by Tim McConnaughy Jr
Have you ever blamed God?
I am guilty of this, especially when things are not going well in my life. And sometimes depression or some other mental disorder can account for such thoughts and actions.
However, God is the one who gives life and breathe. If you are alive it is because of God giving you your life.
There ARE reasons to be angry however—just not directed toward God. For me, two reasons I get angry and sad are because of evil and life's trails or tragedies.
Why does evil exist?
When I think of what evil is, I think about the many people who are brutally murdered and imprisoned for trusting in Jesus Christ or believing that He is their God. I also think about the evil in my own heart towards others and secret thoughts of lust. Likewise, my soul cannot help but weep over the millions of infants murdered in the womb from abortion. But why does evil exist in the first place?
Evil exists because of sin and because of the evil heart that is within every human being.
Is it not true that the moment we are told not to do something or that we cannot have something of great desire often becomes all the more desirable?
If I tell my daughter she cannot have a certain piece of candy or toy that she really wants, she not only wants it more, she wants to know why she can't have it? Many times, a simple no, is not enough for kids. Sometimes the child will try crying or throw a tantrum in the high hopes of causing an emotional parental break-down which will result in mom or dad caving in to their child’s deepest wish. And adults are no different when it comes getting what they want. Some murder for it, some steal for it, some lie to get it, and still others will lie about lying they ever wanted it—-and eventually get what they want. And there is no limit to addictions. Whether the craving is for more stuff, money, liquor, drugs, sex, pornography or lust for another----the heart is profoundly evil continually. (Jeremiah 17:9)
However, things were not always this way.
God created a perfect world before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. When they sinned, the curse of sin was now in place over the world. Right now the ruler of the world is Satan. He is the father of lies and we are his children from birth. (John 8:44)
Still don't believe me? Ask yourself a few questions.
This will give a better view of what sin is.
1. Have you ever lied (even once—fibs, white lies, etc.)?
2. Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? Ever used God's name express disgust? Hitler and Mohammed are not hated this much. Cursing God is true Blasphemy.
3. Ever stolen (anything—value is irrelevant)?
4. This next one really convicts me. Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust?
I used only four (4) of the Ten Commandments, but if you listen to your conscience and have answered "Yes" to any of these four questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterer-at-heart and must face God on Judgment Day. This is when God will judge sinners. We will be considered either guilty or not guilty on that day. Naturally we all will be found guilty because of our sin against God. Thankfully, this is not the end of the story.
Why do tragedies exist?
I have battled depression and human anxiety disorder for all of my life. Just hearing about a human tragedy or catastrophic event can start me down the slide of depression. It can feel as though I am personally involved or directly connected to that person or event.
Late in 2010 I was diagnosed with two types of cancer. As you might imagine, coping with this reality has been difficult—to say the least. In the summer of 2011, I nearly died in the hospital from an overdose of Chemotherapy drugs, yet God miraculously made it clear it wasn't my time to exit earth. But someday it will be.
I know people who are confronting far worse events in their life than I will ever have to deal with. Perhaps you are someone or know someone who is experiencing a similar trail—or worse. I want to be thankful for what I have. But the reality is that death isn't something many of us like to talk about, let alone face.
Where did death come from?
In the garden of Eden we can see how the curse of death began. When Adam and Eve sinned, they sinned against a Holy and perfect God who cannot have sin in His presence. God created their life without physical death and sin. But with the introduction of sin, God pronounced a curse on the earth. All human beings would now physically die and women would labor and experience great pain during childbirth. Of course, lying and sin against God began when Satan first challenged God.
Satan told Eve that she would not die if she disobeyed God and ate the fruit. (Genesis 3:3,4) One day God promises to fix the troubled earth but right now there is only way to restore a relationship with God and live forever with Him.
Today good and evil both exist in the world. There is God's side and Satan's side. We must make a choice whom we will serve. If we do nothing we are already on Satan's side. But how do we serve God if we're sinners and against God by nature?
As I previously mentioned, God is Holy and He requires holiness and perfection to enter His presence. When we take the Ten Commandments test, we can see that not one of us is perfect or without sin. No one will earn a pass or be able to gain God's favor to enter His Kingdom. Therefore, religion or good works are worthless for getting one to Heaven. As a result of sin all moral law breakers and sinners are by default, heading for Hell.
One Way of Escape
There is only way to enter Heaven and escape Hell. Just like it was God who created men perfect before the fall of Adam and Eve, God alone is the One who made the only way to enter His presence and to restore a relationship with Him.
What Did God Do?
Nearly 2000 years ago God Himself through Jesus Christ, entered our world as the only sinless Man to ever live. For 33 years Jesus lived on earth to accomplish one purpose. He came to save sin-filled humanity from God's judgment against it. Jesus took our sin on a cross and paid the penalty for us breaking His moral commands. Jesus rose from the grave fulfilling His promise, and defeated death. God's sacrifice makes it possible for our case against God to legally be dismissed. We must repent of our sin (turn from it) and be reborn. Being born again means to trust in Jesus Christ alone as our Savior from God's coming anger against sin. We can have a new life and restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Having a relationship with Jesus will not take away present physical death, tragedy or even the evil in the world. However, for all who trust Him as their Lord and Savior, they will have a right and restored loving relationship with God forever. God gives this guaranteed promise by giving the Helper or Spirit of God. And after physical death, He gives everlasting life with Him in Heaven.
Additional Scriptures
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:16, 36)
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, ….for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Ephesians 2:4,5)
By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Do You Blame God?
Website designed by Tim McConnaughy Jr. © 2014 www.areyougood.us
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