In God's Word: Trouble and Despair or Joy and Peace

March 16, 2020 - Why is there so much trouble in this world today? Why most do many suffer in despair? Why does God allow this to happen?

Let us look to the words of the Lord given all people through the teachings of the prophet Isaiah for our answer to this age-old question.

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness." (Isaiah 59:1-3)

Let us look at the basic commandments given all people by the Lord our God and see how we have performed in relationship to those.
1. "You shall have no other gods before me." 
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
4. "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
6. "You shall not murder."
7. "And you shall not commit adultery."
8. "And you shall not steal."
9. "And you shall not bear false witness (lie)."
10. "And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or any of his possessions."

Ok, so let us look at the situation in our world today and see how well, as a people, we have followed God's Ten Commandments.

Have we in fact held other gods before the Lord our God, do we devote more time to others things than to God?

Do we have carved images, statues or people or games or things that we worship with our time instead of devoting more time to God?

Have we ever used the name of the Lord our God in vain, used his name in a trivial manner or as a part of a curse toward another person or thing?

Have we always honored the will of our earthly father and mother or have we often rebelled against them to do our own wicked desires?

How many innocent babies have we murdered as a society, torn apart, limb from limb, and sold their body parts for profit?

How often have we committed adultery with the wife or husband of another person?

How often have we stole from others, their possessions, their money, their time, their trust?

How often have we lied against our neighbor to gain an advantage over him, against another business to gain over it or against another country to gain over it?

How often have we looked at the possessions of another person, state or country and said, "Oh, I wish I had that ___________!"

Ok, so you tell me why is there so much trouble in this world around us? Why do so many suffer in despair? 

How well do you follow the commandments of the Lord our God in your daily life? 
I think we all have the answer don't we... 

Might it be that we all should turn back to the Lord our God in humility, asking for forgiveness, repenting of our own sinful lives and seeking his face and his mercy? 

I think so, cruel and evil world, repent of your sins and know the blessings of the Lord our God, or remain in your wickedness and know the wrath of God that is surely to come on the day of final judgment.

Seek God, seek his face and his forgiveness and know the joy and peace of living for him... 

Trouble and Despair or Joy and Peace, the choice is yours to make, choose wisely!!!