Life can be challenging and often presents unexpected obstacles. I am currently in Aberdeen attending the wedding of a young man and his bride, whom I have known since he was born. He is the youngest son of dear friends. Unfortunately, his grandfather passed away suddenly just over two weeks before the wedding. They are a very close-knit family, and they would have loved for him to be present at this special occasion.
I feel the need this month to reach out to those of you who are struggling. Unfortunately, life often involves suffering, and we all grapple with this reality. It's common to feel angry when life presents us with such complex challenges. As hard as it may be to accept, the Bible teaches that nothing in life is random or without purpose. Nothing happens without God's permission. This doesn't mean we understand why things happen or believe they are fair.
We recognise that some events in life are a result of our own actions or the actions of others. Often, challenges arise simply because we live on a flawed planet, making life far from perfect. The Earth was damaged by the great rebellion of the first humans. The Creator (God) warned that their choice to disobey Him would have long-term consequences, summarised in one word: 'death.'
Sadly, death has impacted every aspect of human life and the world we inhabit. This is why we experience pain, illness, dishonesty, evil, wickedness, decay, destruction, and environmental decline, among other issues. The Bible summarises the current state of the world. It explains the root of the problem with the following verse: "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, ESV). In another passage regarding our planet, it states: "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:19-22, NLT). This serves as an insightful commentary on the state of the world.
To conclude, I have two important points to share:
1. **God Understands Your Feelings**
As Christians, we believe that God came to Earth over 2,000 years ago and experienced life, often in circumstances that were sad and extreme. He suffered and died through what many consider to be one of the worst forms of execution. I believe that the Lord Jesus did this to truly understand our feelings and, more importantly, to provide a way for us to clear our guilt and receive forgiveness for our wrongdoings.
The Scripture states, "Christ died for our sins," and it affirms that the Lord Jesus suffered once for sins— the just for the unjust—so that He might bring us to God.
Thankfully, Jesus rose from the dead (many consider this to be one of the most verified facts of ancient history) to demonstrate that He is God and that He conquered death through His own sacrifice.
2. **There Is Hope**
This life is not all there is; there is another life beyond this one. You can find peace with God, experience a personal relationship with Him, and be assured of eternal life in heaven.
To reinforce this message, the Bible says, "The root of Jesse will come (the Lord Jesus), and he who arises to rule the Gentiles (nations); in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:12-13).
All photos are courtesy of Unsplash
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