Why does GOD allow it?

When I was a girl there was a term we used if someone took back something they had given another as a gift.  It was colorful but not very nice and definitely not politically correct for me to use so let me just say GOD who choose to give man the ability to choose when HE made man in HIS image, declared that HE does NOT take back that which HE has once given (Romans 11:29). In other words, HE does not infringe on our ability to choose.

A gal recently said to me “When “thus and so happened” I stopped going to church- for how could GOD allow that to happen?”

Why do terrible things happen? Some things happen as a consequence of our actions; some things we consider terrible are things GOD is using to mature/discipling HIS children (James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 4:15-18, Hebrews 12:5-7, 10-11) while placing us when we need to be to do HIS will (Genesis 50:20). 

When GOD warned man not to do something HE told man some of what would occur if man acted in that way. Man was told enough to do what was right but was not given the whole picture (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Was GOD just making an impulsive rule when HE set the prohibition? Was HE just being whimsical when HE gave us the instructions within HIS Word the Bible?  Let’s just look at scripture little deeper for I believe GOD was acting in HIS great wisdom and doing great deal more than what we might suppose.

When in the counsel of heaven of GOD the FATHER, GOD the Word (Son/ JESUS John 1:1-4, 14)) and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT (Genesis 1:2) it was decided to make mankind in “OUR (GOD’s)” image it was also decided that mankind would be given authority/ dominion over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air and over all the earth and everything that walks and creeps on the earth (Genesis 1:26).

GOD who choose to give man the ability to choose when HE made man in HIS image, declared that HE does NOT take back what HE has once given (Romans 11:29). In other words, HE does not infringe on our ability to choose or take that gift away.

But from being ruler over his world something happened when man chose to listen to the snake (devil Revelation 20:2) instead of his Maker the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? (Romans 6:16 NLT).

When man chose to obey the devil, man went from being ruler to being a slave to the devil and turned over his authority/ dominion of the earth to the devil and his followers (evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT).

“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey GOD. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to GOD’s anger, just like everyone else. (Ephesians 2:2-3 NLT).

We know that we are children of GOD and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19 NLT).

Prior to HIS public ministry JESUS was severely tempted by the devil/ Satan for 40 days. At one point the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain, showed to JESUS all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  “And the devil said unto JESUS, All this power will I give YOU, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  If YOU therefore wilt worship me, all shall be YOURS’ (Luke 4:5-6).

Now JESUS who knew all things did not deny that that were the devil’s to give. But JESUS refused the devil’s offer by saying, “Get behind me Satan for it is written you shall worship the LORD your GOD, and HIM only shalt you serve” (Luke 4:7).

Now the devil didn’t make man do anything.  What he did and does is snidely whisper lies and get man to believe him instead of GOD.  Therefore, it is evident that by listening and obey the voice of the devil mankind became a slave to the devil and by default turned the dominion GOD had given him over to the devil.

The same is true today, believing the snide lies of the evil one over GOD’s injunctions leads us into sin/disobedience and blindness and we lose our freedom.  That does not mean a believer loses her salvation for she when she believed was sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise (Ephesians 1:13-14) until the day of redemption/ rapture (Ephesians 4:30) when all believers in JESUS will go through the roaring fire of the judgment seat of CHRIST (Bema seat-Greek// Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10). This is NOT the white throne judgment of Revelation 20 which occurs 1,007 years later.  As we are told only those dead (Revelation 20:12) in sin and trespasses- those not cleansed by blood of JESUS will be there.

Some believers in JESUS come out of the fire of the Bema seat of CHRIST and enter into heaven with rewards. Other believers in JESUS (cleansed by the blood of CHRIST) will enter heaven as out of a roaring fire smelling like smoke (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) and GOD will have to wipe their tears away (Isaiah 25:8). But that will be the natural consequence of their own choices.

So why do bad things happen?  GOD is not behind the evil that is being forcefully pushed and propagated in our world today., The devil is behind it.  GOD intends to stop not just the evil but the devil and teach angels as well. (Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 3:10).

That is why GOD sent HIS only begotten SON what whosoever believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life…HE that believes on the SON has everlasting life but he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides (stays) on him (John 3:16, 36).

GOD who was, and is, and is to come is still good, wise and the powerful Sovereign over HIS creation. Remember HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) HIS purposes will come to be and HE shall accomplish all that HE has determined to get rid of all wrong and evil will NOT arise again (Nahum 1:9).  Praise HIS name.

