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BLOG / WHYDOESGODALLOWTRAGEDYANDSUFFERING?

July25,2012

WhyDoesGodAllowTragedyandSuffering?
AndyRau

ThefollowingmessagewasdeliveredonJuly
22byChristianauthorandapologistLee
Strobel,justdaysafterthedeadlytheater
shootinginAurora,Colorado.Leehas
graciouslygivenuspermissiontopostithere
onBibleGateway.
ItwastheworstmassshootinginAmerican
history70peopleshotbyagunman,12of

Christianauthorandapologist
LeeStrobel.

themkilled,whiletheywerewatchingthe
midnightshowingofanewmoviejust21milesfromwhereweresitting.There
arenowordstodescribetheanguishbeingfeltbythosewhoaresuffering
todayourheartandprayershaveandwillgoouttothem.Thereareso
manytragicstories,somuchpain.Andmanypeopleareaskingthequestion,
Why?WhydidGodallowthis?
ThishasbeenaheartrendingsummerforColorado.Firstcamethewildfires,
whichravagedthehousesofhundredsofourneighborsandpromptedmany
ofthemtoaskthequestion,Why?
Andthosetwotragiceventsareontopoftheeverydaypainandsuffering
beingexperiencedinindividuallivesmaybeincludingyours.Theresillness,
abuse,brokenrelationships,betrayal,sorrow,injuries,disappointment,
heartache,crimeanddeath.Andperhapsyouvebeenaskingthequestion,
Why?Whyme?Whynow?
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Thatwhyquestiongoesbackthousandsofyears.ItwasaskedintheOld
TestamentbyJobandthewritersofthePsalms,anditwasespeciallyrelevant
duringthe20thcentury,wherewewitnessedtwoWorldWars,theHolocaust,
genocidesintheSovietUnionandChina,devastatingfaminesinAfrica,the
killingfieldsofCambodia,theemergenceofAIDS,thegenocideinRwanda
andtheethniccleansingofKosovo.Andthe21stCenturydidntstartany
better.Therewas9/11andnowtheSyrianslaughters,andonandon.Whyall
ofthisiftheresalovingandpowerfulGod?Whydobadthingshappentogood
people?
Severalyearsago,Icommissionedanationalsurveyandaskedpeoplewhat
questiontheydaskiftheycouldonlyaskGodonething.TheNumberOne
responsewas:Whyistheresufferingintheworld?Incidentally,Ididfindan
interestingstatisticalquirkpeoplewhoaremarriedweremuchmorelikelyto
wanttoknowwhytheressomuchsuffering.Imjustsayin.
Butifyouveneveraskedwhyourworldisinfectedwithpainandsuffering,you
willwhentheystrikeyouwithfullforceortheycometoalovedone.AndJesus
saidtheyarecoming.Unlikesomeotherreligiousleaderswhowroteoffpain
andsufferingasjustbeingillusions,Jesuswashonest.Hetoldusthetruth.He
saidinJohn16:33,Youwillhavesufferinginthisworld.Hedidntsayyou
mighthesaiditisgoingtohappen.
Butwhy?Ifyouaskmepointblank,WhydidGodallowthegunmantospray
theAuroramovietheaterwithgunfirejusttwodaysago?,theonlyanswerI
canhonestlygiveconsistsoffourwordsIdonotknow.
IcannotstandintheshoesofGodandgiveacompleteanswertothat
question.IdonthaveGodsmind.IdontseewithGodseyes.First
Corinthians13:12says,Nowweseethingsimperfectly,likepuzzling
reflectionsinamirror,butthenwewillseeeverythingwithperfectclarity.All
thatIknownowispartialandincomplete,butthenIwillknoweverything
completely,justasGodnowknowsmecompletely.
