| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Not too long ago, a Gallop Pole asked the question: “What’s the number one question”. The number one answer was ---- “Why does God let bad things happen?” This was not a Christian focus group, but a broad based pole. We all have and do, ask this question. Often out of bitterness when we loose someone. The problem stems from a misconception common to todays world view that says: “If I give my life to God, I will have no more problems. I will be healthy, rich, popular, successful, and everyone will love me”. Lots of false teachers espouse this, relegating God to a genie waiting to grant your wishes. What is the truth? “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:” Psalm 34:19 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord, if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;” John 15:20 “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 “For unto you is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Phil. 1:29. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2nd Tim. 3:12. And lastly; “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” 1st Peter 4:12. So why does God allow or even initiate bad things? Well, the first and greatest answer is found in John 9, vs 1-11. It is for His glory. God always glorifies Himself and desires to use us to that end. He can/does Heal someone directly, and receive glory, or He can receive glory by/in the way a persecuted person deals with their situation or circumstance in a supernatural way that brings glory to God. Secondly, they may just be reaping what they sow. If you smoke and drink hard for thirty years, don’t be surprised when your body mutinies. Thirdly, it could be time to go home. Did you know everyone - 100 out of 100 dies? I’m going to try to make it the last thing I do, but it is coming. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Heb. 9:27. (Note: you would do well to establish where home is going to be). Fourth is Chastisement or Discipline, which men avoid at all costs as though it were a bad thing, while God looks at it as a demonstration of His love. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. — But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye ------------s (illegitimate children), and not sons.” Heb. 12:6 and 8. Kinda makes you long to be disciplined doesn’t it? A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted. Love and encourage one another. God Bless. |
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