July 8, 2006
Newsletter Archives

When we look around at conflict in the world, we are caused to wonder why God allows it. Yet we seldom consider that the majority of people do not want God in their lives most of the time. We are so busy as Americans that God takes a back seat to most things. But when we face tragedy, we ask why God allows these things. Many don’t want God in their lives except when things go wrong.
Even on the human level, how many times have we heard someone say, “Oh he only wants me around when he needs me!” I wonder if God ever thinks this when we complain that He seems to do doing nothing to alleviate problems.
When the Lord Jesus was crucified, the sentiment of the crowd was: “We will not have this Man to reign over us.” Luke 19:14. And nothing has really changed. What most people want from God is a policy of non-interference. Until trouble knocks on their door!
Nevertheless, there is a day coming when God will come to repair the damage that humanity has done and bring an end to all human suffering. This is what the whole book of Revelation is about. And the Lord is not coming to host a Sunday school picnic. The first recorded reaction to the coming of the Lord is: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Revelation 1:7
God is not indifferent to world problems nor individual difficulties, but He is waiting until He considers the time is right. In the meantime, the best thing we can do is make sure that we have settled our account with God so that we will rejoice when He comes and not be amongst those who wail.

Russ Nesbit