Sowhenyouaskaboutspecificindividualeventsandwanttoknowwhythis
particularthinghappened,wewontgetthefullanswerinthisworld.Someday
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wellseewithclarity,butfornowthingsarefoggy.Wecantunderstand
everythingfromourfiniteperspective.Andfrankly,thepeoplesufferingfrom
theAuroratragedydontneedabigtheologicaltreatiserightnowany
intellectualresponseisgoingtoseemtriteandinadequate.Whatthey
desperatelyneednowistheveryrealandcomfortingpresenceofJesusChrist
intheirlives.AndImsogratefulthatsomanychurchesandministriesofthis
communityarehelpingthemexperiencethat.
Butforus,letsfocusonthebig,overarchingissueofwhyGodgenerally
allowssufferinginourlivesyourlifeandmine.Friends,thisisimportant:
eventhoughwecantunderstandeverythingaboutit,wecanunderstandsome
things.Letmegiveyouananalogy.
OnceLeslieandIweredrivingfromChicagotoDoorCounty,Wisconsin,which
isthatthumbshapedpeninsulathatjutsintoLakeMichigan.Weweredriving
upthehighwayinthedark,whenitstartedrainingheavilyandwehitdense
fog.Icouldbarelyseethewhitestripeontheedgeoftheroad.Icouldntstop
becauseIwasafraidsomeonemightcomealongandrearendus.Itwas
frightening!
Butthenatruckappearedinfrontofusandwecouldclearlyseehistaillights
throughthefog.Heapparentlyhadfoglampsinfront,becausehewas
travelingataconfidentanddeliberatepace,andIknewifwecouldjustfollow
thosetaillights,wedbeheadedintherightdirection.
Andthesameistrueinunderstandingwhythereistragedyandsufferinginour
livesandinourworld.Wemaynotbeabletomakeoutalltheperipheral
detailsofwhytheymaybeobscuredfromourviewbuttherearesome
keyBiblicaltruthsthatcanilluminatesomepointsoflightforus.Andifwe
followthoselights,theywillleadusintherightdirection,towardsome
conclusionsthatIbelievecanhelpsatisfyourheartsandsouls.
Whatarethosepointsoflight?LetmegothroughfiveofthemthatIve
personallyfoundhelpfulwheneverIvebeenpromptedtoaskthequestion,
Why?Thefirstpointoflight:Godisnotthecreatorofevilandsuffering.
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Thisanswersthequestionyouhearsooften:WhydidntGodmerelycreatea
worldwheretragedyandsufferingdidntexist?Theansweris:Hedid!
Genesis1:31says:Godsawallthathehadmade,anditwasverygood.
ButifGodisnottheauthoroftragedyorevilordeath,wheredidtheycome
from?Well,GodhasexistedfrometernitypastastheFather,SonandSpirit,
togetherinarelationshipofperfectlove.Soloveisthehighestvalueinthe
universe.AndwhenGoddecidedtocreatehumanbeings,hewantedusto
experiencelove.Buttogiveustheabilitytolove,Godhadtogiveusfreewill
todecidewhethertoloveornottolove.Why?Becauselovealwaysinvolvesa
choice.
Ifwewereprogrammedtosay,Iloveyou,itwouldntreallybelove.Whenmy
daughterwaslittle,shehadadollwithastringintheback,andwhenyou
pulleditthedollsaid,Iloveyou.Didthatdolllovemydaughter?Ofcourse
not.Itwasprogrammedtosaythosewords.Toreallyexperiencelove,thatdoll
wouldneedtohavebeenabletochoosetoloveornottolove.Againreal
lovealwaysinvolvesachoice.
Soinorderforustoexperiencelove,Godbestowedonusfreewill.But
unfortunately,wehumanshaveabusedourfreewillbyrejectingGodand
walkingawayfromHim.Andthathasresultedintheintroductionoftwokinds
ofevilintotheworld:moralevilandnaturalevil.
Moralevilistheimmoralityandpainandsufferingandtragedythatcome
becausewechoosetobeselfish,arrogant,uncaring,hatefulandabusive.
Romans3:23saysAllhavesinnedandfallshortofthegloryofGod.
