World of Pain

   A most common question I hear from non-Christians and Christians alike would be, "Why so much suffering and pain" and in that same line, "Why does a loving God allow (some say cause) so much suffering?" This is a justified question and it deserves a direct and complete answer. The worst answer I've heard was, "Some questions have no answer we can understand." but there are host of answers, attempting to justify reasons why God allows these catastrophes to happen, and yes, sometime, Jehovah causes them. Wars are the biggest, resulting in millions of deaths, generally, for reasons that do not make good sense, especially for those in harms way. Self-defense does make sense, but the reason for self defense to be needed, doesn't provide good reasoning.

    From my study of God's word, I've come see reasons, and they are valid and useful to know and understand. First, the human race is to learn first hand the nature of sin, with its sure and justified results, for the purpose of teaching humanity in understanding the purity and purpose that righteousness provides, which hopefully should guide us in making correct and positive choices that are in front every human, before our individual first death meets us. This has been man's responsibility and duty ever since man sinned by eating of the fruit of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" and was denied access to "Tree of Life", which both were in the Garden of Eden. Reading or hearing about the results and the wages of sin are obviously not enough to inspire us to walk in righteousness. Every generation has proved that from the beginning of our existence, and most of humanity continues to ignore this solemn responsibility. The Book God has given us through His Son, outlines and explains, with instructions and a multitude of examples of sin's results and its justified consequences, in both the Old and the New Testaments. God's Book is a blessing and a curse, "And it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you; and among all the nations where Jehovah your God shall drive you, you shall bring back to your heart these things." (Deuteronomy 30:1), outlining God's covenant instructions, and it depends on how we react to the Bible's contents.

    Many Christians consider themselves to be under God's protection and I believe that God does protects His people, this is only partly correct, but what is also a possibility apart from this belief is that He may be trying to teach a Christian something they need to learn, bring on some difficulties and pain needed for the lesson one needs to understand. Another important question is, who are His people? Using the Israelites as an example for "His people" and following their journey to the promise land, and even while they were in the land Jehovah gave them, you can clearly see how God protected them when they followed His laws, commands and His statutes, and asked Him for guidance in their decisions. But, when they drifted from His directions and transgressed His commands, Jehovah would relax His protection, leading to their captured and came under another nation's rule, this happened more then a dozen times to the Israelites. After each time they would confess their transgressions and foolishness and promised to keep His just laws, then Jehovah would always send them a redeemer. Babylon's rule over the known world also included Judah and the Israelites, which ended Israel's sovereign walk in ruling themselves. The key to God's protection and redemption was in seeking Jehovah by walking in His commands and statutes. This seemed to be difficult for them because they did not place His divine ways in their heart; therefore it became a chore, lacking proper understanding of His just and protective commands, laws and statutes. This was an example for all mankind to learn from their walk. "And all these things happened to those as examples, and it was written for our warning, on whom the ends of the ages have come." (I Corinthians 10:11).

   Could it be that the Christian communities of today have lost their way and have given up their connection with the truth of their living God? According to the description of God, often stated in God's Book, "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." (Deuteronomy 6:4), "And let them know, Your name is Jehovah, that You alone are the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:18), "So says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of host; I am the first and I am the last; and there is no God except Me." Isaiah 44:6), and in the New Testament, "And the scribe said to Him, You say well Teacher (Jesus). You have spoken according to truth, that God is one, and there is no other besides Him." (Mark 12:32), "And this is everlasting life that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3) and, "But to us is one God, the Father, to who are all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Corinthians 8:6), and there are many more in both Testaments. Could it be displeasing to Jehovah God that the majority of the professed Christian communities believe in a triune god of man's own imagination? God is one, as the Bible says, simple and easy for anyone to understand, yet man makes god to be a mystery of three. Without any such description or Bible instruction to believe in a triune god, man seems to believe what is not written and we choose to not believe in what has been written. Where does this vain misunderstanding lie, with the Christian for reading what isn't there, or not reading what is already expressed in God's word? Christ certainly had no trouble expressing Himself about His Father Jehovah. "Jesus said to her, do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go and tell My brothers and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God." (John 20:17). Could this be any cleared? Christ's Father and God is the same as our Father and God. Christ, the deliver of Jehovah's many messages is as pure and perfect as His Father, possessing every attribute as His God, lacking only the Almighty's authority, that the Creator God naturally possesses, being the Owner and Sustainer.

    It is for us to seek Jehovah and His righteous way, expressed in abundance in His word for our education and proper understanding, which will be a gift if we seek Him by our efforts, so that His divine ways can be placed in our heart, in our preparation for His kingdom, soon to be opened to all who seek Jehovah's perfect and righteous ways, "The humble who seek God, your heart shall live." (Psalm 69:32), "Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6) and, "I will go; I will return to My place until they confess their guilt and seek My face. In their affliction they will seek Me diligently." (Hosea 5:15). This world of pain will soon be transformed into a world of righteous people and into the world that Jehovah had designed for us, even before He Created us. We need to know why we are to live in a painless world and to be convinced that we do want to be in Jehovah's presence. Those chosen will whole heartedly desire His perfect ways, by a clear understanding, through experiencing and witnessing sin, our own and others, then leading us in making our daily decisions for righteousness, "Justice and righteousness are Your throne's foundation; mercy and truth go before You face." (Psalm 89:14). The time is now to learn of His righteous ways and to perform them without thinking. His mercy is great we need to show Jehovah our desire for His mercy.