Why Does The World Have So Many Problems?

Sometimes it seems like our world is ripping apart at the seams . . . earthquakes . . . hurricanes . . . tornadoes . . . floods . . . hatred . . . threats of war . . . abuse . . . sickness . . . death . . . many people wonder: IF GOD IS GOOD . . . WHY IS THE WORLD SO BAD?

That question is a universal question . . . people all over the world wonder why there is so much heartache, pain, and suffering. Actually, there are a couple of answers:

BIRTH PAINS:

The Bible speaks of a world that is experiencing and will someday experience ever increasing convulsions. It isn’t just humanity that is suffering, but creatures on earth. Death abounds everywhere you look . . . even in the animal kingdom. The world around us is writhing in terrible pain just as the Bible declares:

     “For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now . . . even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:22-23

     The Greek word for “groans” is literally “to moan in great calamity”.  Calamity is certainly a good but awful description of the world we live in!

“Travails in pain” is referring to the pains of child birth.

     Every woman who has ever given birth will tell you that the pains and contractions INCREASE . . . both in FREQUENCY and INTENSITY. God has told us in His Word that the sufferings of man will greatly increase . . . and what we are witnessing in the world today could be that very fulfillment.

Tragedy and human suffering is as old a mankind . . . but it is interesting that the number and intensity of violent storms is unprecedented according to meteorologists. They are puzzled why these tropical storms have lined up one right after the other. Furthermore, the increase of powerful earthquakes since the turn of the century is truly remarkable.

     Jesus warned the world of increasing birth pains — ” . . . ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS (BIRTH PAINS).” Matthew 24:6-8 (see also Mark 13:8)

Note Jesus’ instruction to “be not troubled.”  He was not just giving silly advise like “cheer up, things will be better.” If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you can rest assured of His continual care . . . He alone is our source of comfort in difficult times.

     But we still need to answer the question: “IF GOD IS GOOD . . . WHY IS THE WORLD SO BAD?”

THE WAGES OF MAN’S SIN:

     The world that God created was perfect . . . in the beginning there was no sickness, no sorrow, and no death.

God created man and put him into a perfect environment. Everything that Adam and Eve needed was graciously provided by God. The Lord placed our original parents in a beautiful garden called Eden and they had everything they needed to make them healthy and happy.

     God told Adam and Eve that they could eat anything in the garden except from one tree which was called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil . . . The Lord warned Adam that if they disobeyed and sinned they would die (Genesis 2:17 / Romans 6:23). You know the rest of the story . . . the devil came to Eve and lied to her . . . he told her that the fruit of the tree was really good and would make her very wise.

     Adam and Eve both ate the forbidden fruit and when they disobeyed God something terrible happened to them . . . and also to all of us. The moment they sinned they died . . . not physically . . . but spiritually. They died in their hearts and could no longer walk in joyful fellowship with one another nor with God.

     WHY is there so much suffering upon this earth? Don’t shake your fist at God . . . suffering and death were the results of man’s disobedience. Adam and Eve’s disobedience was the beginning of trouble and conflicts between people. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the devil. People have been hurling blame toward one another ever since.

All mankind and even the animal kingdom is under a terrible curse.

BUT THE CURSE IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!

God had a wonderful plan:

#1 God sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay the terrible penalty for our all our sins — “But God showed His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 God Himself pain the penalty for sin which is death!

#2 God is going to bring sin and death to a final end — “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be NO MORE DEATH, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the Throne said, Behold, I make all things new . . . ” Revelation 21:3-4 

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