Where's God

 

Pandemics, earthquakes, tornadoes, civil wars, violence, famine, poverty, sickness, pain, death—the list of suffering in the world today gives rise to a universal concern, "Where's God?" To answer this question, we need to start at the beginning, in Genesis 1:1, where it is written that God was at work 'In the beginning....." creating a perfect world for humankind. When God had finished, this world contained everything humankind would ever need. In God's perfect world, sickness and death did not exist. It was a safe place where humankind could live together with God for eternity. 

So, what happened to that world?

Simple answer— humankind sinned, and caused corruption to defile God's perfect world (Genesis 3). Think of it like a computer file that works perfectly fine until one day it is corrupted by a malicious attack. When a computer file is corrupted, it is unuseable and no longer operates as it was intended. Likewise, that's what happened to the perfect world God created for us. This world is sin damaged so nothing operates as God intended. Humankind inherited a legacy of sin from the first family, Adam and Eve. And that legacy still binds and hinders us today.

What is sin? 

Although none of us were in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned, still God passed judgement on all future humankind because He knew that in time, we would commit enough of our own sins to deserve punishment. Sin is willfully disobeying God's laws or commands. You may have heard of The Ten Commandments which were given by God to protect us; and if obeyed, they would stabilize our communities so that we could live peaceful, successful and happy lives. The Bible is full of examples of how humankind ultimately sinned against God, and suffered dire consequences. Even now, commiting acts like greed, robbery, murder, stealing, lying, hating others, premartial sex, homosexuality, adultery, rape, drunkeness, drug abuse are ways we sin against God today. In truth, we all have 'missed the mark' in some way trying to live up to God's standards. 

 "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Romans 3:23 

Sin has its consequences

God has said, "The soul who sins shall die." Ezekiel 18:20 ESV

And as if that weren't bad enough, sin also separates us from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were immediately kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Sin robs you of God's presence. Sin hinders your prayers. Sin prevents you from spending eternity in Heaven. Sin keeps you from enjoying what God has planned for you. God hates sin because of what sin does to you. 

 God's remedy for sin

God, in His great love and mercy for us, was not willing to let sin destroy His creation. God knew, even before the first sin was committed, that He would devise a plan to rescue and restore humankind to Himself. 

"Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life." John 3:16  ESV

God's plan involved sacrificing His Son, Jesus, as payment for our sins. Jesus took the punishment we deserved. His death on the Cross was payment and pardon for our sin. Still, a pardon is worthless unless you accept it. The way back into God's good graces is through Jesus Christ, and accepting Him as your Savior. You may think of yourself as a 'good person,' but you still need Jesus to be fully reconciled to God. 

Peace with God 

The world's problems will never be solved through human effort. Jesus Christ is our only hope. True and longlasting peace only comes when you surrender your old life to Christ in exchange for a new beginning.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Ready to take that first step toward a new life? When you say this prayer, with a sincere and repentant heart, your sins are forgiven, and you are reconciled back to God:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and ask You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for the gift of eternal life with you. In Your Name. Amen.

To learn more about your new life in Christ, contact peacewithgod.net  Someone is there 24/7 to talk with you.  

The Sting of Rejection

He [Jesus] had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:3 NIV

Nothing hurts worse in this life than being rejected. Rejection is the ultimate 'put down' whether you're the one doing the rejecting, or the one being rejected. Rejection makes you feel unloved, unwanted, unappreciated, inferior, inadequate, worthless. Rejection can cause some people to become suicidal. Rejection hurts like a sucker punch to the stomach. And no matter how long ago it happened, the sting of rejection can linger for months, even years.

Rejection sticks out like a sore thumb. We see it on the faces of desperate people who spend their life on the streets. We see it in the self-destructing behavior of people who abuse harmful substances that they know can kill them. We see it in the actions of people who engage in criminal and other anti-social behavior without remorse. 

Rejection can take many forms— like being rejected in the womb, rejected at birth, rejected by family or friends, rejected for a job, rejected because of your race, religion, or physical appearance. The list of ways to be rejected is endless. Maybe you have been rejected at some point in your life, and it turned your world upside down. Maybe it’s been years, and you’re still struggling to get back on your feet. The promises you made to yourself to turn your life around haven’t been kept.

You are not alone. Jesus was the most rejected man in the history of the world. The Bible says that "He [Jesus] was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Sound like you? 

Being rejected didn't stop Jesus from fulfilling his purpose in life which was to die for the sins of the world. Christ's ultimate victory over rejection means that anyone who faces rejection —past, present or future—can look to Jesus Christ for healing and acceptance. 

It doesn't mean that you'll never face rejection in some form ever again; but if and when you do you'll be stronger, better able to handle it with Christ in your corner. Those persons who rejected you may never change their attitude, but you can change. When you know who you are in Christ, you can forgive those who rejected you and move on. Today is the day you throw off the chains of bondage that have held you a prisoner of rejection. Declare your freedom now with this simple prayer—

Dear Jesus, thank you for not rejecting me. Thank you for loving me and dying for my sins. I need you in my life. I am so sorry for the way I've lived and the things I've done. Please forgive me and help me to live the way you want me to. I put my life in your hands. Thank you God for forgiving me and giving me the gift of eternal life in Heaven when I die. 

To learn more about what awaits you as a new believer in Jesus Christ, go to peacewithgod.net  Friends are waiting online to help you. Need prayer? They can help there too.