sin in the world

[reeann]

I have been reading the threads in the Apolegetics forums.  I struggle with this one myself.  I know God is sovereign and I know one day sin will no longer be present in the world.  But right now, some bad things happen to good people.  I realized today that its easy to grasp and accept this when it doesn't touch you directly.  Two things came to my heart today from my past wherein I believe I let doubt in and never addressed.  I am looking for some feedback here, and I do not mind being corrected with scripture. I am looking for those who struggle with this very thing too.

Two incidents happened in one year that affected me close.  A good friend in Jesus who died of cancer.  This man was such a harvester and example to men in the church.  Died at 32, left behind a wife and three young boys.  

Two lil girls in my sunday school, killed by a driver in a fluke accident, 3 and 5

A situation in my own family life that impedes spiritual progress; yet it continues even after much heart felt prayer.

It shakes your faith at times.   What do we tell believers?  what do we tell non believers?   

I don't have any answers here but I KNOW my only answer at this point is to trust God to work it out.  

How do you dispel those doubts that satan loves to whisper?

 

[GraftMeIn]

What do we tell believers?

We can give them scriptures. There are reasons we have troubles in our life. we can use the same comfort God gives us to be of a comfort to them.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

As for the non-believers, unless they are willing to open their ears and listen to Jesus, I'm not sure what we can tell them if anything, except what God has done for us during such times. But if they only wish to debate with us about it then we wasting our breath.

Visiting apologitics forum will certainly shake a young Christians faith. There's far too much debate going on in there over Gods Word etc....

Gods Word speaks against debate and calls it evil.

Romans 1:28-32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Remember those little worries can be like mole hills that are turned into mountains. We have the power to move such mountains. Place your trust in Jesus and know that God knows just what he is doing, He has the greater plan.

 

[reeann]

Yesterday at 09:29 PM GraftMeIn said this in Post #2


Remember those little worries can be like mole hills that are turned into mountains. We have the power to move such mountains. Place your trust in Jesus and know that God knows just what he is doing, He has the greater plan.

*hugs*

thank you for that

Someone was praying for me today, because I have been bathed in the worry free peace.

It was more than a feelling, it was a state of being.  Forgive me Lord for my weakness, Praise you for your faithfulness

and thank you all for being her while I'm struggling

 

[ikester7579]

Sounds like the devil is trying to weaken your faith by reminding you of your deepest darkest part of your life. He likes to do that you know. You need to put on the full armor of God and resist him. For he will have to flee from you when you plead the blood of christ. When you feel one of those thoughts coming just say: "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus, get thee behind me Satan". Say it more than once if you have to. He will have no choice but to leave. I will be praying for you.

 

[Gerry]

Proverbs 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

[nomad]

reeann,

I like to try and think about and pray about something before I post a response to anything.  Of my own self It usually doesn't fill the need.

But this time I just want to share how I deal with what you are asking.  I am thankful nothing that tragic has came that close to home and to be honest I don't even want to imagine it.

I see the pain and hardships these my brothers and sisters have and find myself wondering "when will all this end".  I guess I just accept it as part of life.  Somewhere down in me in those places you can't see I know that God is sovereign.  There are things at work that we do not understand.  I think of the account of Job when I look at the entire scheme of things.  I think of how God expressed His sovreignty.  He is God, He Rules.

I know the world would actually be a heaven on earth if everybody on this planet had no sin in them and followed Jesus as the supreme ruler.  I fear the day that comes when our love is waxed over by the sin in our world.

I guess I actually handle it in two ways.  When everything comes crashing in, there in my heart there is a place that I can grab unto that is deep and solid as a rock.  It is the knowing the Lord is sovereign, and I am saved and going to be with Him someday with all the people from the beginning, present and those to come.  With that I can let go, and trust God.

May honor and glory and praise be to God forever more.  I don't write this as something that I have merely seen or heard somewhere.  I give this freely because God has earned this from me personally.  That to is somewhere down deep in me that washes up against the rock I hold unto.

Come Lord Jesus, come.

 

[Blessed-one]

i remember from the book by Philip Yancey (can't remember the name) saying something about God directing things to happen.
In it, Yancey's arguing, would God take the time to plan a bus accident to happen and choose who's going to die and who's not? would He direct the route so that this particular bus would fall off the cliff at the precise moment?

God allows things to happen, just like in Job, but we can find comfort in Him in all these awful circumstances.

The son of our reverend died awhile ago, leaving his young wife and a very young son. The reverend (he's 60 something years old) said in his preaching that God has called His son home. He (the reverend) cannot dispute God's decision, and he holds onto the hope that one day he'll be seeing his son again in heaven. This hope is what distinguishes us from non-believers, we have hope in God's promise, we're teary with more happiness than sadness because our loved ones have gone to a better place.

besides, God can turn bad things into good. In "Experiencing God", Chunks Swindoll gave an example on how the death of a believer had caused widespread spiritual revival. What we know now is limited in a sense that prevents us from knowing the whole truth, of what's to come. (the future)

hope this helps.

 

[nomad]

This hope is what distinguishes us from non-believers, we have hope in God's promise, we're teary with more happiness than sadness because our loved ones have gone to a better place.

 

besides, God can turn bad things into good. In "Experiencing God", Chunks Swindoll gave an example on how the death of a believer had caused widespread spiritual revival. What we know now is limited in a sense that prevents us from knowing the whole truth, of what's to come. (the future)

That's something to hold onto.

 

[reeann]

and he holds onto the hope that one day he'll be seeing his son again in heaven. This hope is what distinguishes us from non-believers,

Amen. this is so true. I know we will all be rejoicing and praising and seeing each other again in our glorified states. forever with God in perfection. I just can't get better than that.

 

[Blessed-one]

I know we will all be rejoicing and praising and seeing each other again in our glorified states. forever with God in perfection. I just can't get better than that.

amen.