Is God Cruel?

With so much racial tension, religious division, political polarization, cancer, COVID-19, the increase in violence, human trafficking, so much disease, wickedness and cruelty; how can people really believe that God is good?  In fact, with all of the chaos and suffering in the world, it could cause some to wonder if God even exists; and if He does exist, how can we ever believe He is a God of love? How can a loving God destroy the earth with a Flood?... allow a global pandemic?... refuse to stop the suffering?

To answer these questions, we must return to the very beginning. Genesis 1-2 tell us that everything God made was good and ultimately very good.  Plants, animals and humans were created with maturity and set in the most perfect garden home. There were no predators and prey, there was no disease and death, there were no weeds and toiling, there was no fussing and feuding – only the most perfect of perfect settings in this world that God created.

Sadly, Adam & Eve CHOSE to rebel against God and believe the lie that God was holding things back from them. Being instructed by God not to eat of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil” and being forewarned of the consequences, should they do so; they chose to rebel against God. This act resulted in what is known as the Fall of Man and the curse on the once perfect world (Gen. 3).

God did not cause the violence, division, evil, suffering, sickness, disease and death.  These things came into our world because of the choice made by Adam and Eve to commit high-treason against their Creator – the Holy One Who created them, loved them and set them in a perfect world. They lied, they tried to hide their sin, pride crept in, they tried to cover themselves with leaves, they lied and the downward spiral has continued from that day until now.

While God made a way to redeem them through the blood of the Lamb, that redemption was for their soul; not for the sake of erasing the consequences of their actions. In came sweat, pain in childbirth, murder, sadness, sickness, disease, evil, and all that our world endures today. The suffering and violence that we see today is the result of humans thinking they knew better than God and revolting against Him.

So before you blame God for the condition of our world, realize this is far from the world He created and the plan that He intended. The fallen condition of our world was ushered in by the first Adam; but salvation and redemption is the work of the second Adam – Jesus Christ!  For those who know Christ as Savior, we can claim the promise of Rev. 21:4 - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

So to summarize, God is patiently waiting and delaying His final judgment on this sin-sick and fallen world. He is giving people time to repent and turn from their sin and turn to Him for salvation. God wants each of us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven -- that place where there will be no more suffering, sorrow, sickness, disease or death.  For whosoever will may come -- have you invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord?  If not, what are you waiting for?

Take time to read:  2 Peter 3:9; 1 Cor. 15:26 and Rev. 21:3-4.  Also take some time to read back through Genesis 1-2 to see the perfect state of God’s creation and then Genesis 3 to see how the world has deteriorated into the fallen state that we observe today.

The Trials & Sufferings of Jesus

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  

First, in John 14-17, we find what has come to be known as the "Upper Room Discourse." The final words of Jesus in His final hours teaching and training his disciples.  These lessons include:

• The power of the towel, as He washed their feet
• The one who is greatest is the one who serves
• The importance of relationships, love and unity
• We (branches) can do nothing apart from Jesus (the Vine)
• The coming of the Holy Spirit
• His pending sufferings, death and resurrection

After they finished the Last Supper, it was approx 10pm when they left the house located on the SW side of Jerusalem and went across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, specifically to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus separated Himself to pray. It was in those hours that Jesus agonized to point of sweating droplets of blood, as He said, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou will."

Somewhere around 2am, the soldiers arrived being led by Judas Iscariot. They fell as Jesus spoke the words, "I am He." It is beyond my comprehension "why" they did not leave when they saw the power in this Man.  Jesus eventually surrendered Himself willingly into their custody.

Trial 1 - They took Jesus to Annas the first High Priest appointed by the Romans to deal with religious matters among the Jews. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, but Annas sent Him away.

Trial 2 - They took Jesus to Caiaphas (the current High Priest and son-in-law of Annas) and also before the Sanhedrin. There was no legal basis for Jesus' arrest. The protocols of Jewish law permitting trials only during daylight were ignored; the trial started on the day before an annual Sabbath; the judges themselves brought charges; and no witnesses for the defense were permitted. Luke 22:63 tells us that Jesus was mocked and beaten in the presence of this kangaroo court that could not find Him worthy of death.

Trial/Appearance 3 - They took Jesus to Pilate, but he initially refused to hear the religious matter.

Trial 4 - Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who found no fault in Him.

Trial 5 - They took Jesus back to Pilate and changed the charge from blasphemy to treason, forcing the Roman court to hear the case. Luke 23:14-15 tell us that Pilate found no fault in Jesus, neither did Herod, and nothing deserving of death was done by Him. In offering the people a choice, they chose to release the murderer Barabbas, instead of Jesus. 

From there, Matthew 27:27-31 records the action of the Praetorium Guard -  Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Then came the crucifixion - Luke 23 - As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women... 32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”... 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Isaiah reminds us "why" Jesus endured the false accusations, beatings and death - 

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

On this day called "Good Friday," will you take time to remember what Jesus Christ suffered on your behalf?  Will you remember that while salvation costs you nothing, it cost Jesus Christ everything?!  Take time to day to thank God for His love and the sacrifice made so that we could have our sins forgiven and our relationship with Him restored.