One Solution For The World's Problems

“But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled and will gasp in horror. They will ask, ‘Why did the LORD do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’ “And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why the LORD has brought all these disasters on them.’” [1 Kings 9.6-9]

It is good to ask, "Why?" in the midst of disasters and troubles. However, it is not good to tell or believe a lie in response!

Why do terrible things happen? Because God's people turn their backs on Him.

Let me put it another way: Why do terrible things happen? Because God's people turn their backs on Him.

In case it remains unclear why terrible things happen, let me clearly state what the Bible has profoundly and repeatedly documented as the reason: Because God's people turn their backs on Him.

As I myself learn more about the Bible, I see the absolute necessity of repentance among God's people. This is not condemnation - it is truth.

This is not the time to argue our innocence! The circumstances tell us all we need to know - there is no arguing with God - our sin is confirmed by our troubles - we need to repent.

"What do we repent of?" one might ask. Repent for abandoning God personally and corporately The evening news should provide enough evidence of our need to repent, but if most of us would just be honest with ourselves, we would acknowledge the Bible's assessment of our hearts (as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked - Jer. 17.9). Do we really need to point out that, as a society, and therefore as individuals, we have become the most self-centered generation in all the history of the world?

There is only one solution for the world's problems and our own: Repentance.

But, not to be overlooked in our self-assessment and acknowledgement of our wayward hearts is a sin of utmost and dire consequence: faithlessness. Without faith, it is simply impossible to please God. And, if we are not in faith, then we are not in Christ. If we are not in Christ, then we are in the world. If we are in the world, then we are under the curse. If we are under the curse, then we experience every kind of suffering and loss described in Deuteronomy 28 (for disobedience).

It is all very clear and simple - unless, of course, we lie to ourselves (and each other) that the curses God promised for disobedience (including the disobedience of faithlessness) are really just random events under no control of God whatsoever.

It is time that God's people once again actually read and believe the Bible. We don't need 'higher education' telling us that good is evil and evil is good - trying to explain that curses are really some effort on God's part to 'reveal His love for us...' Nonsense! Curses were and always will be indicators of the need to repent! Period. One who does not believe that, does not believe the Bible.

Father, help me to believe You and Your Word - and respond accordingly to the troubles in and around me - in repentance! Forgive me for anything less!