Today we hear a lot about how the world is going to pieces, how the country is headed for destruction, that the end is near, and we observe despair on every hand, has God given up on all humanity? The problems that are occurring throughout the civilized world today are those calamities, trials, and tribulations that are common to all men, everywhere – cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.” (ASV)
SELF INFLICTED MISERY: We have all heard the adage; “A person’s worst enemy is often himself” That statement is often true, we have been given responsibility for ourselves. Remember this, and our choices determine the quality of life that we enjoy or the condition of despair we find ourselves in. We determine our status while we live here on the earth, if we want the good life we can choose it but if we do not choose the good life we have chosen the bad. God says it is this way – cf. Genesis 4:3. God spoke to Cain after he had been rejected by God and told him “If you will do well you will be accepted.” Cain had the choice, obey God and be accepted or disobey God and be rejected, Cain choose to disobey God, Cain created his own problems. NOTE; James 4:17, “To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (ASV) Here again man is given a choice, he may chose to do good or reject the choice and do evil, God has given to unto us the capacity to make a good decision between good and evil if ewe will. Whenever we reject the good we have caused our own disaster.
DO NOT BLAME GOD: Many people are quick to blame God for their misfortune whenever a problem of any kind arises. Recently, I talked to an intelligent man about the Lord and about church attendance. This man was upset about his father’s short life span after he retired at 65, It seems that his father worked at a very hard occupation and two months after he retired he died of a heart attack. The problem of death may be attributed to the Devil’s successful temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden, cf. Genesis 3:14, “And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (ASV)
1 Corinthians 15:21-26, “For since by man (came) death, by man (came) also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming. Then (cometh) the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.” (ASV)
Since the Devil is responsible for death, it is a misplacing of blame to suggest that it is God’s fault, death will come upon everyone. Indeed, death comes to both the good and the evil at an undetermined time.
LIVE FOREVER: Remember this, Jesus Christ has risen from the tomb and is coming back the second time to redeem the saved (i.e. Christians). The Christian may live the good life hear and reap everlasting life, with joy that is beyond explanation. The Christian will physically die but he/she will be resurrected to eternal life at the last day: cf. Acts 24:15, “having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.” (ASV)
1 Peter 1:3-7, “3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, (being) more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:” (ASV)