Somuchoftheworldssufferingresultsfromthesinfulactionorinactionof
ourselvesandothers.Forexample,peoplelookatafamineandwonderwhere
Godis,buttheworldproducesenoughfoodforeachpersontohave3,000
caloriesaday.Itsourownirresponsibilityandselfcenterednessthatprevents
peoplefromgettingfed.
Inotherwords:lookatyourhand.Youcanchoosetousethathandtoholda
gunandshootsomeone,oryoucanuseittofeedhungrypeople.Itsyour
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choice.ButitsunfairtoshootsomeoneandthenblameGodfortheexistence
ofevilandsuffering.Likethatoldcartoonsaid:Wehaveseentheenemy,and
heisus.
Thesecondkindofeviliscallednaturalevil.Thesearethingslikewildfires,
earthquakes,tornadoesandhurricanesthatcausesufferingforpeople.But
these,too,aretheindirectresultofsinbeingallowedintotheworld.Asone
authorexplained:WhenwehumanstoldGodtoshoveoff,Hepartially
honoredourrequest.Naturebegantorevolt.Theearthwascursed.Genetic
breakdownanddiseasebegan.Painanddeathbecamepartofthehuman
experience.
TheBiblesaysitsbecauseofsinthatnaturewascorruptedandthornsand
thistlesenteredtheworld.Romans8:22says,Weknowthatthewhole
creationhasbeengroaningasinthepainsofchildbirthrightuptothepresent
time.Inotherwords,naturelongsforredemptiontocomeandforthingstobe
setright.Thatsthesourceofdisorderandchaos.
Letsmakethiscrystalclearoncemore:Goddidnotcreateevilandsuffering.
Now,itstruethathedidcreatethepotentialforeviltoentertheworld,
becausethatwastheonlywaytocreatethepotentialforgenuinegoodness
andlove.Butitwashumanbeings,inourfreewill,whobroughtthatpotential
evilintoreality.
Somepeopleask,CouldntGodhaveforeseenallofthis?Andnodoubthe
did.Butlookatitthisway:manyofyouareparents.Evenbeforeyouhad
children,couldntyouforeseethattherewastheveryrealpossibilitytheymay
sufferdisappointmentorpainorheartacheinlife,orthattheymightevenhurt
youandwalkawayfromyou?Ofcoursebutyoustillhadkids.Why?
Becauseyouknewtherewasalsothepotentialfortremendousjoyanddeep
loveandgreatmeaning.
Now,theanalogyisfarfromperfect,butthinkaboutGod.Heundoubtedly
knewwedrebelagainstHim,butHealsoknewmanypeoplewouldchooseto
followHimandhavearelationshipwithHimandspendeternityinheavenwith
Himanditwasallworthitforthat,eventhoughitwouldcostHisownSon
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greatpainandsufferingtoachievetheirredemption.
So,first,ithelpsmetoremember,asIponderthemysteryofpainandevil,that
Goddidnotcreatethem.Thesecondpointoflightisthis:Thoughsuffering
isntgood,Godcanuseittoaccomplishgood.
HedoesthisbyfulfillingHispromiseinRomans8:28:Andweknowthatinall
thingsGodworksforthegoodofthosewholovehim,whohavebeencalled
accordingtohispurpose.
NoticethattheversedoesntsayGodcausesevilandsuffering,justthathe
promisestocausegoodtoemerge.Andnoticethattheversedoesntsaywe
allwillseeimmediatelyoreveninthislifehowGodhascausedgoodto
emergefromabadcircumstance.Remember,weonlyseethingsdimlyinthis
world.AndnoticethatGoddoesntmakethispromisetoeveryone.Hemakes
thesolemnpledgethathewilltakethebadcircumstancesthatbefallusand
causegoodtoemergeifwerecommittedtofollowingHim.
TheOldTestamentgivesusagreatexampleinthestoryofJoseph,whowent
throughterriblesuffering,beingsoldintoslaverybyhisbrothers,unfairly
accusedofacrimeandfalselyimprisoned.Finally,afteradozenyears,hewas
putinaroleofgreatauthoritywherehecouldsavethelivesofhisfamilyand
manyothers.
