Evil and Superheros

Does God love you?

I think most followers of Jesus would say yes.  I know I would.  But if God loves me then wouldn't that mean that He would want the best for me too?  Again, I would have to say 'yes'.

But here is the question that must follow:  If God loves me, and He wants the best for me, does that automatically mean that I know what's best for me and that He should do everything that I think should be done?

Hmmm. . . . .

No, simply because God wants the best for me doesn't mean that He should do what I want-even when I am absolutely certain that I know what should be done.

With that in mind then, think about the question for today:

"If God has the power to change everything bad in the world. . .why doesn’t he?  Its like being superman and not using your powers."

 

When we think about the evil in the world, and the pain and suffering that arises from that evil, we often wonder why it is that God doesn't simply fix it.  Because that would be the best thing to do right? 

 

How short is our memory?  Didn't we just say that it seems reasonable to admit that God loves us, and wants the best for us, but that doesn't necessarily mean that what I think is best is what God should do?

 

How seriously do we take trusting God?

 

I think this question is an uncomfortable one for followers of Jesus because it really does seem right to question God's lack of action.  The world's accusations against God in this matter are tough for us to stand against because part of our own thinking agrees with them.  Not pretty, but probably true.

 

But is God not doing anything?  Maybe He is actively providing answers to the problem of evil but we disagree with His methods?  Here is what I mean. . . .

 

John 14:12-14 says this: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

 

Jesus did some pretty amazing things when He walked this earth.  He healed people of disease, He drove demons out of people and set them free.  He said again, and again, that the Kingdom of God was near.  Basically, we would look at the life of Jesus and say that He really was making a difference, standing against the pervasive problem of evil.  God was at work right?

 

But what about now?  We get caught up in the evil and sin all around us and have a difficult time seeing God at work in anymore.  Why is 'superman' not using his powers to change things for the better?

 

Here is a suggestion:  Look in a mirror and ask that same question. . . .Didn't Jesus say in John 14 that His followers would do even greater things than He did if they would only ask according to His will?  It seems to me that He has provided all that is needed to see the evil of this world addressed by the power of the Kingdom of God that rests in the heart and soul of each believer in Jesus! 

 

He is just waiting for someone to have the courage, faith and trust in Him to step into this role of bringing the Kingdom to bear.

 

Let me be clear:  God wants to overcome evil in this world far more than we do.  It is the antithesis to His very DNA.  He hates sin and what it does to what He created.  He desires for every person who breathes to find freedom and rest. . . . .

 

But He is wanting to do this through us----through you.

 

Are you willing?

 

So the next time you hear or ask the question of why God doesn't just fix our world--rethink.  And then look at yourself and say 'thank you' that He really is providing a way to overcome evil, and finally ask that God would help you to step out, and into His will. 

 

Then just watch what He will do!

 

BT