Bless the Lord, O my soul,   
And all that is within me,   
bless His holy name.   
Bless the Lord, O my soul,   
And forget none of His benefits.   
- Psalms 103:1-2   
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Why Would God?

We often hear a question asked of us when people don’t understand God’s word or want to accept what He has said, “Why would God….?” The world falls into a dangerous realm of trying to understand or rationalize in their human wisdom of why God would do something, so they seek to interpret his word in a way that makes logical human sense to them. We must profess to people that faith in God should cause us to obey without question. God has his reasons whether they are revealed to us or not.

Man’s wisdom is not God’s wisdom (1 Cor. 3:19) and it is definitely not in man to guide his own steps (Jer. 10:23). Man has been given everything pertaining to life and Godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). We are not left without instruction and God does not need man’s help interpreting his word as to accommodate the changes we see taking place in the world today.

As persecution and denial of God’s ways escalate in the world today on all fronts, many in the world have questions that they don’t understand like, “Surely God, who loves his children, would not require his children to suffer certain trials and tribulations in life and even die at the hands of aggressors.” Or, “Surely God wants me to be happy in whatever lifestyle I choose.” Many then justify in their minds that God meant for all to live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11); or, God would not want them serving him in a situation they find uncomfortable. So, scripture is found that justify how we are to love one another (John 13:35); or, scripturesthat seemingly justify that I shouldn’t live (much less die) in a certain situation (Gal. 6:9) that makes me weary. They assure themselves that God surely does not expect them to endure hardships so they dismiss themselves from instruction based on other scripture taken out of context. They further convince themselves they know God’s true intent and they interpret his word accordingly, not harmonizing the whole council of God. This allows them to live in a state or lifestyle they find pleasing to themselves.  They then require others to accept their lifestyles which contradict God’s word. God’s instruction is not fallible, but man’s interpretation can be. One instruction of God does not contradict another but man’s applications can contradict.

We have many good examples left for us in God’s word from early days that show the importance of a stand for God and his word. Many lived in situations that seem impossible to us today (prophet Hosea) and some even had to die for their convictions (Stephen). It is encouraging to us to see those examples so dedicated to the cause of Christ. But, have we convinced ourselves that we too have to endure hardships, trials and tribulations in this life as well? God does not want us to run from the trials and tribulations here on earth but he does expect us to endure them, leaning on him while being an example to others, just as those of old. He is faithful to not give us any trial that we cannot bear (1 Cor. 10: 13).Praise God Peter, Paul, John and those of old did not seek a life without trial or tribulation.  They instead sought strength to deal with the situation they found themselves in.

The world looks to us as the Church for example. We must glorify God in our lives and how we deal with the same problems they face.  That is, we must deal with today’s attacks by strict adherence to God’s instruction.  "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps" (Prov. 16:9).

- Marc Hopkins



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