Perilous times have come. We’re so troubled on every side that if we don’t resist the devils schemes, we’ll end up compromising the truth just so we can try to make sense of why evil exists. When all we need to do is trust the Lord who “divided the light from the darkness” as He has seen fit, for “in Him is no darkness at all” (Gen.1:4, Jn.1:5, 1Jn.1:5). How else could we appreciate the light of the gospel? Yet, anytime we go beyond God’s word to try to explain why He’s ordained for evil to exist, then we’ve crossed over into what the Bible calls heresy.
One such heresy is called “Open Theism;” the belief that God doesn’t know the future and is therefore subject to change, based on certain verses taken out of context (e.g. Gen.6:6, Ex.32:12-14). It implies that evil randomly happens with no divine purpose at all. In this view, trusting God becomes impossible, for it portrays Him as neither sovereign nor all-knowing. And there can be no assurance of salvation apart from God’s divine providence (Num.23:19, Deut.32:39, Psa.90:4; ch.139, Isa.46:10, Acts 15:18, Rom.8:29-30, Eph.1, Ja.1:17).
Whenever we think God’s ways must be fair according to our human standard of “fair,” then we’re not submitting to God’s will, but exalting our own (Job 35:2; 36: 21). And this is the very sin Elihu confronted Job with in chapters 32-37. Moreover, Elihu wasn’t one of Job’s three friends who had to repent in the end. On the contrary, Elihu was a godly bystander who finally got to the root of Jobs suffering. From there, God confirmed to Job that we’re to NEVER question His ways or doubt His goodness, for we’re in no position to do so. Like Job, we should be humbled into the ground by this truth and repent in dust and ashes.
When tragedy hits an innocent victim and we become full of self-righteousness, bitterness and doubt concerning God’s goodness, it’s completely understandable but still shows we’re not really innocent at all, but sinful. We’re still accountable to God and won’t have the excuse of being an “innocent” victim on judgment day. Like anyone else, victims have to pay for their sins in hell if they’re not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “there is none good but one, that is, God” (Matt.19:17).This is why He came to save the lost sinner, not the so called “good” and righteous. We have no righteousness of our own. That’s why His righteousness must be transferred (imputed) to us, just as our sins had to be transferred (imputed) to Him while He was on the cross paying our sin debt (Rom.3:9-19; 4:6,8,23,24). Or else Christ died in vain!
Are some sinners worse than others? Absolutely not! That’s why Jesus said, “think ye that they were sinners above all men”……. “I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” All sins are equally terrible in God’s eyes and sin has so corrupted our nature that we must be pulled out of the fire by the force of God’s love. But if you don’t want God to “force”…. or as Scripture puts it….. “make you free,” then you’re basically saying with the wicked “we will not have this man to reign over us”(Matt.20:15, Lk.13:4,5; 19:14,27, Jn.8:36).
So friend, would you rather for sin to have dominion over you? Do you want God to just leave you to your own unregenerate will, which is a servant (slave) of sin, but “free” from righteousness (Rom.6:20-22)? Do you want to be in bondage in hell for eternity……… as one of satan’s puppets?! If not, then you need Jesus Christ, for “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Because there’s never been one single, truly saved person to EVER resent God’s divine intervention and there never will be.
Sis. Lee Anne——emails are always welcome at gospel4life@live.com
Christ Rescued Me! 