“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.”1 John 4:16-19 NLT
You must have have heard the argument before that ” why would a good God let all the bad things happen in the world” they say this as an excuse to why they can’t accept God. This of course is just a generic blanket statement that they use that really if they took the time to think about what they’re saying they may decide to change their question. The bible clearly states that one day God wil, judge the world for the bad things that are happening, it is clear in the Old Testament that he does judge places and people at certain times, look at Noah’s age and Sodom and Gommorah, even his own people Isreal.
Since Jesus has defeated sin on the cross, God it would appear is holding back until judgement day. He has provide an opportunity for humanity to find peace and his love through Jesus. Many who make the statement above do not realize what they are saying, if they knew that asking God to deal with all the bad things in the world would include them they would have a different outlook. For they don’t see themselves as bad, they are good people who have bad things happening to them. The enemy has blinded their eyes to the truth and they have a false sense of security. They don’t understand that the underling issue with the world is affecting them as well.
We need to be better at sharing the love of Jesus with them. We need to start changing our attitudes towards reaching the lost. We sometimes discount people based on bias and not see them for who they are, loved by God, who desires that not one be discarded or written off. If it is fear holding us back, then we need to ask ourselves why? Is the love of God flowing through us, if so then there is no need to fear, he has overcome death, he has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us through this uncomfortable and undesirable times. But we must do something, apathy and non action are not what we are called to do.
We are called to mission of reaching the lost. The question the world should be asking us is not “why would a good God let all the bad things happen in the world” but rather ” when will this good God end all the bad things in the world” we need to be ready to share the love of Jesus with them at any moment.
Father, we need to reach those who are away from you. It is so uncomfortable and strange for us is in our culture to share our beliefs with others. Not because we don’t want to but more because Christians are consider intolerant and not understanding, which of course is further from the truth. Show us ways to reaching those around us, we know they are longing for something more in their lives. Let us be an example of your love in actions and words. Holy Spirit push us to be sharers and get out of our comfort zones. The people around us are loved by you God, so we need to love them as well, no excuses. Amen
50 Days of Pray 