Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Matthew 24:3-7: Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’’

4. And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.

5. "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

6. "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

In recent years, events around the world have raised many questions in the hearts and minds of both believers and non-believers alike. We can look at some of the most horrible and devastating events to have occurred in decades. The tsunami waves that hit in the Indian Ocean were the result of one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city of New Orleans.

But what does that mean to both believers and non-believers? Is this an “act of God” as insurance companies put it, or is it God punishing the world for some reason? As a believer, who understands the love and mercy of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, my answer to these questions is no, definitely not. It was not an act of God and it was not a punishment of God. What is it then, you may ask?

To understand what has happened we need to look at the beginning of creation.

Genesis 1:1,4,10,12,18,21,25,31: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. .. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good…And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good… So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good… And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In the beginning God created the Earth and everything in it, God saw it and God decided it was Good. God was pleased with all he had created for it was perfect, nothing was wrong with it. God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect environment, it was exactly what they needed to live and fellowship with God. What happened then? Satan came, deceived Eve and tempted Adam and sin entered the world.

Genesis 1:26-28: Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’’

27. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’’

Adam was created to have dominion over all the Earth, but he sinned and gave the authority to the enemy, Satan and sin, and the consequences of sin entered the world.

Luke 4:5-8. Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’’ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.

This event took place during the temptation of Christ. Satan, the devil, plainly tells Jesus that all the kingdoms of the world, belong to him, that includes everything about them. Satan tells Jesus that the world has been delivered to him. When, you ask? When Adam gave it to him. Satan is the God of this world as explained in the following verse.