Blame Satan, Not God
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
The world that we live in isn't fair. In all actuality, it is merciless. It offers horrible examples of terror and suffering. Catastrophes, such as floods and earthquakes, have claimed many lives; scores of terrible diseases spread death and despair.
Many people are easily convinced that any evidence of God's love and mercy are a cruel joke. Each of us has had our own experience with disease, accidents and crime that has unexpectedly crippled and killed family members and friends.
When we are a witness to such events, we often ask, "Does God truly care about us?" Yes! God fully knows the sorrow of mankind, he has embraced us in our sin and weakness, personally sharing our experiences of fear, alienation and death.
When things are going badly, blame Satan not God! Satan will tell lies, saying, "You can't trust God!" He will say, "When tragedies happen, it is all God's fault!"
God knew that only a "supreme act of grace" could overcome the deep impression made by Satan's lies. This is one of the reasons God became a man, Jesus Christ.
To help find out why mankind suffers, we need to consider some factors.
One reason for our suffering is "it is a part of a larger, cosmic struggle between good versus evil."
We cannot escape the laws that govern God's universe. When physical and spiritual laws are broken, mankind will suffer.
We are a social race and since our lives are intertwined, when sin or foolishness of others occurs, it can spread sorrow and pain.
Sin brought a curse upon the Earth and its people. When our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned in the Garden of Eden due to Satan's deceiving, mankind has had to walk a troubled path ever since.
Yes, it is true that God allows Satan to perform at a certain level, causing mankind to suffer. God will allow this to build strength, courage and spiritual maturity. God knows how much we can handle. During our hard times, we face the choice to trust God or turn from him. If we endure our suffering with trust in the Lord, we will stop Satan's efforts and will glorify God.
These are "trying times" for humanity. But if we are suffering as Christians, there will be an end to all this pain and sorrow. If you have trusted in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are promised when Jesus returns he will take you to a place that is filled with bliss and goodness that surpasses "human comprehension" - The Promise Land, Heaven.
But, if you are not a Christian, by which you rejected God's salvation through Jesus Christ, you have sealed your fate. Those whose names are not found in the "Lamb's Book of Life" will be cast into the "Lakes of Fire" (Hell) which will be inhabited by Satan, the Anti-Christ and the "False Prophet." This is the second death, "eternal death."
We don't like the idea of eternal suffering, but remember, these are people who intentionally and willfully chose not to believe in Jesus Christ. They turned their backs on God's grace, deciding to leave him out of their lives. It was their own choice.
God's judgement stems from his holiness and he is absolutely righteous and holy. No one will receive one bit more or less than they deserve. (Genesis 18:25)
Jim Morris
North Webster[[In-content Ad]]
The world that we live in isn't fair. In all actuality, it is merciless. It offers horrible examples of terror and suffering. Catastrophes, such as floods and earthquakes, have claimed many lives; scores of terrible diseases spread death and despair.
Many people are easily convinced that any evidence of God's love and mercy are a cruel joke. Each of us has had our own experience with disease, accidents and crime that has unexpectedly crippled and killed family members and friends.
When we are a witness to such events, we often ask, "Does God truly care about us?" Yes! God fully knows the sorrow of mankind, he has embraced us in our sin and weakness, personally sharing our experiences of fear, alienation and death.
When things are going badly, blame Satan not God! Satan will tell lies, saying, "You can't trust God!" He will say, "When tragedies happen, it is all God's fault!"
God knew that only a "supreme act of grace" could overcome the deep impression made by Satan's lies. This is one of the reasons God became a man, Jesus Christ.
To help find out why mankind suffers, we need to consider some factors.
One reason for our suffering is "it is a part of a larger, cosmic struggle between good versus evil."
We cannot escape the laws that govern God's universe. When physical and spiritual laws are broken, mankind will suffer.
We are a social race and since our lives are intertwined, when sin or foolishness of others occurs, it can spread sorrow and pain.
Sin brought a curse upon the Earth and its people. When our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned in the Garden of Eden due to Satan's deceiving, mankind has had to walk a troubled path ever since.
Yes, it is true that God allows Satan to perform at a certain level, causing mankind to suffer. God will allow this to build strength, courage and spiritual maturity. God knows how much we can handle. During our hard times, we face the choice to trust God or turn from him. If we endure our suffering with trust in the Lord, we will stop Satan's efforts and will glorify God.
These are "trying times" for humanity. But if we are suffering as Christians, there will be an end to all this pain and sorrow. If you have trusted in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are promised when Jesus returns he will take you to a place that is filled with bliss and goodness that surpasses "human comprehension" - The Promise Land, Heaven.
But, if you are not a Christian, by which you rejected God's salvation through Jesus Christ, you have sealed your fate. Those whose names are not found in the "Lamb's Book of Life" will be cast into the "Lakes of Fire" (Hell) which will be inhabited by Satan, the Anti-Christ and the "False Prophet." This is the second death, "eternal death."
We don't like the idea of eternal suffering, but remember, these are people who intentionally and willfully chose not to believe in Jesus Christ. They turned their backs on God's grace, deciding to leave him out of their lives. It was their own choice.
God's judgement stems from his holiness and he is absolutely righteous and holy. No one will receive one bit more or less than they deserve. (Genesis 18:25)
Jim Morris
North Webster[[In-content Ad]]
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