ThisiswhathesaidtohisbrothersinGenesis50:20:Youintendedtoharm
me,butGodintendeditforgoodtoaccomplishwhatisnowbeingdone,the
savingofmanylives.AndifyourecommittedtoGod,HepromisesthatHe
canandwilltakewhateverpainyoureexperiencinganddrawsomethinggood
fromit.
Youmightsay,No,hecantinmycircumstance.Theharmwastoogreat,the
damagewastooextreme,thedepthofmysufferinghasbeentoomuch.No,in
mycasetheresnowayGodcancauseanygoodtoemerge.
ButifyoudoubtGodspromise,listentowhatawisemansaidtomewhenI
wasresearchingmybookTheCaseforFaith:Godtooktheveryworstthing
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thathaseverhappenedinthehistoryoftheuniversedeicide,orthedeathof
Godonthecrossandturneditintotheverybestthingthathashappenedin
historyofuniverse:theopeningupofheaventoallwhofollowHim.SoifGod
cantaketheveryworstcircumstanceimaginableandturnitintotheverybest
situationpossible,canhenottakethenegativecircumstancesofyourlifeand
createsomethinggoodfromthem?
HecanandHewill.GodcanuseoursufferingtodrawustoHimself,tomold
andsharpenourcharacter,toinfluenceothersforHimHecandraw
somethinggoodfromourpaininamyriadofwaysifwetrustandfollowHim.
Now,thethirdpointoflight:Thedayiscomingwhensufferingwillceaseand
Godwilljudgeevil.
Alotoftimesyoullhearpeoplesay:IfGodhasthepowertoeradicateevil
andsuffering,thenwhydoesntHedoit?AndtheansweristhatbecauseHe
hasntdoneityetdoesntmeanHewontdoit.Youknow,Iwrotemyfirstnovel
lastyear.Whatifsomeonereadonlyhalfofitandthenslammeditdownand
said,Well,Leedidaterriblejobwiththatbook.Therearetoomanyloose
endswiththeplot.Hedidntresolvealltheissueswiththecharacters.Idsay,
Heyyouonlyreadhalfthebook!
AndtheBiblesaysthatthestoryofthisworldisntoveryet.Itsaysthedaywill
comewhensicknessandpainwillbeeradicatedandpeoplewillbeheld
accountablefortheeviltheyvecommitted.Justicewillbeservedinaperfect
way.Thatdaywillcome,butnotyet.
SowhatsholdingGodup?Oneansweristhatsomeofyoumaybe.Hes
actuallydelayingtheconsummationofhistoryinanticipationthatsomeofyou
willstillputyourtrustinHimandspendeternityinheaven.Hesdelaying
everythingoutofHisloveforyou.SecondPeter3:9says:TheLordisnotslow
inkeepingHispromise,assomeunderstandslowness.Heispatientwithyou,
notwantinganyonetoperish,buteveryonetocometorepentance.Tome,
thatsevidenceofalovingGod,thatHewouldcarethatmuchforyou.
PointofLight#4:OursufferingwillpaleincomparisontowhatGodhasinstore
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forhisfollowers.
Icertainlydontwanttominimizepainandsuffering,butithelpsifwetakea
longtermperspective.Lookatthisverse,andremembertheywerewrittenby
theapostlePaul,whosufferedthroughbeatingsandstoningsandshipwrecks
andimprisonmentsandrejectionandhungerandthirstandhomelessnessand
farmorepainthatmostofuswilleverhavetoendure.Thesearehiswords:
SecondCorinthians4:17:Forourlightandmomentarytroubleswaita
second:lightandmomentarytroubles?Fivedifferenttimeshisbackwas
shreddedwhenhewasflogged39lasheswithawhipthreetimeshewas
beatentoabloodypulpbyrods.Buthesays,Forourlightandmomentary
troublesareachievingforusaneternalglorythatfaroutweighsthemall.
