Evidence of God in the every day Day 3

Have you ever felt certain about something but when you go to do the thing you have doubts?

That would be me this morning. 

Because the evidence of God in every day life that I want to share with you makes perfect sense in my head, but as I sit to tap it out on these keys I am wondering if you all will think I’m off track. I never want to misuse Scripture and I am definitely not a theology expert so I pray that what I am about to share makes sense and points to Jesus. 

My third way I see proof of God is in the evil of this world. 

We have grappled with the global Pandemic and all the finger-pointing of how it should have gone differently, plus the conspiracy theories. While we have seen multiple sides to all of this we are also dealing with both the calling out of systematic racism and the disputing that it doesn’t exist. We have seen otherwise kind people attacking one another and not so nice people attacking friends, family and people they don’t even know.

In the past few months we have watched cities being looted and burned, protests for and against a variety of issues, businesses shut down, the economy plummeting, the government printing off checks and money and yet a coin shortage that is forcing us to use credit cards to make purchases. So much going on and so many voices shouting all kinds of messages.

And in all of that, I hear a lot of people blaming human beings for orchestrating the chaos. 

With tongue firmly in cheek, my response to this is ….. if we actually have a real human being or group of human beings who can mastermind all of this and keep it going so flawlessly, let’s put that one in office because that would take an incredible amount of organizational skill, determination and focus to keep this mayhem going. 

Because of course there is not any human or group of humans that could sustain centuries of sin patterns and oppression. We are not that smart nor consistent nor dedicated.

But there IS a system in place that can keep it going and has kept it going and uses human pawns to perpetuate all that works against what God has intended for us. 

So I see in these troubled and sinful times, these times of great pain and sorrow, what God has told us in His word to be true:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 NASB

The evil systems of this world point to the truth of God’s Word that we, as rebellious humans, have turned our backs on Him and have reaped what we have sown by aligning ourselves with Satan. The world will laugh at this idea because those who love the world are deceived by him. 

Every instance of oppression, greed, pride, exploitation and self-exaltation is fueled by the question hissed through the ages, “Did God really say ______?” and the declaration of the biggest lie of all, “Just do what you want and you will be like God.”

I see the evidence of God by seeing my own rebellion and the rebellion of the humans around me. I see the anguish resulting from separation from God and I see the consequences of my sin and the sins of others that have brought death to what was meant to live and thrive. 

And thankfully, in this I see the Hope of Christ and the reconciliation offered to us through His sacrifice made for us personally and for the sins of the world. 

I will end with this version of His plan from The Message:

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of hat person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

This is the crisis we are in; God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for darkness. The went for darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is. “

John 3:16-21

There are many good people who are trying to do the right thing but are counting on humanity to save us. There are many who trust in the government, or no government; in their own wisdom or the wisdom of a current leader; in their prosperity or their rejection of materialism; in some idealized solution or in the individual ability to guide one’s destiny.

Some choose evil because the heart has become so hardened there is a searing of the conscience. And yes, many of these have worked under the umbrella of a church, but they do not belong to The Body of Jesus Christ. He alone knows those who belong to Him.

It would seem there are two kingdoms, two choices.  

There is an evil system at work, working against God and when we do not align ourselves with God, we are aligned with this system. Even if we are crying out for what sounds right and righteous. By our rebellion we are cooperating and promoting a system that is opposed to God.

There is a Kingdom under the Sovereign God: Jehovah, I AM who I am, El Shaddai and even though this Kingdom of those who belong to Him are full of flawed, broken, sinful people we are redeemed to Him by the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

One or the other.

No choice is still a choice. Which choice will you make?