The fallen state of our world is the direct result of our sin. When we choose to go our own way and to consider Gods word as not “worthwhile,” we become depraved in our thoughts and actions. Sin has direct results NOW. If we want a better world, we must begin with the knowledge of God. This goes right along with the concept of blessing. God wants to bless us both physically and spiritually. When we make our selves overflow with the knowledge of Him our lives are filled with blessings instead of depravity. Likewise, when we go our own way and seek our own gain, our lives are filled with depravity instead of blessings. It is a conscience choice we make.
A while back my church did a sermon series on the seven deadly sins. The very first week of the series we read Colossians 3:1-14 and the following quote from a commentary got my attention:
“The surprising thing about St. Paul’s understanding of God’s wrath is that immorality and foolishness is the punishment and not the cause of punishment. Moral perversion and mental pollution are the result of God’s wrath and not the reason for it. This means, that we are punished by the sins we sin (not for them). If we shut our eyes to God’s light we go blind. If we decide to shut our ears we go deaf, and if we exchange the true God for a false one we become like the god we serve.”
I think that Romans 1:28 shows this concept clearly. When we choose to go our own way instead of God’s way we bring disaster on ourselves. It is important not to blame God for the consequences, it is important to place the responsibility where it belongs.
The question is often asked “if God is so good why does He allow so many bad things to happen in our world?” This question holds a lot of people up, however the answer is so simple. There is bad in our world because we are fallen. There is bad in the world because God loves us enough to give us freedom of choice. There is bad in the world because we are sinners. There is bad in the world because we choose to worship false gods that promise happiness but deliver disaster. And when this disaster comes we blame God instead of the “god” that caused it. It is easier for us to blame God than to take responsibility for ourselves. It is easier to think that we can live however we want to live and still please God and be blessed by Him. It is easier to think that we can put God in a box and think that He is exactly who we say He is, instead of allowing Him to be something bigger than what we can comprehend. And it is this thinking that allows us to blame God for being or doing someone or something else than we define Him as. It is easier for us to do this than to allow God to have complete control of our thoughts and actions. But it is this kind of thinking that allows darkness to reign on earth. It is this kind of thinking that allows bad things to happen. And it is this kind of thinking (by believers) that allows God to be blamed and hated (by non-believers).
It is time for believers to live what they believe. I’ve discussed it previously in my blogs, God wants to bless the world, but it is up to us who believe to take this blessing out into the world. It is up to us to spread the knowledge of God to those who don’t know. We must choose to believe God and follow Him. We must own up to our sin and the hurt that we’ve caused. We must live what we believe. If believers want to convince the secular world that God truly is good and truly is all powerful we have to be the ones to stop blaming Him for our mistakes. We have to be the ones to quit asking the question “why?” and start asking the questions “what do You want me to learn from this,” “what are You trying to teach my through this,” “how can I worship You in spite of this,” “how can I become more like You,” “what sin of mine caused immorality to reign in my life,” and “what do I need to do to get rid of the god that I am serving and replace it with You?” If we want to change our world, we have to start with Christ. It we want to bring God’s blessing we have to start with the knowledge of God. If we want God’s Kingdom to reign over darkness we have to get rid of our “gods” and worship God. If we don’t we “will become like the god we serve,” and immorality will devastate our lives and our world.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We are a fallen people living in the midst of death and despair, but Your sacrifice offers us hope. Lord Jesus You were willing to die so that we could live; I pray that we would accept the gift of life and that our lives would be a reflection of You. I pray that You would reign in our lives and that we wouldn’t worship false gods. I pray that we would be responsive of Your Spirit in our lives and that we would be attentive to Your voice. Convict us of our sin and destroy it. Teach us to worship You alone and to believe Your promises. Let Your Kingdom come to earth and Your will be done. May the bondage of sin and death be broken as Your people turn to You and live their lives in worship. May the grip of the Devil be broken as the knowledge of You is spread and as people cling on to Your never failing promises instead of Satan’s deceptive lies. Live among us, make our hearts Your home, and pour out Your blessings on this parched and thirsty land that so desperately needs You. May Your people become more and more like You as they serve You in their thoughts and actions. Make us like more like You.
Amen, let it be so!
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