Evil, suffering, the Judgment of God and hope
This past week marked the 15th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the day of the infamous terror attacks which took thousands of lives, initiated a war in the middle east and changed how we view our national security.
This week also brought another sad and sobering news story in Minnesota: the end of the 27 year mystery of Jacob Wetterling’s disappearance. This one hit me personally, because, growing up in small town Minnesota at the time, this was an event which our parents and teachers reconsidering how “safe” we were. As a 10 year old, this evil was one I could not avoid thinking about.
Both of these were evil events. Evil is rebellion against God which uses people made in God’s image to further it’s ends. There are perpetrators and victims.
How does one make sense of these tragedies? Where does one turn for Answers?
We have only two Choices: One, through humanity and efforts at collective wisdom to answer and anesthetize us to pain that is real and the justice we seek.
The other Choice is turning to the One True God. Ultimately the Bible doesn’t give immediate answers to each specific nuance and question of personal suffering and evil, but it points to God, who is Holy, who reigns and who does and will bring Judgment; who will make things right.
Psalm 2 says: why do the Nations rage against God? In this we understand that the World is always at war; but it is ultimately against a foe (God) that the world can and will not defeat.
According to Scripture I know that God will judge the nations and individuals; but for those who trust in him, they can avert the coming Judgment by King Jesus.
Only trusting King Jesus will ultimately bring sense and peace to all the problems of sin and evil.
Only His sacrifice on the Roman cross 2000 years ago makes sense and gives hope to these situations: The sinfulness of sin was shown in its ugliness and penalty. The evil of sin was displayed in God’s punishment of His perfect Son;
And He did this for you; His blood was shed for your sin; His life traded for your rebellion. And He promises that there will be a place some day when there will be no more pain, not more suffering, no more evil. Hope in God. Turn to him. He won the crucial battle at the Cross—defeating the penalty of your Sin and the Power of the Devil…Redeeming Lost sinners
And because of the Cross—we can draw near to God—No more guilt and shame. He who loves us; invites us to draw near with our questions and burdens and sins. Repent of your unbelief and turn to His loving arms.
My sin, oh the bliss of the glorious thought, my sin..not in part, but the whole. Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. It is well, It is well to my soul
(note: this article was one Pastor Eric wrote for the Brainerd Dispatch “Clergy View” section for the Week of September 11, 2016)