It wasn’t always this way. You know, the pain and suffering in this old world. Each one us can recount story after story of things gone wrong in our lives through “no fault” of our own. Why is it that bad things happen?
Well before Adam and Eve decided to disobey God all of creation was in perfect harmony. After that things just went from bad to worse. Man got kicked out of the garden, but didn’t learn his lesson. Next thing we know man has gotten more and more sinful until there is only one godly family left in the world. Perhaps you have heard of Noah. More catastrophe came upon the earth because of the sinfulness of man. The entire world was destroyed except those in the ark. Look at where we have ended up since then. Man got together and started to build a tower to heaven in Babel when he was commanded by God to go out to all the earth, what did he do but all settle down in one place. God confused the languages and caused the people to scatter over the face of the earth. Sometimes when people don’t obey God simply intervenes to change their minds.
So down to this day animals are fearful of men, this happened after the flood. Men and women try to rule over one another, this happened at the fall. Man seeks to set up a god like himself, this started in the heart of Satan. So here we are today in a world that has been subjected to the sinful consequences of man’s rebellion against God. Just like these horrible tornados that passed through the Tennessee Valley last week. This world is in constant turmoil. Pain and suffering, misery and disease plague man all because of sin. Its not that any of you have done anything in particular that was bad that the tornados came, but rather a long-term consequence to the rebellious nature of man.
So what do we do about? Is there anything we can do about it? None of this took God by surprise. So Why? SO What?
God has given us all things in our lives to get our attention. To help us look towards Him. Man never has had much use for God when things are going his way. God uses the things in life to draw us to Himself, to grow us up to be like Jesus, to help us long to be with Him in eternity. This old world is not our final home. We are just passing through. You can either live for yourself and die in your sins or you can die to yourself and live to the glory of God. There is no middle ground, and God is only going to wait so long for you to come to your right mind.
God offers you eternal life beginning today. A life whose joy is independent of the pain and chaos in this world. That joy is rooted in belonging to Him for eternity not in the fleeting circumstances of this short life. God spared you this last week for a reason. And it wasn’t so you could live for yourself. If you don’t know Him you may not get another wakeup call. If you do know Him where are you at in your walk? These are matters of eternal significance don’t blow it off – you may not get another chance.
Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
sherman
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