PaulalsowroteRomans8:18:Iconsiderthatourpresentsufferingsarenot
worthcomparingwiththeglorythatwillberevealedinus.
Thinkofitthisway.Letssaythatonthefirstdayof2012,youhadanawful,
terribleday.Youhadanemergencyrootcanalatthedentistandtheranoutof
painkillers.Youcrashedyourcarandhadnoinsurance.Yourstockportfolio
tookanosedive.Yourspousegotsick.Afriendbetrayedyou.Fromstartto
finish,itwaslikethetitleofthatchildrensbook:Alexander&theTerrible,
Horrible,NoGood,VeryBadDay.
Buttheneveryotherdayoftheyearwasjustincrediblyterrific.Your
relationshipwithGodiscloseandrealandintimate.Afriendwinsthelottery
andgivesyou$100million.Yougetpromotedatworktoyourdreamjob.Time
magazineputsyourphotoonitscoverasThePersonoftheYear.Youhave
yourfirstchildandheshealthyandstrong.Yourmarriageisidyllic,yourhealth
isfabulous,youhaveasixmonthvacationinTahiti.
ThennextNewYearsDaysomeoneasks,So,howwasyour2012?Youd
say,Itwasgreatitwaswonderful!Andtheydsay,Butdidntitstartoutbad?
Didntyougothroughalotoftroublethatfirstday?
Youdthinkbackandsay,Youreright.Thatwasabadday,nodenyingit.It
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wasdifficultatthetime.Itwashard.Itwaspainful.ButwhenIlookatthe
totalityoftheyear,whenIputeverythingincontext,itsbeenagreatyear.The
364terrificdaysfaroutweightheonebadday.Thatdayjustsortoffades
away.
Andmaybethatsagoodanalogyforheaven.Listentomethatisnottodeny
therealityofyourpaininthislife.Itmightbeterrible.Itmightbechronic.My
wifeLesliehasamedicalconditionthatputsherinpaineverysingleday.
Maybeyouresufferingfromaphysicalailmentorheartacheatthisvery
moment.Butinheaven,after354,484,545daysofpureblissandwithan
infinitemoretocomeifsomeoneasked,So,howhasyourexistence
been?,youdinstantlyreactbysaying,Ithasbeenabsolutelywonderful!
Wordscantdescribethejoyandthedelightandthefulfillment!
Andiftheysaid,Butdidntyouhaveatoughtimebeforeyougothere,youd
probablythinkbackandsay,Well,yes,itstruethatthosedayswerepainful,I
cantdenythat.Theyweredifficult,theywerebad.ButwhenIputtheminto
context,inlightofallGodsoutpouringofgoodnesstome,thosebaddays
arentevenworthcomparingwiththeeternityofblessingsandjoythatIm
experiencing.
ItslikethestorythatBritishchurchleaderGalvinReidtellsaboutmeetinga
youngmanwhohadfallendownaflightofstairsasababyandshatteredhis
back.Hehadbeeninandoutofhospitalshiswholelifeandyethemade
theastoundingcommentthathethinksGodisfair.Reidaskedhim,Howold
areyou?Theboysaid,Seventeen.Reidasked,Howmanyyearshaveyou
spendinhospitals?Theboysaid,Thirteenyears.Thepastorsaidwith
astonishment,Andyouthinkthatisfair?Andtheboyreplied:Well,Godhas
alleternitytomakeituptome.
AndHewill.Godpromisesatimewhentherewillbenomorecrying,nomore
tears,nomorepainandsuffering,whenwewillbereunitedwithGodinperfect
harmony,forever.LetthewordsofFirstCorinthians2:9soakintoyoursoul:
Noeyehasseen,noearhasheard,nomindhasconceivedwhatGodhas
preparedforthosewholovehim.Thatsabsolutelybreathtaking,isntit?
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Finally,PointofLight#5:WedecidewhethertoturnbitterorturntoGodfor
peaceandcourage.
