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Why?
By Pastor Raymond Wey
Why - people ask - does God let there be war, and why is there so much need in this world? If we really want to find the answer to these questions, then we will have to take a close look at the characteristics of God. God, as the Bible tells us, loves truth, righteousness and hates evil. When He created man, He gave him a free will to decide as he wanted to. He did not make us like robots, similar to those which we find in factories or in the books of Utopia. One day, God is going to require from everyone that they give an account for the things that they did in this lifetime, and He will judge them accordingly.
Jesus tells us that the kingdoms of this world do not belong to Him (Compare John 18:36 with Matthew 4:8-9), but rather to someone else. Satan, the fallen angel, governs in the background the affairs of this world with his band of followers (John 14:30; II Corinthians 4:4). But only for a certain amount of time, and then the end is going to come.
When Jesus came upon this earth, the angels sang: "On earth peace, good will toward men"; this was also their desire because Jesus wanted to set up his kingdom upon earth.
Jesus came to this earth to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). When this became known, the soldiers were already on their way to Bethlehem in order to kill him. John the Baptist was the one who preached: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."
Jesus performed signs and wonders, helping wherever He could. He healed all those who came to Him. The leaders did not react in any way to His signs and wonders, but it disturbed them that Jesus proclaimed righteousness, truth and about being converted to God. They wanted to get rid of Him and they beat Him and crucified Him.
It is the same case even today. They still do not want to hear His words. Has it already occurred to you that the world does not want to keep the commandments of God? As a result, God has turned away from the world. They did not want Him at that time and it is exactly the same nowadays. This is the reason why God is gathering a people to Himself out of every nation, who love Him. The method that God uses is His gospel. Our obedience to the gospel shows God on which side we stand! On the side of the world or on the side of God.
On which side are you standing? Jesus rules in the lives of the people who have given themselves to Him (John 10:27-28). However, whoever does not surrender his/her life to Him, will be lost with the world. Although Jesus knew all this, He still came to offer to every individual who loves truth and righteousness His gospel which gives salvation. There is only a short time left for people to turn to God. Take up His offer now and be converted to Him.