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When I lived in Central America I heard a story that went
something like this: A young boy was throwing a ball against a neighbor’s
house. His mother warned him to stop, but he kept on playing. Suddenly,
just as his ball struck the house, an earthquake hit. As the house was
tumbling to the ground, his mother yelled, "Look what you did this
time!"
While the story may or may not be true, we can all
sympathize with the young boy. All of us have at one time or another
been blamed for something we did not do.
God must understand. He is constantly being blamed for
things he did not do. He is blamed for death, plane crashes, tornadoes,
and cancer. People say that he takes babies from the arms of mothers and
sends devastating floods and earthquakes. He gets the credit for wars,
abandoned children, and political messes.
People who make God the villain are missing one of the
most beautiful facts of life. God is love. He wants the best for us.
Instead of being the source of troubles, God is "our refuge and
strength, an ever present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father." (James 1:17) Why, then, does God
get the blame for everything else?
Perhaps people tend to blame God for bad things because
problems seem easier to accept if they come from a Good Source. Perhaps
people often fail to blame Satan for evil because they hate to admit
that he even exists.
However, the Bible indicates that the struggle on earth
between good and evil is a result of Satan’s
rebellion against God in heaven. St. Paul wrote, "Our struggle is not
against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms."
The good news is that Christ has sealed the victory over
Satan. Jesus defeated Satan by rising from the dead. He will return to
earth some day to reign victoriously over evil. The bad news is Satan
will continue to cause evil until Christ returns and throws him into the
bottomless pit. (See Revelation 20:7-10).
When bad things happen to us, we have a choice. We can
blame God, or we can run to him and seek his comfort, love and power. In
other words, we can face our problems alone, or we can trust in God and
experience his supernatural power.
People who rejoice and give thanks regardless of what
happens are set free. Instead of being controlled by others or by
circumstances, they get to choose their own attitude.
Evil will be with us until the end of the earth. But so
will good. Thanksgiving is a special time to realize that good is from
God. It is also a great time to thank him for being with us in times of
difficulties and trouble.
Paul Jetter, Upper Valley Community Church |
