Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, Sept 16, 2012 www.crosscreekcc.org
“Why bad things happen…”
2Chron 7:19-22 and Selected
Certain events in human history impact us so greatly, that we will forever remember the circumstance surrounding where we were when we heard the news. I remember helping my dad do carpentry work (a day after my birthday, I skipped school) listening to the radio when announcement came across, JFK was assassinated… I remember standing with another couple in a store looking at TV’s when the space shuttle took off from Kennedy Space Center then watching in horror seeing it explode before our eyes… Eleven years ago, I’ll never forget sitting behind a microphone in WRGN studios that crisp September morning doing “prayer time” with the listeners… then walking to my vehicle and getting a call from Cathy about an airplane flying into New York’s World Trade Tower… Then thinking and telling her it must have been a private pilot or small commuter maybe in ground fog over the city… Just a terrible accident in an imperfect world…
Then not long later another plane slammed into the other tower… then another plane smashed into the Pentagon and yet another plane plummeted into a field near Pittsburg… then watching in horror as each of the trade towers collapsed to the ground… 911 - where nearly 3000 souls died… the world stood in shock, utter disbelief and amazement of the devastation beamed throughout the world. For some this was sheer grief… to others the terrorist and many in Islamic countries it was sheer celebration… These are the images forever embedded in our memories. You probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you first heard the news.
This past Tuesday was the 11th anniversary of 911… I want to ask and attempt to answer the question “Why bad things happen…” Why all the hatred? … Why are we seeing presently all the Islamic riots erupting all over the world? … Why all the cancers and diseases? … Why are kids in rebellion to parental authority? … Why all the divorces? Why all the hurt, sadness, brokenness, hopelessness & death throughout the world?
I. Why bad things happen… (we all live within the framework of a world system, 1John 2:15-17)
1. The depravity of sinful man – Whole human race is spiritually dead in our trespasses/sins (Eph 2:1)
Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
• Unable to understand and appreciate spiritual things. He possesses no spiritual life, and he can do nothing of himself to please God… All declared by God as missing God’s standard… lost in sin
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
• In the context of living in the worlds system… Humanity is hopelessly lost in sin… When we sin against God, He allows His wrath to be revealed… attempting to get our attention.
• Depravity means immorality, wanton wickedness, evil, corruption… we are all sinners - lost
• WHY is God angry? BECAUSE man has substituted truth about Him with their own imaginations
• Mankind within our world cosmos has suppressed the TRUTH by their wickedness, believing lies
2. The devil waging a supernatural invisible war
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
• Satan passionately hates God and all humanity who was “created in the image of God”…
• Jesus said Jn 8, Devil is a liar and the father of lies… comes only to steal, kill and destroy Jn10:10
• He and his unseen demonic legions are presently trying to destroy you… your family, testimony, church, finances, health, peace… perhaps it is time to wake up from our spiritual laziness…
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
• I give you this verse to help us see the reality of this unseen battle we are engaged in…
• Notice the “hand to hand” combat is against an organized stata, ranks of demonic forces…
• Listed as rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil… order…
• Sadly we become so materialistic, self-centered & deceived… blinded to the truth of reality
II. 911, Terrorism, Calamities, Evil… What’s happening? (these are judgments, God’s wrath being revealed)
• Marginalization of Christianity… Living in a culture who mocks the Bible yet the Koran is accepted, where Pastors and churches stay politically correct failing to stand up for God’s truth & righteousness
• World-wide Leadership vacuum… Around the world and even here in America, inept clueless leadership both sides of the aisle, leading from behind with lies and blatant anti-God /bible actions…
• Disintegration of morality & families… from gay rights to redefining marriage to high divorce rates to abortion on demand… Individuals, nations or America cannot get away with sin… God’s wrath revealed
• National and international monetary crisis… Global debt crisis, America 16T$ + 120T$ unfunded, fast moving toward bankruptcy… go to www.usdebtclock.org and see for yourself… Judgment from God
• Lack of discernment between truth and lies… we hear of so called “truth squads”, a time when words don’t matter, as long as it’s for the “bigger cause”… fundamentally change… many passages, here’s one
2 Chronicles 7:13, 19-22 13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people… 19 "… if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them… 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them--that is why he brought all this disaster on them.'"
In the midst of terrible times, bad things happening all around us…
Know TRUTH…
God is Sovereign and in Control… Isa 55:8-11
“God is the creator and controller of the universe… And He chooses to make of any part of His creation His sovereign right. God is accountable only to Himself. He reports to nobody. He is not required at any time to give to any person any explanation for anything He says or does. He is the superpower above all powers in every area of His creation.
We do not expect to understand fully the purpose for our trials until our Lord calls us home to be with Him. But we do know that He loves us too much to harm us, and that He is far more concerned with our welfare than we are. God's choices are always right. He is capable of carrying out any project to a successful conclusion without the possibility of fault or failure. Nothing in His universe happens by chance or accident. For every effect there is a cause. God "works all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12). Yes, God is in control.” Lehman Strauss
• Such a comfort for the believer who is living in a chaotic world surrounded by bad things
He judges people and nations for sin… Jeremiah 1:16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.
• Immutable law of sowing and reaping… God cannot be mocked… Repent and believe!
III. Forgiveness and Real Hope is found in Jesus!
• You may be here this morning and are living a fearful existence, without God & without hope
• God remedied our sin problem by sending His Son to sacrificially die in your place, bearing your sin
• Called substitutionary atonement… In love, perfect & sinless, Jesus suffered and died in your place
Romans 5:8-10 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
• Why bad things happen? “Bad things” happened to Jesus to reconcile sinners back to God! WOW!
• He took God’s wrath that should have been yours… providing by grace forgiveness, gift of Eternal Life!
1 Peter 2:23-24 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
• Have you personally turned from your sin (repent) and placed your trust in Jesus to save you? NewLife!
• Is your life falling apart as a believer? Sinful lifestyle? Get things right between you and God… 1Jn 1:9
• Don’t let this message bounce out of your heart… take step… Let’s bow our hearts and go to the Lord…
• Today we remember & celebrate who Jesus is, what He has done for us… death – burial – resurrection!
• Jesus bore our sins in His body represented by bread/wafer; We are justified by His blood… cup/juice
• Forgiveness and real hope is found in Jesus alone! Been spiritually born again! Let’s REJOICE!!
With Hope in Christ, Let us…
• Honestly Examine our hearts… “Let a man examine himself” v28
• Remember what Jesus accomplished … “In remembrance of me, in remembrance of me” v 24-25
• Thank Him for saving and changing your life… “When He had given thanks…” v24
• Live in Expectation of His soon return… “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” v26
If the men would come at this time…
Listen carefully to these words
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Closing - Give thanks to the Lord… His love endures FOREVER!!