Weveallseenexamplesofhowthesamesufferingthatcausesonepersonto
turnbitter,torejectGod,tobecomehardandangryandsullen,cancause
anotherpersontoturntoGod,tobecomemoregentleandmorelovingand
moretender,willingtoreachouttocompassionatelyhelpotherpeoplewhoare
inpain.Somewholoseachildtoadrunkdriverturninwardinchronicrageand
neverendingdespairanotherturnsoutwardtohelpothersbyfounding
MothersAgainstDrunkDrivers.
Asonephilosophersaid:Ibelieveallsufferingisatleastpotentialgood,an
opportunityforgood.Itsuptoourfreechoicetoactualizethatpotential.Notall
ofusbenefitfromsufferingandlearnfromit,becausethatsuptous,itsupto
ourfreewill.
WemakethechoicetoeitherrunawayfromGodortoruntoHim.Butwhat
happensifweruntoHim?
IstartedthistalkwithpartofwhatJesussaidinJohn16:33.Nowletmegive
youtheentireverse:Ihavetoldyouthesethingssothatinmeyoumayhave
peace.Youwillhavesufferinginthisworld.Butbecourageous!Ihave
conqueredtheworld.
Inotherwords,Heoffersusthetwoverythingsweneedwhenwerehurting:
peacetodealwithourpresentandcouragetodealwithourfuture.How?
Becausehehasconqueredtheworld!ThroughHisownsufferinganddeath,
Hehasdeprivedthisworldofitsultimatepoweroveryou.Sufferingdoesnt
havethelastwordanymore.Deathdoesnthavethelastwordanymore.God
hasthelastword!
SoletmefinishthestoryofLeslieandIdrivingthroughthefoginWisconsin.
Wewerefollowingthetaillightsofthattruckwhenthefogslowlybegantolift,
therainbegantoletupandweenteredatownwithsomelightsthingswere
becomingclearer,wecouldseebetter,andasweroundedacurve,silhouetted
againstthenightsky,guesswhatwesaw?Wesawthesteepleofachurch
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andthecrossofChrist.Afterdrivingthroughtheconfusionofthefogforso
long,thatimagestruckmewithpoignancyIllneverforget.Becauseitwas
throughthatcrossthatJesusconqueredtheworldforus.
Asthatwisemanoncesaidtome:Godsultimateanswertosufferingisntan
explanationitstheincarnation.Sufferingisapersonalproblemitdemandsa
personalresponse.AndGodisntsomedistant,detached,anddisinterested
deityHeenteredintoourworldandpersonallyexperiencedourpain.Jesusis
thereinthelowestplacesofourlives.Areyoubroken?Hewasbroken,like
bread,forus.Areyoudespised?Hewasdespisedandrejectedofmen.Do
youcryoutthatyoucanttakeanymore?Hewasamanofsorrowsand
acquaintedwithgrief.Didsomeonebetrayyou?Hewassoldout.Areyour
mosttenderrelationshipsbroken?HelovedandHewasrejected.Didpeople
turnfromyou?TheyhidtheirfacesfromHimasifHewerealeper.DoesHe
descendintoallofourhells?Yes,Hedoes.FromthedepthsofaNazideath
camp,CorrietenBoomwrotethesewords:Nomatterhowdeepourdarkness,
Heisdeeperstill.Everytearweshedbecomeshistear.
Andthenthewisemantoldmethis:itsnotjustthatGodknowsand
sympathizeswithyouinyourtroubles.Afterall,anyclosefriendcandothat.
Anyclosefriendcansitbesideyouandcomfortyouandempathizewithyou.
No,Jesusismuchcloserthanyourclosestfriend.Becauseifyouveputyour
trustinHim,thenHeisinyou.And,therefore,yoursufferingsareHis
sufferingsyoursorrowisHissorrow.
