EVIL THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS FALLEN WORLD
EVIL THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS FALLEN WORLD
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. —II Timothy 2:25-26
Why do bad things happen? This person—
- Was blameless
- Had done nothing wrong
- Helped people heal
- Gave food to thousands
- Help people live a normal life
- Did not seek notoriety
- Was willing to serve everyone
- Only spoke the truth
- Never lied
- Comforted many
- Wept with the sorrowing
- Was always wanting the best for others
- Gave without expecting return
- Helped grieving families
- Was kind
- Was compassionate
- Was very patient
- Cared for the poor
- Cared for the rich
- Cared for everyone
- Directed others to do good
- Directed others to serve
- Directed others to look to the interest of others and not just their own
This person was perfect and innocent of any wrongdoing, but they were betrayed, falsely accused, experienced injustice, abused, beaten, battered and were unrecognizable. They were then led away to be executed as a criminal in the most brutal death imaginable. And yet, with their last breath He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24). Jesus, the Son of God, had been brutalized by the people of His creation— yet, He desired His Father to forgive them.
Now, if man, motivated by Satan, did this to Jesus, then it is understandable that man, when also motivated by Satan, is capable of doing the evilest things imaginable to their fellow man. Where was God when Jesus was on the cross? He was right there. He was accomplishing something through the most Satanically motivated wicked event in human history that could not be accomplished unless it happened.
So, why do wicked, evil things happen in our world? It is because it is a fallen sinful world. It is because people need to come to “their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” Evil things happen because people are “captive to do his (Satan’s) will.” It is not God’s fault that evil things happen. It is Satan’s fault. Satan deceived mankind in the beginning and because of it, sin, death, evil deeds and wickedness have mushroomed since. Evil will increase until the time of God’s judgment on this world and it will happen. It happened once—
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” —Genesis 6:5-14
God will again judge, but it will be once for all time. That judgment is fast approaching and all who do not know Jesus will be judged. That is why Jesus took all the sinfulness of man upon Himself at the cross. He also suffered all the sorrow and griefs of man at the cross as well— all your sin, all your sorrows and grief as well as all the people— past, present and future.
Unless we comprehend the beginnings and continuance of sin and evil and the reason Jesus went to the cross, then we will blame God for evil situations instead of the one who needs to be blamed— Satan. But also remember, it was man that turn their back on God, not God on man. The same happens today. We need to run to God and not fall into the trap of Satan and blame God and not come to Him.
Where was God when you were suffering evil. He was right there walking with you, desiring you to call on Him and to trust Him— even in the suffering that was Satanically induced. Will you respond like Job and “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:20-22).
Oh, Dear Father, so much evil in this fallen sinful world, please help us to trust You when evil is upon us. Thank you that You loved us so much that Jesus came into this fallen, sinful, wicked world to take the penalty and punishment for our sin that we could have a relationship with You through Him. Oh, may we call out to You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Thank You that one day this that makes no sense to us now will make sense to us in glory. Until then, may we faithfully follow You. Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSGXKsv7IU