Evil. Suffering. Death.

Dr. Mike Jesus Christ , , , ,

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

evil suffering death

Modern technology and science are amazing. In my short lifetime, I have witnessed the advent of the computer, smart phone, and internet. I have seen medical breakthroughs; spaceships to the moon and beyond; and pictures of galaxies millions of miles from earth. The knowledge and pace of new inventions just keep on growing.

Yet I have also seen the austerities of evil between people and the unfruitful suffering of helpless parents and children. Like those who have gone before us, I have also experienced the brevity of life. Bodily death awaits us all.

As a people, we are taught the solution for all our problems are through science or a better form of government, or more education. Yet evil, suffering, and eventually death continues to freely express themselves throughout our neighborhoods as each of these areas grow.

There are those who want a one-world ruling government but can’t agree on the form of government. Would it be a democracy or socialist or communistic?  What would the prevailing religion be – Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, Hindu, etc.? Which language would prevail?

Then there are those, like myself, who realize the solution lies with Jesus Christ. But most people poo-poo the solution. What can a man who lived 2000 years ago provide a practical solution today they ask? Christianity has been around for 2,000 years and what has it produced? Religion is the superstition of the people many world leaders have claimed. What makes Jesus Christ different?

Imagine if Jesus Christ was properly taught and lived-out in the classroom today in every country? They would come to realize who He truly was, is, and will be. They would recognize his kingship and domain. His family connection with God the Father and Holy Spirit. The rule of love and justice and mercy would prevail. Instead of serving one’s desires, one would learn to love Father God that Jesus introduced us too. The culture would seek solutions to live life to the fullest without causing damage to the minds and souls of their inhabitants. Business would focus on providing services and products worthy of the monetary investment without causing harm to the environment.

Every person would fully understand their purpose for life and how they can best serve others in the process. Nations would help nations to grow and prosper. Everyone would acknowledge Jesus as King; the earth his domain; and we his subjects. His decrees built from a position of love and truth would prevail. Lies, deceit, and murder would be banished along with the chief instigator – Satan.

What we have here is God’s solution to our temporarily problem of evil, suffering, and death. Jesus Christ is returning. And with him is the full establishment of his Kingdom. This is what I look forward too. When mankind and the divine walk hand-in-hand and fully express life together in a world where everyone flourishes and lives in peace and harmony.

Meanwhile today we are blessed to create small heavenly colonies where we now have a foretaste of the world tomorrow promised by our God; and privileged to witness those around us what life with God is all about. There is a time for every purpose under heaven…and yes even one day evil, suffering, and death will be no more.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Favor of the Lord

Dr. Mike Knowing God , ,

Luke 1:26-31

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

favor2

Sometimes we hold unto blissful expectations which eventually become painful disappointments. Take the concept of wanting to experience the favor of the Lord. Most humans would desire the favor of the Lord. We picture ourselves sitting on a royal chair with subjects, having a life of ease and comfort, and all our desires fully satisfied. Yet reality speaks differently as Mary experienced through her life.

Yes, she was favored by the Lord to be the birth mother of the Son of God. But life wasn’t really a bowl of peaches because of it. Think of all she had to endure through the process?

She was an unmarried woman pregnant with child living is a small village where everybody generally knows everyone else’s business. Per the old Jewish oracles, a woman without a husband and pregnant was to be stoned to death. How favored of a life would you say living out each day hiding your condition from your parents and siblings and neighbors is? What about spending the last month of your pregnancy riding a donkey and/or walking for 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to take part in a census? And of course, to give birth in a non-sanitized environment without the support of family or friends. Is this the favored life?

To be favored by God is a blessing. You know He has your back. But the process of every day challenges and threats still remain. To be favored by God is an adventurous life and not necessarily a safe one. Yet to know you are being held in His Grip through all the ups and downs life throws your way is a blessing and comfort to the soul.

Even with suffering or pain that comes our way, we rather be favored by God than not. How about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

What is God’s Greatest Expression of His Love?

Dr. Mike Knowing God , , , ,

Psalm 34:12

Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good?

life

Life. God created you for eternal habitation with Him. Without life you wouldn’t know God, family, nor anything. You wouldn’t exist. In my opinion, Life is God’s greatest expression of His Love. He created the universe to be inhabited. He created earth to be inhabited. He created humanity to share in His life. Everything created by Him is love being fulfilled. Without life, there is no experience of love, God, nor anything.

Even when humanity rebelled against Him, He intervened. He elected Himself as an atoning sacrifice. Jesus Christ is God’s continual expression of his love for us. God came in flesh to experience life in human skin.  He now has a better understanding of you and me because he lived it out. Christ’s entire life was lived out so you and I could see how life is meant to be lived. His life, death, and resurrection culminated into humanity’s relationship being restored with God.

Life comes only from life. Science has not yet discovered the missing link where matter becomes life. Even they acknowledge that life is born only from a living entity. As the Book of Genesis stated, God breathed into man and he became a living soul. As physical life only comes from physical life, eternal life only comes from eternal life. As Jesus stated to Nicodemus, one must be born again by the Spirit. Life comes from life.

God’s greatest gift to humanity is life. He created physical life with people with free-will because He wanted to share his life and love with each of us. But relationship is a two-way street. It takes two to tango. And God freely gives us life and waits to see if we want to share life with Him. For those who do, eternal life awaits them. For those who do not want to be in relationship with Him, he will oblige. Hopefully, you have come to a point in your world where God’s love wins you over. For after you have a small taste of His love and life, you can’t live without. He is Love and Life in one.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

*  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2019 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved