Setting KPI For God

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans - that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. (Habakkuk 1:6 BSB)

Men love to set KPI. They even set KPI for God on how a perfect God should be like. Did God accept the KPI?

Crime and Punishment
When Israel sinned, God ought to use a more righteous nation to punish Israel or punish Israel Himself. But God raised the cruel Babylonians to punish Israel (Habakkuk 1:6). And then God later punished the Babylonians for punishing Israel (Jeremiah 25:12).

Word Transmission
Until heaven and earth shall pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall pass away from the law (Matthew 5:18) but in the course of transmission of text of the Bible, there are some minor changes in the jot and tittle. It is less than 0.01%, but still, it is one missing jot or one additional tittle. But the KJV-only believers cannot believe that the almighty God could not preserve a perfect original text for us. God would fail our KPI for Him if He cannot do that. In fact, He did more than that. He even divinely inspired the KJV translation. God passed our KPI for Him with flying colours. Did God really care about our KPI for Him?

Word Accuracy
It is appointed for man to die once (Hebrews 9:27) but Lazarus died twice (John 11:43). Did the Bible contradict itself? Is the mustard seed the smallest of all seeds (Matthew 13:32, Mark 4:31)? If Jesus was to be in the grave three days and nights (Matthew 12:40), how do we fit those between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Did Bible meant it to be 72 hours exactly because God is very precise? Three days and nights must be 72 hours because God is perfect to the jot and tittle. Are we celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday wrongly? Or are we interpreting the Bible more strictly than God Himself?

Christian Witness
The Bible recorded that God use holy men like the apostles to spread the gospel. But in our days, God chose to use the colonialist, the slave traders and drug traffickers to spread the gospel. Africans were enslaved, taken from their home and sold to Christian lands to be given the opportunity to hear the gospel. Opium traders humiliate China to bring the gospel to their land. Shouldn't a perfect and holy God do better than that? Maybe He should roll out the red carpet to welcome the Africans and Chinese into the Kingdom of God and today, there will be no Black Life Matter movement and there will be no Chinese Communist party harping on the century of humiliation by Western imperial powers. Looks like we have better ideas than God.

World Creation
Then the ultimate KPI, the favourite of unbelievers and atheists, why can't the perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing God create a world without sin? Then Jesus would not need to come to the world to die for sin. Atheists use God's failure in this KPI to prove His non-existence. If God exists, why are there evil and sufferings in the world? Why can't the One who knows the end from the beginning think ahead?

What are you going to do with a God that fail your KPI?

From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. (John 6:66 BSB)

So Jesus asked the Twelve, "Do you want to leave too?" Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69 BSB)

The God of Abraham - Theodicy

On 14th August (9th Av) 586 BC Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple of God was burnt to ground. The God of Abraham had lost. Marduk (i.e. Baal), the chief god of Babylon had won. If you were an Jew at that time, you would be wondering why God had failed to defend His land and His city. Yet it was during this dark age that the God of Abraham announced through Daniel the prophet the blue print for the times of the Gentiles.

Likewise today people ask, if God is perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing, why does He permit evil to exist? The answer is actually found in the Bible.

1. The Bible tells us that God's original creation was good;
2. Evil came from the fall of man when he refused to believe in God's word;
3. But God provided redemption by sending Jesus to die for the sin of the world;
4. In due time, God will effect the restoration of His creation to sinless perfection by destroying the current creation and replace it with a new one.

God had His plan laid out before the foundation of the earth. Just as the Jews can stop worrying about being wiped out, we can stop worrying about the end of the world. The prophetic blueprint laid out in the Bible will come to pass. The next coming events will be rapture, the tribulation, the second coming of Christ and the millennium. After that, the old heaven and old earth will be destroyed and a new heaven and new earth will be created. This will be eternal. So we do not have to worry about the end of the world.

A Panoramic View of the Bible And What We Can Learn From It - 8

The whole Bible can be summarized with four words - creation, fall, redemption, restoration.
The Bible described creation in two chapters (Genesis 1:1 - 2:25).
The Bible described the fall in one chapter (Genesis 3:1 - 3:24).
The Bible described the restoration in one and a half chapters (Revelation 21:1-22:5).
The bulk of the Bible is about redemption.