Hugs

Sharon

A great delight

My Grandson Sebastian connected my cochlear implant with an app on my phone and now one of the delights of my cochlear implant is how I can listen to videos.  Before to hear any teaching or music I would have to blast everyone else away and that was not acceptable.  But now I can connect with an app and understand what is said and no one else hears a sound.  It’s totally amazing!

Ever overhear something that triggers memory after memory?  That happened to me a few days ago when in my presence someone slipped and said something I knew nothing about.  The memories that flooded my mind were not good memories, they were painful ones of being left out and rejected.  They were all things I had thought I had forgiven many, many years ago.  

The memories bombarded me almost like a barrage of arrows and although there was irritation, there was no anger.  I figured the enemy was just trying to stir me up.  I said, “LORD, I forgive” and I let go of the irritation and continued with my day.  Throughout the day isolated memories came and I would have to let go of them and get back to work. That was that, until.

Until I was alone, driving to a night class I teach.  I turned on the beginning of the teaching video of Amir and listened and sang with that amazing chorus… “YOU are worthy of it all, YOU are worthy of it all for from YOU are all things and to YOU are all things, YOU deserve the glory!

It was if GOD was laughing and said, “Sharon listen up.  All the details of those memories were FROM ME.  When you were left out or mocked that is how YOU got to know ME.  It was those times you turned to ME and is the reason you can now hear ME.”

I was filled with such indescribable joy at the LORD’s love and amazing ways.

“you thought evil against me, but GOD meant it for good to bring about what is today” Genesis 50:20.

Selah/ pause, ponder that truth when hard things hit GOD is on your side working it for good for you if you love HIM. (Romans 8:28)

Hugs

Sharon
Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things Revelation 4:11

Bad turns out good?

Can you name a time something seemingly bad turned out for good? 

GOD says that HE works all things together for a result of good to those who love HIM (Romans 8:28).  But in the middle of trouble do we believe that? Do we go a step further to obey GOD and thank GOD in the middle of a storm? (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 4:6).

Yesterday I was working on a Christmas letter with pictures of all my offspring when I got chilly and tried to turn on my space heater and it wouldn’t go on.  Our electricity was out.  Then I tried to access new pictures I had sent to my phone through text and my email didn’t show them.  Well, the internet was out too. Bummer!

Praise the LORD I have a laptop that runs on batteries and so worked a bit longer until darkness overtook me.

It was getting colder and colder, so I put on a heavy coat, wrapped a blanket around my legs and we got out the old coal oil lamps just used as decorations since we moved here to Pueblo. Even though there was just a little oil in then it was enough and I thank the LORD we left the oil in them.

But there was a concern.  We live in a low area downhill from the east, north and slightly from the south so we depend on a stemp-pump to keep us from flooding.  Every 10-15 minutes it pumps out 7 to 15 gallons of water.  Well, no electricity, no stemp-pump (we had never invested in a battery for the alternate battery powered one that was included when we got the last stemp-pump). The water was rising.

Mac went down with a flashlight from time to time to check the water level for if it flooded much it would attack our water heater first and burn out the element.  Mac wanted to turn it off before that happened but hesitated to act too soon for it is really old and when flooded previously, he had a real problem getting it back on.

So, I prayed that the LORD would show us mercy and we would get electricity before the water got too high. We heard electricity was restored everywhere but our NW Pueblo area.  Praise the LORD for cell phones!

That is not the only praise.  In the dark, all of us who usually are doing their own thing, gathered together and there was much comradery, laughter, telling of times past and that was fun. Besides by losing our electricity and internet we realized how much we depend on them yet simply take them for granted instead of thanking GOD for all HE gives us.

The electricity came on around 8pm and then our internet came on at around 8 this morning. The water never rose above the floor line which was a definite answer to prayer and assured us anew of GOD’s protection and control even in little things. 

It also encourages us about what the judge will decide in court today (it is a long-term heart-breaking issue).  We have no idea what is best, but GOD does, and HE will turn the heart of the judge to do what is best of that I am convinced (Proverbs 21:1).

Again, it was through a trial that GOD proved HE is good and hears our prayers.  As never before I see the truth in Acts 17:26 (last clause) through 27.  What happens to us has purpose behind it, regardless of who or what is the secondary cause is, for it can only touch us as GOD allows it!

Hugs

Sharon