God Knows - But Does He Care

The answer in our previous Better Blessing entry may be too simple for some.  Jesus Christ as a symbol of God’s caring may be insufficient to answer the question posed: if God knows about the world's atrocities, why doesn’t He stop them?  After all, He certainly has the power, and God is sovereign.  Very valid points.  In fact, I, along with most rational individuals, would rather live in a world free from atrocities.  But that type of world would most definitely require the absence of sin and therefore, by association, the absence of humans.  

This leads to a very pertinent question: Is God responsible for the state of our world?  Did He create this mess?  Sure enough He “created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1) and possesses His creation, including the heavens and the earth and all that is in them (Due 10:14).  But did God create the mess our world is in today?  Here’s an analogy that may help:

Say that one day your children decided to have a food fight in the kitchen of your house.  You were aware of the planned food fight and even warned your children of the potential harm that may come upon them if said food fight were to occur.  Your children heard your words but did not heed them and went forward with the chaos - food flying here and there and everywhere.  A total mess was created.  How would you, as the parent, respond?  Would you be mad?  Most definitely.  Would you dole out punishment?  Probably.  Would you make your children clean up the mess?  You should.  Would you burn your house to the ground?  No.  Would you kill the main perpetrators of the fight?  Absolutely not.  Why not?  Because you love them.  That love is not your own.  The love that lingers in spite of the rebellion of your child is the love of God.  It is His love granted to us, and we are fortunate to have it.  

God does not shed innocent blood. God does not cause volcanoes to erupt or earthquakes that cause tsunamis. God did not kill the Jews in the holocaust. He does not rape girls or use children in the sex trade.  He does not inflict the tortures and atrocities of man. God did not give your loved one cancer. He was not responsible for your friend’s suicide. God has done no evil.  His role in our catastrophic food fight is that of a parent.  Don’t be indignant when God, the Author and Possessor of all love, shows love.  If you will love your children, even through the most rebellious of actions, don’t be angry at God when He shows love to us - all of us, even the most despicable among us.  God will love us even though we hate Him. He will continue to love us even when our actions deserve the worst punishment.  He will continue to love us until we have ultimately rejected Him without hope of returning.  Until that time happens, our God will wait for us.  He will reach out to us.  He will seek His children and desire them to draw near to Him.  

You would rather a God of justice Who kills the perps and removes evil?  Careful.  Remember, you are one of the perps.  You, like every other flawed human being who has ever lived, are full of sin and in need of a Savior.  A Savior Who loves!  See? Jesus Christ is the answer after all.  I admit.  It is simple.  But Jesus is the answer.  He has to be.  Jesus Christ represents that most ridiculous, absurd, reckless, audacious characteristic of God’s love.  A Savior to His enemies.  A loving kiss to His betrayers.  A plea for forgiveness for His murderers.  A Son sacrificed for ruthless strangers.  Jesus Christ is the answer to whether God cares.  He shows us exactly why God does not burn down the house.  He shows us God’s love.