Have you ever wondered why the world is like it is? Why is there so much hatred, so much crime, pain and suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? And then we are told that God created it all. Why would a good God create a world with so much evil? Something doesn't make sense.
The Bible's answer to those questions is clear. The Bible tells us God created the world, not the evil in it. It works this way.
When God created mankind, He gave him the greatest gift possible -- a free will. God loved man, and He wanted man to love Him back, but love is not really love unless it is a product of choice. In other words, forced love is no love at all. That being true, God created man, not as a robot whose computerized brain would be programmed to obey and to say, "I love you God." No. God created man in His own image with the ability to choose. Unfortunately, man didn't do so well. Way back there in a beautiful garden paradise called "Eden," man chose to disobey his loving Creator. That act of disobedience was called "sin," and sin broke the fellowship man had always known with God.
In other words, there now existed a separation between the holy God of creation and the man who had become unholy through his sin. Man had become separated from God, and if that separation continued until death, it would be eternal. Think of it -- God's own creation, the object of His love being forever removed from the presence of God. He would be doomed to live throughout eternity in a godless place called "hell."
But why doesn't God just overlook sin? God doesn't and can't overlook sin because God is "just." And being just requires Him to punish sin. So, what are we saying? Are we saying there is no hope for we who are sinners? Thankfully, there is more to the story than that. You see, God is not only just, He is also merciful, and His mercy led Him to do something incredible. God sent His Son to die in our place. Jesus Christ died to take the punishment that was due us. Second Corinthians 5:21 puts it this way: "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." The song says, "Amazing love how can it be that you my God died for me?" Amazing love indeed! Romans 5:7-8 says, "Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Do you get the picture? God loves you and wants to spend eternity with you, but here's the catch -- you, like that first person, have the ability to choose. You can either choose for God, or you can choose to maintain your independence from God. The choice is yours -- it's your move!
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now by praying to God. You might pray something like this, "Dear God, I know that I have sinned, but I ask you to forgive me. I do ask Jesus Christ to come into my life and save me from hell." That simple prayer from a heart of surrender can remove the separation between you and your Creator and give you an eternal home in heaven. That's good news! If you would like to talk with someone about this matter, please contact the church office. Someone will be more than happy to help you in any way possible.
Pastor Don Griffin
You may also reach us by phone at: (281) 646-1084