The Lord Reigns cont.

1. Sin Destroys

If there's sin and suffering in the world, who exactly is responsible for it? James 4:1-2 poses the point that our desires are at war within us. Our world today covets what's not ours, we're greedy for things that we can't have, and this causes us to quarrel with ourselves and each other. Suffering is a direct result of our sin and the sins of those around us. Sometimes bad things happen because...


-We live in a fallen world

Now, what exactly does a "fallen world" mean? This means that when God created the Earth, and everything in it, He created it in it's uttermost perfection. God wasn't the one who screwed it up for us, we screwed it up for us. People themselves decided to turn against God, and that is what brought sin into the world. Romans 5:12 makes clear that the sin of one man, caused for the sin of all men. Sometimes bad things happen, because we live in a fallen world, but not always.

-It's our own sin

James 1:13 emphasizes the fact that God is not the one who tempts us, causing us to stumble. Isaiah 53:6 makes it clear that WE have turned from God on our own accord. Some people today may say that, "the Bible even says that God has hardened some people hearts, I'm just one of those people, and I'll never believe." For those of you reading this that may believe that statement to be true, think about this; Is it possible that God has truly hardened the hearts of some people, not with malice and hate, but that he has hardened their hearts with His love? Have you ever heard the term "Kill Them with Kindness?" Meaning, if someone is bugging or pestering you, you simply continue being kind to them, and showing them love even though they may not deserve it, so that in the end it drives them so batty that they stop bothering you? I wonder if maybe this idea came from the grander image of  God continuing to love people, even when they consistently deny Him? The idea of God showing His love over and over until eventually people get so fed up with Him trying to show them grace that they close up and turn from Him completely? Something to think about. Sometimes bad things happen, because of something we've done, but not always.

-It's the sin of others

Some examples of this factor would be Jonah's sin of not following God's direction to go to Nineveh. Instead, Jonah got on a boat with a few other men, and sailed in the exact opposite direction. Later, a huge storm came and threatened to sink the boat, which would have killed Jonah and every innocent sailors aboard with him if the sailors hadn't have had Jonah own up to his sin. Had the sailors done anything to bring the storm upon them? No, it was Jonah's sin, but it had now effected the lives of those around him. Another example would be David when he was having an affair with Uriah's wife. Uriah was a soldier in David's army. One day David commanded for Uriah to be placed at the forefront of the battle they were about to face, and when their enemies were closing in on them, David commanded for every soldier to retreat and leave Uriah to fend for himself. Did Uriah deserve to be delivered into the grips of death? No, it was David's sin that brought him there. Here's a real- life, here-and-now example; Abuse Cases. A child is beaten, and forced to live in a home where they are being improperly treated. A child that deserves to be loved, but instead they are verbally, emotionally, physically, mentally abused, and put in a horrible situation that is bound to scar them for the rest of their lives. Does that child deserve to live a life of pain and abuse, feeling like they are unloved? NO! But, because of the sin and shortcomings of the abuser, that child is effected. Sometimes bad things happen, because of something someone else has done, but not always.

The man preaching these message asked a curious question I would like for you to think about; 

Has God ever used the negatives in your life to develop positive results in your relationship with Him, and your relationships with others?

In spite of sin, we can find comfort in the fact that we know GOD REIGNS.