What does the bulk of the Bible tell us about the current world view?

1. Evil will only last a limited time;
2. Evolution is not possible due to lack of time;
3. Epicurus is wrong;
4. Karma is false.

Answering Epicurus

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. (Isaiah 46:10 CSB)

"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

From ancient times till today, we always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

The Bible gave us another answer. Evil will end in God's timing. We look at the big overview of the Bible - creation, fall, redemption, restoration. At the time that God has ordained, He will judge the evil and restore the world to perfection again.

There is an appointed time for everything.
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

This timing is not given to men.
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:7 ESV)

There is a time for iniquities to be full.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16 ESV)

There is a time for desolation to be completed.
During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. (Daniel 9:2 NIV)

At the appointed time, the Anointed One came to die for the sins of the world.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

Then there will be a number of Gentiles that needs to be saved.
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 ESV)

And there will be a number of martyrs to be killed.
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:11 ESV)

Then the Anointed One will come again to bring an end to evil.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31 NIV)

And bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)

At this present moment, there seems to be no action from God. But God will act when the time come. There will be no delay.
They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4 NIV)

In the meantime, before God acts to end evil, good men have to exercise patience and faith.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:12-14 NIV)

Evil men have their chance to repent.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Preservation And Judgement

Then the Lord said to Abram, "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:13-16 ESV)

Below is a quote from Nick Mauer's "in one God's Heart for the Lost 03a Lesson 3":
QUOTE
And what it seems that God was giving the Amorites a period of time during which period the Amorites were devolving into more and more wickedness. And God was reserving a certain time when they at this point I will judge and I will disinherit them and dispossess them from this land and I will give it to you my people. During that time when Israel was in Egypt, God was protecting them from the escalating wickedness of Canaan.
UNQUOTE

There are a few things I wish to note after digesting what he (Nick Mauer) said.

Preservation
When God preserves, He does not do it in a five star hotel, separated from corruption and disease. Instead, the preservation was done in affliction. Israel was afflicted in Egypt for 400 years but they came out rich. And woe to Egypt, who dared to afflict God's people. They were judged, during the exodus of Israel and also later when they shrank from a proud world power to a minor nation. God also used Egypt's abhorrence of shepherds to cause separation between Israel and Egypt during Israel sojourn in Egypt.

Judgement
There are many wicked people and wicked nations. Sometimes they are punished quickly. Sometimes they are not. When judgement does not come quickly, there are two reasons for the delay.

1. God is waiting for some to repent (2 Peter 3:9);
2. The iniquity is not full, the wicked fruit is not ripe.

But this delay in judgement caused many to wonder about God's justice and His existence (Ecclesiastes 8:11, Psalm 50:21, Psalm 73:11, Psalm 94:7). They did not consider the goodness of God who give them time to repent (Romans 11:22).

Application
Today people are wondering about the existence of God because there is great wickedness and injustice. But God will not act until the iniquity of the nations (Gentiles) is complete. Things are bad today, but it will be worse. There will be greater wickedness coming. When that happened, God will judge (Luke 21:24). God acts only when the fruit is ripe for harvest (Joel 3:13, Revelation 14:15).

When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NLT)

When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. (Psalm 50:21 NIV)

The wicked say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?" (Psalm 73:11 CSB)

They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice." (Psalm 94:7 NIV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 ESV)

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 NIV)

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. (Joel 3:13 ESV)

And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe." (Revelation 14:15 ESV)

Going Viral

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

How do viruses spread?
How do invention and knowledge spread?
How do religions spread?
How does the gospel spread?

This is how Collins English Dictionary described the term "Go viral" - If a video, image, or story goes viral, it spreads quickly and widely on the Internet through social media and e-mail.

We actually find viruses, ideas and religions spreading like much in the same way. It depends on population density, geographic location, communication technology and the right time. It goes viral when the conditions are right.

In the Bible, the good news spread in the same way. God chose a people and placed them in a location and spread the message.

If you live far from China and where few Chinese visit, then you have a lower chance of getting the covid-19 virus. If you live far away from Israel, then the Gospel will take a longer time to reach you. Especially when the Holy Spirit bid Paul to go west.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." (Acts 16:6-9 NIV)

A Panoramic View of the Bible And What We Can Learn From It

The whole Bible can be summarized with four words - creation, fall, redemption, restoration.
The Bible described creation in two chapters (Genesis 1:1 - 2:25).
The Bible described the fall in one chapter (Genesis 3:1 - 3:24).
The Bible described the restoration in one and a half chapters (Revelation 21:1-22:5).
The bulk of the Bible is about redemption.

How does this overview of the Bible help us understand the present world we are in?

1. We can conclude that we are living in the redemptive stage of the Bible;
2. We know why time is linear because it is moving in one direction toward restoration;
3. We know the origin of evil;
4. We know God's redemptive plan;
5. We understand God's apparent inaction against evil now because He has already planned its elimination;
6. We know how it will all end.

Creation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NASB, NLT, NIV)

Fall
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12 HCSB)

Redemption
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6 ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Restoration
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

The Main Theme of the Bible - 2

This is the big overview of the Bible - creation, fall, redemption, restoration.

Creation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NASB, NLT, NIV)

Fall
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12 HCSB)

Redemption
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6 ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Restoration
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)

There are many who asked, "If God exist, why are there so much evil in the world?"
The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

But the truth which was told by the Bible, the true word of God, is that God had already provided redemption and restoration. It takes time but it will happen eventually.

Read the Bible. In it we were told how the world came into being (creation), how sin came into the world (fall), how God provided the remedy (redemption) and at the end of ages, how God will destroy this current world and recreate a new world (restoration).

The Bible had already told us the end from the beginning. We know that Jesus has already conquered sin and death. The evil in the world today will eventually pass. Complete victory will come. Do you believe?

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:20-26 ESV)

Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:26 CSB)
I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. (John 13:19 ESV)

Theodicy

Theodicy (from Greek theos, "god"; dike, "justice") is the explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing God permits evil.

If God is perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing, why does evil exist? The answer is actually found in the big overview of the Bible - creation, fall, redemption, restoration.

1. The Bible tells us that God's original creation was good;
2. Evil came from the fall of man when he refused to believe in God's word;
3. But God provided redemption by sending Jesus to die for the sin of the world;
4. In due time, God will effect the restoration of His creation to sinless perfection by destroying the current creation and replace it with a new one.

This leads to a second question. Why can't the perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing God do things right the first time?

The Bible did not answer this question directly. But in the book of Job, God did address this type of question by asking a series of questions (Job 38:1 - 40:2). It started with "Where were you when I established the earth? (Job 38:4 CSB)" and ended with "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who argues with God give an answer. (Job 40:2 CSB)"

To me, this is a very logical rebuttal. Either God is perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing or you are. If God is perfectly good, almighty and all-knowing, you will have to accept that He plan to eradicate evil as given in the Bible is the best way, since He knows best. If you think that the current way is unsatisfactory and your way is better, then you are claiming to be more perfectly good, more almighty and more all-knowing than God.

Now I am not against anybody claiming to be better than God, but he or she better gives me a very good proof.

God May Tolerate Evil Now But He Will Judge

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:20-26 ESV)

Many people do not believe in God because evil exists in this world. But the truth is Jesus had already overcome sin and death. He will eventually reign over the whole world.

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15 NIV)

Today God is tolerating evil because He is patient, waiting for more to come to repentance.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

But the day will come, when God's patience will end and every man will be judged according to his works.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 ESV)

At the end of ages, when the fullness of sin is completed, all who do not believe will be judged at the great white throne judgement.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:12 ESV)

God's Tolerance of Evil

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' (Isaiah 46:10 NIV)

From ancient times till today, we always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?"

The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

"I think God is 100% benevolent but only 80% effective," - Jim Holt
(Tweets by Barnyardstories@BrianJBarnes442 11:11 AM - 2 Sep 2014)

This is what the Bible tells us about the problem of evil and God's solution.

Cause of evil
The evil in the present world is caused by men's disobedience. (Romans 5:12)

Solution to evil
God send His son to die for our sins. (1 Peter 3:18)

Continuation of evil
But evil continue to flourish as if nothing has been done. This is because God is not willing that anyone to perish, but all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

End of evil
The Bible tells us that one day, God will put an end to evil and Jesus the Anointed One will rule the world. (Revelation 11:15)

Too Much

But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Matthew 16:8-11 ESV)

How come there are leftovers? Why Jesus cannot create the exact amount of food to feed the people? This is our idea of a great miracle.

That reminds me of another theological argument on the scope of atonement. If Jesus died for all and some are not saved, does that means that the provisioning for redemption is over provided? If that is true, is it less miraculous? God does not know the exact number of people to be saved in advance?

Wait, if we want to doubt, why don't we go all the way to the beginning? God is supposed to know all things in advance. Why did He create Satan and put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of evil. Didn't He know what will happen later?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)

Evil And Suffering Perspective

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" (Matthew 13:27-30 NIV)

"I think God is 100% benevolent but only 80% effective," - Jim Holt
(Tweets by Barnyardstories@BrianJBarnes442 11:11 AM - 2 Sep 2014)

We always hear this question, "If there is a god, why does he allow so much evil and suffering?" But do one put it the other way, "Why did sinful men cause so much evil and suffering in the good world that God had created?"

Salvation By Grace In A Sinful World

Our world is sinful, imperfect and bad. It is a choice by Adam and Eve. They had lived in a world that was created good and perfect.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 ESV)

They chose to eat of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. They chose to believe in the serpent who told them half the truth.
"God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." (Genesis 3:5 NLT)

Before eating this fruit, they only know good. After eating the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were opened and they knew something additional. That additional knowledge was evil.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (Genesis 3:7 CSB)

Henceforth, sin, injustice and death came into the world.
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)

So this question is always asked, "How can salvation be only through Jesus Christ? What about those who have not heard? Why is God so unfair?"

Let us look at it from another perspective, called karma. You reap what you sow.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 ESV)

A man visited a prostitute and got infected with AIDS but he did not know. He had sex with his wife and a baby was born. Both the mother and the baby were now infected with AIDS. Is it fair that the innocent mother and child is infected with AIDS? Maybe? Yes? No? Whatever your answer may be, you have to accept that this is a natural consequence, right?

Two man committed the same traffic offence and were fined the same amount of money. One man had no money and was sent to jail. Another man had a rich father who paid the fine for him. Was justice not served to both men? Or was it not fair that one man had a rich father? Should we all be equally rich or equally poor? Would that be justice?

God is not obligated to save all men. But God is obligated to be just. Every man will be judged justly according to his works at the great white throne judgement.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:12 ESV)
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15 ESV)

So for those who have not heard of the Good News of Jesus Christ, they will get God's justice. For those who heard and believe, you are saved by the grace of God.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

So please do not neglect such a great salvation.
So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? (Hebrews 2:3 NLT)
Remember what it says: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." (Hebrews 3:15 NLT)

God has offered a choice of life or death.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; (Deuteronomy 30:15 KJV)

This offer is open to all.
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13 ESV)

But the opportunity to response is limited by the opportunity to hear.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14 ESV)

This is the grace of God, working in an imperfect world of sin.

What If I Run The Universe

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: Get ready to answer Me like a man; When I question you, you will inform Me. Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? Adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory. Unleash your raging anger; look on every proud person and humiliate him. Look on every proud person and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. Hide them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave. Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can deliver you. (Job 40:6-14 HCSB)

God challenged Job to run the universe his way, to punish all evil and injustice and humiliate every proud person. Does Job have the power to control not only the humans, but the forces of nature? Many people think that they can do a better job than God. But their narrow view of justice bring more misery to those they rule. And the world is more than just humans.

I, I am Yahweh, and there is no other Savior but Me. (Isaiah 43:11 HCSB)

The Descent of Man

This picture is taken from the Bill Nye Ken Ham debate. It is from Ken Ham, showing a summary of the Bible from creation to consummation.

Creation
Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Corruption
Genesis 3:1-24

Catastrophe
Genesis 7:11-12

Confusion
Genesis 11:1-9

Christ
Genesis 3:15
Micah 5:2
Daniel 9:24-26

Cross
Psalm 22

Consummation
Revelation 21:1

God And Sufferings

If God exists, why are there sufferings in the world?
This is an age old question which was not answered to men's satisfaction. The usual conclusions we get are:

1. God wanted to stop suffering but could not. He is not omnipotent.
2. God can stop suffering but will not. He is a sadist.
3. God does not exist. He is just some imagination by men to ease their sufferings.

