace and calmness of the One who loves her more than anyone else – God was there with her and He reassured her that she was most definitely not alone.  He had been there the whole time.

Now, Lindsey is at rest.  She is in the arms of our heavenly father and someday we will all get to see this amazing young woman again.  There is nothing more reassuring for a parent than to know that our child is saved and that we will have eternity with them in the presence of the Lord.   He is the One whom our hope lays. 

As we mourn with this precious family let us remember that life is short and we are not promised tomorrow.  If we die today we would be in the presence of God Almighty and we would have to give our testimony with how we lived our life. What would be your excuse for not living for Him while you had the chance????

Scripture

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12

What is the worst that could happen??

  

What would happen if the world lived by the Ten Commandments?  What is the worst thing that could happen?? 

We would worship in harmony the Creator God only.  We wouldn’t put anyone or anything before Him.  We wouldn’t cuss.  We would have one day per week to rest and worship.  We wouldn’t have any rebellion from our children and families would live in harmony.  No one would be murdered leaving loved ones to pick up the pieces of a life that was taken from them.   Marriages wouldn’t be destroyed by unfaithfulness. We could leave our homes and car doors unlocked because we wouldn’t have to worry about theft.  We could trust our neighbor, friend and co-worker because lies wouldn’t exist.  Everyone would be content with what they have because there would be no coveting. 

Wow!  If that is the worst that could happen then why are the Atheists so up in arms about Christianity?  It makes a person wonder what the true agenda of our higher courts and atheist groups have up their sleeves.  They want God out of our classrooms, courtrooms, public squares, families and even our church’s (they call us bigots).  If they succeed in this endeavor we as a country will go under. God doesn’t force Himself on anyone and if he isn’t allowed in these places we will become a Country without hope and a Country without hope is a Country without a future. 

We should try to live up to God’s standards.  But we should also understand that we are human and by nature are sinful creatures so we will fall short.  Thankfully we have a Savior who took our punishment for our sins and when we are covered by His blood we are righteous in the sight of God.  We can’t live up to all 10 commandments but we can certainly try.  And what is the worst thing that could happen?

Scripture

1.You shall not have any other gods before me 2.You shall not make for yourselves any graven images  3.You shall not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain  4.Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy  5.Honor and father and mother  6.You shall not murder  7.You shall not commit adultery  8.You shall not steal  9.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor  10.You shall not covet