This verse comes after many in our city are asking us questions like, "Where is God when tragedy strikes? How can a good God allow so much evil?" Maybe many of you are feeling the effects of fear and anxiety in a world where police brutality and muslim extremism are on the front page of your daily newspaper. It seems that almost weekly we hear of more death, injustice, and despair throughout the world and we wonder if it will ever cease. Carli and I have tried to talk through what is happening around us and how we want to raise our children in the face a society of extremism and polarization where Christ is not treasured.
I write this because I don't think that any political contestant or protest can risolve what is happening. I don't believe that one country will be able to fix terrorism and that the problem is deeper than just racist rants and the demonization of others. The problem in the world, no matter what you hear on Fox or on MSNBC, is much worse than we think. The reality is that we need redeeming. Yes, mankind needs a redeemer. We need someone who can make all things right and bring justice for not just Nice, France but for all of us.
The apostle Paul writes in the same letter to the Romans, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23) Now, I know that many of us know that verse by heart but do we really understand the implications of it? Do we understand that our eternal state is the same eternal state as ISIS without Jesus? Those who would condemn rape, violence and death brought about by terrorists are condemned themselves when they hate their brother or sister or have lust in their hearts. So you see that by condemning what sinners do as a result of their nature you condemn yourself and your love ones who don't have Christ. We all have fallen short of God's glory. Both democrat and republican.
The verse that I mentioned above sheds light on our state as humans. Paul says that God's judgements are unsearchable and his ways are inscrutable. We cannot know as fallen beings the exact purposes for why God allows and permits evil in the world. However, I am confident that the knowledge of God in permitting evil is deeper and more profound than I can ever imagine and his daily patience and grace toward us is bringing about an outcome that doesn't just fix our problem with terrorism, it fixes the problem of ourselves. Yes, we fall short of the glory of God. In our marriages, families, relationships, work, we fall short. Although, our future as mankind may look bleak right now, the Word of God promises something much different is coming.
Our king Jesus promises us that he will redeem us. The picture is clear from the revelation of John when Christ says, "I make all things new...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end... To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall by my son." (Rev. 21:5-7)
This is the promise and hope that I want to teach my children about. This is the outcome that I want for my family. My prayer is that my wife and kids don't see me condemn others without first realizing my own condemnation. That we as the church can rise above the back and forth of political and false moral banter and proclaim Jesus in his death and ressurection. So, there will be other days and other attacks and more grace and more patience so that God's people from all over the world come to see Christ as their true treasure.
This is my prayer for you and for me.
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