What is this Evil (2)

Atheists of course use the presence of evil as "proof" that God Himself does not exist. A flow of logic has never been the strong suit of atheists. 

On the one hand, atheists rage that God does not judge evil and bring it to a halt according to their time frame.

On the other hand, when the knowledge strikes home that God will judge evil and bring it to a halt and that they along with evil will be forever removed from His kingdom, atheists rant and rage and pout like little children having a tantrum.

The presence of evil necessitates God’s justice. 

But God justice is not just handing out rewards and dispensing of punishment. 

God’s justice is restorative. 

God’s justice entails the complete defeat of evil and the removal from His kingdom of all those on the side of evil.

God’s plan for His creation, a plan interrupted by the intrusion of evil at our behest will take place and there is nothing that atheist or Islamic fundamentalists or anyone else can do about it.

Amazingly this restoration will be brought about by the nation of Israel (the apple of God’s eye) His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ, and those who believe in and follow Jesus and accept His forgiveness for the the evil in their lives. 

Thankful for Stuff?

At Thanksgiving we usually focus on the things that we've been given, and for good reason. As promised, Jesus meets all our needs. But at one point in His ministry, Jesus described both the characteristics of a righteous person and He described what's in store for those citizens of His Kingdom.

In His call to a life of righteousness, Jesus taught:

. “God blesses those who are poor in spirit and who acknowledge their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs because of their trust in God.

. God blesses those who mourn for the sinful state of the nation and for the suffering and loss that comes with living in a fallen world, for as citizens of His Kingdom they will be comforted by God.

. God blesses those who are humble and who, like Jesus, shun pride in all its forms, for in the coming Kingdom it is the humble who will inherit the whole earth.

. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice and righteousness, who long to obey Jesus and who say with fervent passion, “Your will be done on earth and in my life,” for as citizens of God's Kingdom they will be fully satisfied.

. God blesses those who are merciful and who show kindness to those in distress, for God will show them mercy.

. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, those who do not rely on the trappings of tradition and ceremony to be right with God, for in the coming Kingdom it is the pure and humble and repentant who will see God.

. God blesses those who work for peace, who show an absence of hostility toward others and who work for the salvation of their enemies. Those who strive for justice, righteousness, reconciliation, and mercy as a natural effect of their salvation will be called children of God.

. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for expressing His grace to their enemies, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

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Jesus promises to meet our needs, and our greatest need; our soul's deepest longing is for a healed and forgiven relationship with Jesus, a relationship that expresses itself in a love for others.

Our real blessings, those things for which we need to be truly thankful can only be attained through Jesus who came to proclaim good news to the poor.  He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, release from darkness for prisoners, and to comfort all who mourn.

What is this Evil?

The presence of evil is actually the best manner of witnessing God’s goodness.

For the very survival of humans, God’s justice, mercy, grace, love and patience, MUST be clearly displayed to humans:

(a) So they will know that they should repent of their rebellion and

(b) To show them that they have a place to turn to for rescue from their rebellion.

Because of Evil:

- All humans will know God’s Justice because they know in their hearts that rebellion against God is wrong. Those who continue in their rebellion will die spiritually and eternally.

- All humans are born into a state of rebellion, it is only God’s Grace that will ensure that some humans get what they don’t deserve (life in eternal paradise) while God’s Mercy will ensure that those same humans don’t get what they do deserve (eternal separation from God).

- All humans will know God’s Patience because He persists in blessing those who continue in evil, until all those who are going to receive God’s merciful salvation have turned from their rebellion. Romans 9:22,23

- All humans will know God’s Love in that God, in the form of His Son Jesus, will forgive evil by taking His own punishment. He will suffer His own wrath for the horrible act of continued rebellion against Creator God. A Creator who is perfectly pure, holy, righteous, just, merciful, slow to anger, filled with great patience, filled with grace and abounding in Love.

God will rescue those who are not looking for Him, love those who hate Him, and make peace with those who are His enemies. 2nd Samuel 7:18; Isaiah 65:1; Romans 10:20

The rebellious cannot complain because they are in fact guilty of rebellion. Genesis 3:22; Psalm 14:3

The saved cannot boast because they have done nothing to deserve salvation. Romans 3:27,28

Only God possesses the Love and the Justice and the Power to restore to perfection what we have undone.

Rather than throwing away, that which is broken, God will one day restore to perfection, as part of His eternal plan the cosmos that He brought into existence at the command of His Word.

Because God is all loving, He WILL one day banish evil from His Creation.

Because God is all powerful, He CAN one day banish evil from His Creation.

Because God uses the evil that is present for the development of His people, He allows evil to temporarily exist.

Because of His enduring plan for righteousness, God CAN and WILL one day remove every trace of evil as well as those who love evil, from His Kingdom.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbour.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay. “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself to you, do not treat him as your neighbours treat their slaves. Show your fear of God by not treating them harshly

Leviticus 19:13,25,43

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”

Deuteronomy 24:5

Not only was the family shown to be a high priority in regard to those serving in the armed forces. Exemptions also applied to those who had just built a new house or started a new business.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

We Love Punishment

Have you noticed that? We love the concept of punishment - as long as it’s someone else of course.

We love to see justice done - to someone else.

I forget the comedian’s name but he’s from Texas and he said, “In Texas, if you kill somebody? We’re gonna kill you back.”

I’m ok with punishment - for the guilty. You do the crime, you do the time. Where I part with some people though, wouldn’t you know it’s atheists, it’s that I’m even a bigger fan of grace.

Atheists hate grace. If Joran Van der Sloot was to ask Jesus for forgiveness, and I mean the real deal. Not some fake kind of conversion to sway the jury but the real thing? God would forgive him. Just like that. Everything that he’d ever done wrong, no matter how many women he’d killed, lies he’d told, scams he’d tried to run. All of that would be forgiven. If Joran Van der Sloot turned his life over to the Lordship of Jesus the Christ, he would spend eternity in heaven with his Creator.

God’s grace is just flat out scandalous. And atheists hate Him for it.

The Bible says that It is, among other things a description of how God relates to us. If that is true then God NEVER EVER turns away anyone who comes to Him seeking forgiveness - No One - Ever.
Not the adulterer and murderer David
Not the greedy and immature prodigal son
Not the thief
Not the prostitute
Not the drunkard
Not the sexually immoral
Not the liar
Not the Christian killer
Not the denier

You name it - God will forgive you for it - If you repent.

Your Creator did everything possible to open the door for the forgiveness of your sins.
All you have to do is step through the doorway.

Atheists call this God a monster.

Oh, there’s lots of condemnation of sinners in the Bible. Lots of punishment, destroying, killing, eliminating. Each person who refuses the offer of forgiveness for who they are and what they’ve done has brought upon themselves in the past and will bring upon themselves in the future the wrath of God.

That’s how it is with Creator God. Regardless of the behaviour, some will be forgiven, and some will be destroyed.

Only one thing separates one group from the other.

On the day of Jesus’ execution this scenario was played out for all who watched. It was played out for you who can read about it.

Only one distinguishing feature existed between the two men crucified with Jesus.
One asked for forgiveness.
One refused.

One saw his sins forgiven.
One said he didn’t need forgiveness.

One received punishment
One received God’s grace.

I love God’s grace.