SimpleFolk

Where is God in this World of Need

Reality can be hard to accept at times. In fact, reality can seem be down right unfair. The truth of the matter is life seems like a cruel joke to many of us, and to many others it is like a game that gives us a false hope that we could actually win. After toying with these thoughts of life in our mind, it only a matter of time before we are led to ask ourselves, “If life is so hard what does that say about the God who created it?” Some of us go even further and ask, “Does God even really exists, and if he does where is he? Why does evil happen?”

In short, evil happens because as hard as the truth may be to accept; WE DO EVIL! Yes, you are right there are the occasional acts of nature, such as the recent earthquake of Haiti that does great destruction and ultimately ends and alters many lives. But if we are to be honest with ourselves we would all agree that the lives that those events impact are a drop in the bucket compared to the evil that men do to one another on a daily basis. Isn’t it ironic that the world cries, “Where is God”, during the days of great tragedy, but during the others days of our lives we do all we can, not to involve Him?

We force God out of television, education, work environments, governments, recreation, and any other event that is not classified as a “religious meeting”. Nevertheless, when disaster strikes we complain about what seems like His lack of presence.

Typically, people feel this way because their perception of God has been for the most part self-constructed. Most people have taken very little time to study the character and behaviors of God, and through our pride we think we have Him all figured out by just reading an article or two, and listening to a few sermons or discussions. Although we don’t take that approach to any other area of understanding, somehow we figure that we can just miraculous and thoroughly know God’s personality without any research.

The presence of evil and disaster does not disprove God; as a matter of fact He promised it would happen. He even promised it would happen the way that it is happening right now. His answer was not for Him to intervene by jumping in and stopping it, at least not until a certain time after a great deal of disaster has already happened. The biblical reason for His wait is because he is trying to give as many people as possible a chance to choose His deliverance from all destruction (2Peter 3:8-11). Jesus is His deliverance.

People get angry at that answer. We all like options, but truth is always absolute. When given one option we feel a lot like a two year child that has been given a firm ultimatum, and just like that two year child we get angry and throw a rebellious tantrum. Notice the absurdity in that response. What good does it do, for us to get mad at God because we want His help without giving up our own evil ways? Just like the parent of the whining two year  old child; God will still have the final say.

The day that God steps in to stop evil and destruction He is also going to step in to pronounce final judgment on the choices of men, and their true decision to accept of reject His Son as the greatest authority to direct their lifestyles. If someone is asking for God to step in and stop droughts, war, rapes, and all acts of evil ,then I hope he is prepared for final judgment too.

The truth is people do not want God to stop evil, but only the evil that we are most uncomfortable with. He is waiting to give everyone the best chance possible to realize there are only two categories available for selection, good and evil. We don’t make the determination of what goes in each category, He does. He is not going to take away our choice. We all have free will, but we must remember that every decision, both good and bad has consequences.

God states in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.”

The fight against evil is really in the hands of people. We only have to remember that evil is evil, either we reject it all or accept it all. If you are asking, “Where is God?” The answer is, watching to see what decisions we are going to make  concerning our complete rejection of evil. God has given the option to stop evil to men, but the problem is we like it more than we would like to admit.

Posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 3:05 PM. Filed under: Simple Truth Tags: choice, days, death, decide, decisions, disaster, earthquake, end times, evil, fear, folk, God, Haiti, hope, judgment, life, repent, simple, simplefolk, truth, war, where is God RSS 2.0 feed.