Imagine that all the species got together and said: "We're going to form a committee and figure out what God would have to go thru to understand human suffering."
Poor people would say: 'I think He should be homeless.'
Grieving people would say: 'I think He should lose someone dear to Him.'
Outcasts would say: 'He should be rejected by society.'
Abuse victims would say: 'He should face serious physical violence, abandonment and betrayal.'
Then and only then should God have the right to say, 'I know what it is to suffer.'
Are you getting that? Why would a loving God allow suffering? Not only because a loving God allows you, but because a loving God suffered Himself. He sent His Son to die on a cross and then that Holy Son was tempted like we are - experienced life like we do - shared limitations as you and I have -- without ever sinning. Then He willingly walked to a cross to die a suffering death in our place - as our substitute - to pay the price for the sins of a world God deeply loved.
Next time we're tempted to doubt God and ask how in the world He could allow such suffering and evil to occupy the same planet as us, recall that He put Himself in a position of suffering -- to an extent far worse than any one of us reading has ever and shall ever experience.
And maybe that one fact answers this dilemma once for all - because that's the grand story of the Gospel, friends. It all points to a species who have made a ton of wrong choices of their own free will while a loving Creator God beckons us to the safety of Himself and even more so when we face sufferings of all kinds.
And be blessed.
Poor people would say: 'I think He should be homeless.'
Grieving people would say: 'I think He should lose someone dear to Him.'
Outcasts would say: 'He should be rejected by society.'
Abuse victims would say: 'He should face serious physical violence, abandonment and betrayal.'
Then and only then should God have the right to say, 'I know what it is to suffer.'
Are you getting that? Why would a loving God allow suffering? Not only because a loving God allows you, but because a loving God suffered Himself. He sent His Son to die on a cross and then that Holy Son was tempted like we are - experienced life like we do - shared limitations as you and I have -- without ever sinning. Then He willingly walked to a cross to die a suffering death in our place - as our substitute - to pay the price for the sins of a world God deeply loved.
Next time we're tempted to doubt God and ask how in the world He could allow such suffering and evil to occupy the same planet as us, recall that He put Himself in a position of suffering -- to an extent far worse than any one of us reading has ever and shall ever experience.
And maybe that one fact answers this dilemma once for all - because that's the grand story of the Gospel, friends. It all points to a species who have made a ton of wrong choices of their own free will while a loving Creator God beckons us to the safety of Himself and even more so when we face sufferings of all kinds.
And be blessed.