Reflect, Accept, and Break Free
The Origins of Evil and Suffering
❤️ of the Matter:
One of the biggest deterrents for nonbelievers is this idea that if God is so good why does he allow evil and suffering in the world.
The BIG 📸:
We want justice for the evil we observe in the world. Poverty, disease, violence, racism, class, sexual immorality, and the like.
Where does our understanding of justice originate, and who determines it? Our thoughts either accuse us or tell us when we’re doing right, demonstrating God’s law written in our hearts.
God’s laws are the origins of justice. Yet, we decided long ago that rather than obeying his law, we would judge for ourselves what is good and evil, ushering in darkness, decay, and ultimately death.
Justice distorts when there is no standard because each man demands justice based on what they believe is right without gazing into the mirror long enough to see their contribution to the world's problem of evil and suffering.
Have you ever lied and what do you call someone who lies? [LIAR]
Have you ever stolen something regardless of its value and what do you call someone who steals? [THIEF]
Have you ever used God’s name in vain and what do you call ONE who does? [BLASPHEMER]
Jesus said if you even look with lust in your heart, you’ve already committed adultery. Have you ever looked with lust and based on God’s standard what do you call one who does? [ADULTERER]
Jesus said that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Have you ever been angry with someone and based on God’s standard what do you call one who has? [MURDERER]
Based on only five of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), are you innocent or guilty? According to God’s justice, do you deserve heaven or hell?
We’re all guilty and deserving of hell, and we cannot demand justice rightfully for our neighbor’s crimes without coming to grips with our own.
The day of judgment is quickly approaching. God is demanding everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him for he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30).
Christ came into this world, lived the life we were incapable of living, and died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:6-8) so that through him, we might experience reconciliation with God.
When we reflect on our contribution to the evil and suffering in the world, recognize our own need for a savior in God's court of law, repent, and accept the gift of eternal life through the blood of Christ, we are finally set free from the bondage of darkness, decay, and death that grips the world and escape the coming wrath against all godlessness upon the Lord's return.
The 🍞 of Life:
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. - Judges 21:25
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. - Romans 1:18-21
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. - Romans 2:1-16
Take a Deeper Dive 🌊:
Probe further into this subject with this sermon!
To Thy Matchless Glory👑