We live in a world filled
with constant complainers. “That’s not fair!” echoes across
the land. I have heard this rant directed particularly toward
God, more so than anyone or anything else. Here are a few in no particular
order:
1.
It isn’t fair
that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven!
2.
It isn’t fair
that some are chosen for the Rapture while others are left to suffer during the
Tribulation!
3.
It isn’t fair
that we can’t enjoy sex with anyone we choose!
4.
It isn’t fair
that we can’t live together without a marriage certificate!
5.
It isn’t fair
that God allows so much evil in the world!
6.
It isn’t fair
that we can’t do anything we please!
7.
It isn’t fair
that we can’t live any lifestyle we choose!
8.
It isn’t fair
that God would have innocent little animals sacrificed!
9.
It isn’t fair
that God would reject anyone from entering Heaven. All have some good in them!
10.
It isn’t fair
that they prosper and we do without!
11.
It isn’t fair
that so many people suffer!
12.
It isn’t fair
they were blessed with talent and riches, while I barely get by!
I want to say “Boo-hoo” but I
won’t. God originally created a perfect world, but we no longer live in a
perfect world because of sin. And then we hear … “It isn’t fair that we suffer
because of Adam and Eve!” Do you really think we would have done differently?
Get real! We would have succumbed to that serpent’s whisperings just as readily
as they did.
I can understand this
attitude coming from those who are unbelievers, but so often even those who
know Christ as Savior bemoan the same misgivings. How can that be? A child of
God is the most blessed and richest person in the world. How can we whine like
little children over the material enjoyments of others?
The truth is we live in an
unforgiving world. It is a cruel world. It is a world heaped in injustice and
unfairness. But the “rest of the story” as Paul Harvey used to say, is if we
know Jesus He is all forgiving and full of compassion and justice. As for
“fairness,” is it fair that He paid for our
transgressions? I am glad He did, or else I would suffer for all my own
transgressions for an eternity in hell.
It is true that “That’s not
fair” is an accurate statement in many cases, but is it worth allowing that to
make us miserable?
Some people suffer health
problems while others seldom have even a cold. Even among those who suffer
health problems, some are worse than others.
Some folks have more money
than they could ever spend in a lifetime, while others barely eke out a living.
With riches come luxuries that many do not share.
Some folks land their dream
job, while others cannot find a job to support their families.
Some have loving spouses
while others are abused and cower in fear. Many children live in loving homes,
but many others have devils for parents.
The questions come up; “Why
did God let this happen?” “Why me God? What have I done to deserve this?” “Why
my child?” “Why can’t anything go right for me?”
Three things must be
understood, in addition to one more … the fourth. They are:
1.
Satan made this
mess, not God.
2.
God sent His Son
to clean up the mess.
3.
We can be lifted
above this mess in Christ, if we choose.
4.
God’s methods may
seem unfair, but He is the Creator God, not us.
Satan made this mess, not God.
Why do we blame God for all
the bad in the world? Why do we blame Him for what is seemingly unfair? We
should put the credit where the credit is due and quit blaming God for
something He did not do.
God did not make your child
sick. He did not cause wars. He did not make men selfish, greedy, cruel and
perverted. This has all come from Satan. Blame him for a change, because
continuing to blame God will never get you on the road to the truth.
God sent His Son to clean up the mess.
As children of our original
parents, Adam and Eve, we failed God. He did not fail us. We sinned, not Him.
We have created the mess we are in today by listening to the wrong one; i.e.
Satan.
To prove that we would have
responded to Satan’s whisperings in our ear just as readily as Adam and Eve,
consider this. When you are tempted to sin (name your poison), who do you
listen to? God says don’t sin. Satan says do it. What do we do? We do it! We
sin! Therefore, we listen to Satan and do his bidding just as our original
parents did.
Okay, between Satan’s
tempting and our agreeing with him, how do we get out of this mess? Briefly
stated, the Son of God died, was buried and rose again to provide us the only
way to the Father (the only way to get to Heaven).
“For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(John 14:6)
We can be lifted above this mess in Christ, if we
choose.
Now we come to a choice. Listen
to God and quit blaming Him, or stick with Satan. God says:
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
If we trust Jesus to save us
He will. If we have already accepted Him as Savior, then maybe we need to stop
whining about our unsatisfying life and apologize to Him.
The day will come, and it is
quickly advancing, that God will deal with every injustice. This world, as it
is now, is not our home. Heaven is our (believers) home and the Heavenly host is our family. Let us
not be discouraged by the inequities of this world but set our sights on the
new Heaven and the new earth.
God’s methods may seem unfair, but He is the Creator
God, not us.
Please go back and read the
twelve examples I listed at the beginning of this article. Some of these are in
direct violation of God’s commands. The first, in particular, is how God said
it is going to be, and there it is. Accept it and have eternal life. Reject it
and continue in eternal death (fully conscious).
The world, those without
Jesus, will never understand, but there is really no excuse for a true
Christian to wallow in self-pity when they are so eternally blessed.
“And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