Sowhentragedystrikes,asitwillwhensufferingcomes,asitwillwhenyoure
wrestlingwithpain,asyouwillandwhenyoumakethechoicetorunintoHis
arms,hereswhatyouregoingtodiscover:youllfindpeacetodealwiththe
present,youllfindcouragetodealwithyourfuture,andyoullfindthe
incrediblepromiseofeternallifeinheaven.
AsIvebeensaying,allofuswillgothroughpainandsuffering.Butletmeend
bygoingbacktothisspecifictragedythattookplacetwodaysagoinAurora.
Forallthethingsitleavesusconfusedabout,oneofthetruthsitclearly
illustratesisthatlifeissofragileandshort.Thesepeopleweregoingtoa
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movie!Theyhadnocluethatthismightbetheirlastmomentsinthisworld.
Friends,inthissinscarredworld,weneverknowwhendeathwillcome
knocking.Often,wedontgetanywarningwhenaheartattackstrikes,orwhen
adrunkdrivercrossesthecenterline,orwhenawildfiresweepsthrougha
canyon,orwhenanairplanelosespower.AndsothequestionImcompelled
toaskyouisthisAreyouready?
OneofthefirstversesImemorizedasaChristianis1John5:13:These
thingsIvewrittentoyouwhobelieveinthenameoftheSonofGodinorder
thatyoumayknowthatyouhaveeternallife.
Goddoesntwantyouwondering.Hedoesntwantyousteepedinanxietyover
whetheryoureheadedforheaven.Hisinfallible,inerrantWordsaysyoucan
knowforsure.
Dontrelyonthefactthatyoucometochurchoryouvegonethroughsome
sortofreligiousritualinthepast.TheBibleisclearthatwecanbereligiousbut
notbeinarelationshipwithGod.Religiousactivitiesandaffiliationsnever
savedanyone.SalvationcomesfromknowingChristpersonallyandreceiving
HisprovisionforYOURsinandYOURfuture.ItcomesfrommakinghimYOUR
Savior,byaskingHimtoforgiveYOUReverysin,andbyaskingHimtolead
YOURlife.
Butitdoesnthappenautomatically.Itdoesntcomebyattendingagreat
church,orbeingbaptized,ortakingcommunion,orhangingoutwithabunchof
Christians.Itcomesfromdecidinginyourheartthatyouwanttoturnfromyour
sin,tostoptrustinginyourownresources,andtoaccepttheforgivenessand
eternallifethatJesuspurchasedonthecrossandisofferingyouasafreegift.
THATishowyougainGodspeaceandconfidence.
Sosettleitnow!Resolvethistoday,atthismoment,sothatiftragedywereto
strike,youreternitywithGodwouldbesecure.IdontknowallthewaysGodis
goingtodrawsomegoodfromthisAurorasituation,butwouldntitbe
somethingifHewerestartingrightnow,withyoupersonally,andusingthis
messagetobringyouintoHiskingdomatthisverymoment?Letthepainof
thattragedyopenyourhearttoChrist.Letstakewhatwasintendedforevil
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andwatchGodstartcreatingsomethinggoodfromit.
PraywithmerightnowtoreceiveChristsothatyoucanknowforsurethat
eveniftheveryworstthingweretohappentoyouafteryouleavethe
auditoriumtoday,itwillimmediatelybefollowedbytheverybestthingofall.
LordJesus,IbelievethatYouaretheuniqueSonofGod.IconfesstoYouthat
Imasinner.Inrepentanceandfaith,Ireachoutrightnowandreceivethefree
giftofforgivenessandeternallifethatYougraciouslypurchasedonthecross
whenYoudiedasmysubstitutetopayforallofmysins.Please,LordJesus,
leadmylifebecausefromthismomenton,IamYours.IpraythisinYour
name.Amen.
NotefromBibleGateway:ThismessagewasoriginallydeliveredbyLee
StrobelatCherryHillsCommunityChurchinHighlandsRanch,Colorado,and
sentouttosubscribersonLeesInvestigatingFaithnewsletter.Tosubscribeto
hisnewsletter,visitournewslettersignuppage.
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