The Bible did answer this question directly.

Sufferings entered the world by the disobedience of Adam.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 KJV)

To those who are lost, who insist that the Almighty has to do things their way, they would then conclude that reason 2 is true. "If God knew the future and is almighty, He would not have created Satan to cause Adam to sin. He knew all these would happen, yet He allowed it. He is a sadist."

The Bible also answer this accusation, not with a direct answer, but with questions (e.g. Job 38:1 - 41:34).

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who argues with God give an answer. (Job 40:2 HCSB)
"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? (Isaiah 45:9 NASB)
Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? (Romans 9:21 ESV)
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26 ESV)

For those who realize that God is infinitely wise and will resolve the problem of sin and suffering in His time and in His way, they would have to accept by faith that God's solution is better and His Word will ultimately come true.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)
"Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:16 NASB)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1 ESV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV)
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36 ESV)

Man Thinks That God Is Foolish

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25 KJV)

Many people think that they are better than God. They have a lot of suggestions on how to improve the world. They do not believe that God exists because there are so much problem in the world and God does not seem to be capable of solving them.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

The Worst Is Yet To Be

On Friday 14th December 201, 22 children were slashed by knife-wielding man at Chenpeng Village Primary School in Henan province, 20 children and 6 adults were shot dead by a gunman who opened fire at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Then came the question: "Where is God when all these things happened?" Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee answered, "We have systematically removed God from our schools." Of course God was not found in China. Mao Zedong removed Him.

When we look at a cup with with water at 50% of its capacity, we called it half-full or half-empty, depending on our optimism (or pessimism). We can say that the gun violence in America is bad because God does not exist, or gun violence could be worse, but God's restraint prevent it from being worse.

Despite its liberal gun laws, America's crime scene is no way like Mexico's, there is few religious inspired violence, unlike Pakistan and Iraq and there is no armed separatist movement. America is stilled governed by the rule of law. A lot of countries in the world would be rendered ungovernable if their gun laws were like America's. Where is God when all these things happened? We see God's preserving hand in America, preventing things from being worse.

But one day He will remove His restraint.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 HCSB)

For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (Matthew 24:21 NASB)

The worst is yet to be.

If The Earth Is Flat, You Can Judge God

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." Richard Dawkins in "The God Delusion" and here is a website that give Bible verses to support Dawkins.

"According to the Bible when the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, God fed them by making food fall regularly from the sky (Exodus16:4). During the 1980's, several million Ethiopian Christians died slowly and painfully from starvation due to a prolonged drought. God had then the opportunity to make food fall from the sky, as the Bible claims he did in the past, in order to prove his existence, his power and his love. Buddhists would say that God did not manifest his presence because he does not exist." Beyond Belief A Buddhist Critique of Christianity Chapter 3 by A. L. de Silva

"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?" Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

We all love to judge God. We also love to give God advices. We always hear people who say, "If God exist, why doesn't He do this or do that? If God is good, why does evil exist?"

Long ago, people thought that the earth is flat. They thought that the sky was like a big roof over the flat earth, with the sun transversing it by day and the moon by night and stars are like little lights on the roof. They even thought that they could build a tower to reach heaven (Genesis 11:4). These flat earth people had a rather poor view of God, thinking that His creation is rather limited and He could be challenged.

We now know that the earth is round. We also know that there is no roof, but the sky is one huge expanse stretching all the way beyond our imagination. We also can understand why God took one whole day to create this expanse (Genesis 1:6-8).

But why does the earth seem so flat from our ground perception when it is round? Because the earth is so huge and we are so small in comparison. But the earth is so small in comparison to the sun. The sun is so small in comparison to the solar system. The solar system is so small in comparison to the Milky Way. The Milky Way is so small in comparison to the visible universe. Now what can we say of the God who had created this humongous universe? Should we not stand in awesome wonder at the wisdom and power of such a creator God? Yet men, who is so small that the earth seems flat to them, think that they can judge and give advices to the God who created the heavens and the earth.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4 KJV)

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. (Job 38:4 NLT)

All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? (Isaiah 40:17-18 ESV)