Praise the Lord everybody!! Let everything that has breath praise His Holy name!! Even though the new year has started off with a test for my wife and me, I am still looking forward to what He has in store for us and our marriage and in our ministry. We love the Lord and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Jesus tells us John 16:33 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus doesn't say we may have, but that we will have trials and tribulations in this world. In my last post "Renegade Creation: part 1" we talked about the fall of man and how this led to sin and evil entering the world and how that affected the World when it came to something called "moral evil", the evil that comes about because of man's inherent sin. We must remember, God is not the Creator of suffering and evil.
We will be discussing something called "Natural Evil" and it's effect on the tragedies that the world likes to blame God for, These are things like wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes that cause suffering for people. These things are also an offshoot of man unleashing sin on the world. When Man turned "renegade" and went his own way, God for all intents and purposes let us go, and to a certain extent removed His hand from over us. All of Nature was thrown out of kilter, set free from its original constraints. The earth was cursed. Genetic breakdown and disease began. Pain and death became part of the human experience.
The bible tells us in Romans 8:18-23 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Jesus tells us John 16:33 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus doesn't say we may have, but that we will have trials and tribulations in this world. In my last post "Renegade Creation: part 1" we talked about the fall of man and how this led to sin and evil entering the world and how that affected the World when it came to something called "moral evil", the evil that comes about because of man's inherent sin. We must remember, God is not the Creator of suffering and evil.
We will be discussing something called "Natural Evil" and it's effect on the tragedies that the world likes to blame God for, These are things like wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes that cause suffering for people. These things are also an offshoot of man unleashing sin on the world. When Man turned "renegade" and went his own way, God for all intents and purposes let us go, and to a certain extent removed His hand from over us. All of Nature was thrown out of kilter, set free from its original constraints. The earth was cursed. Genetic breakdown and disease began. Pain and death became part of the human experience.
The bible tells us in Romans 8:18-23 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
In other words, nature, and all creation longs for redemption to come and set things back to its natural order, until that happens there will continue to be chaos and disorder in this world. Think about it, all earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and climate changes are groanings of God's creation, longing to be freed. Let’s make this crystal clear once more: God did not create evil and suffering. Now, it’s true that he did create the potential for evil to enter the world because that was the only way to create the potential for genuine goodness and love. But it was human beings, in our free will, who brought that potential evil into reality.
Why doesn't God intervene against evil? you might ask.
Because God loves us and wants to have a true and real relationship with us, one that includes freedom of choice, He had to allow evil to exist.
We may say that God could still give us free will while at the same time preventing the consequences of evil. This becomes a question of degrees. We may want God to intervene in the case of murder or rape. But do we want God to intervene in the case of our own idolatry? Sin is not graded on a sliding scale. All sin is an offense to God, and it all separates us from Him equally. An unsaved person whose worst sin is that of gossip is just as unsaved as a nonbeliever who is a serial killer. If God were to intervene and prevent evil, He would have to remove us from the picture. Plus, if God were to prevent all the negative consequences of our actions, would we really have free will?
Why doesn't God intervene against evil? you might ask.
Because God loves us and wants to have a true and real relationship with us, one that includes freedom of choice, He had to allow evil to exist.
We may say that God could still give us free will while at the same time preventing the consequences of evil. This becomes a question of degrees. We may want God to intervene in the case of murder or rape. But do we want God to intervene in the case of our own idolatry? Sin is not graded on a sliding scale. All sin is an offense to God, and it all separates us from Him equally. An unsaved person whose worst sin is that of gossip is just as unsaved as a nonbeliever who is a serial killer. If God were to intervene and prevent evil, He would have to remove us from the picture. Plus, if God were to prevent all the negative consequences of our actions, would we really have free will?
Because God desires a relationship with us, and we are sinful people, our sinful natures lead us to do sinful things. But praise be to God He has redeemed us! We need not live in slavery to our sinful inclinations (Romans 6:16-18), though we still battle against our sinful desires (Romans 7:14-25). Yes, we live in a sinful world over which Satan has been given dominion (1 John 5:19). We as Believers are not immune to the consequences of evil. But Jesus has overcome (John 16:33)! God is faithful to redeem the evil that happens in our lives just like He did for Joseph after he was sold into slavery after by his brothers, read Genesis chapters 37-50.
Romans 8:28 states 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God allows evil, but He also restrains it. He does not allow too much evil, only that which can be redeemed and can lead to good. Sometimes we think it's more than we can bear, but God is faithful and will not give us more than we can bear. God is a God of justice and love, and evil will not go unpunished, nor will saints who suffer evil at the hands of others go without His help. In fact, the bible is constantly telling us to avoid all evil that comes our way, and avoid sin and to live in righteousness. We are called to help the needy and the victims of evil.
Micah 6:8 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
One day God is going to eradicate all evil, but until then, we must learn to accept what God allows, because number one it was us/man who started the evil ball rolling, and number two God allows evil because he loves us and wants to commune with us, but Praise be to God, for our redemption draweth nigh, and order will be restored to God's kingdom.
God bless you all, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall
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