Does Evil Exist

Did God create everything that exists?

Does evil exist?

Did God create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. “Did God create everything that exists?” A student bravely replied, “Yes he did!”

“God created everything?” The professor asked.

“Yes sir, he certainly did,” the student replied.

The professor answered, “If God created everything; then God created evil.

And, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil.”

The student became quiet and did not answer the professor’s hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, “May I ask you a question, professor?”

“Of course”, replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, “Professor, does cold exist?”

“What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?” The other students snickered at the young man’s question.

The young man replied, “In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.”

The student continued, “Professor, does darkness exist?”

The professor responded, “Of course it does.”

The student replied, “Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn’t this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.”

Finally the young man asked the professor, “Sir, does evil exist?”

Now uncertain, the professor responded, “Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.

To this the student replied, “Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light.”

—–

We can play all the games we want in our soul. The human viewpoint can rationalize anything.

But one day we will all meet our God and Creator.

God loved us so much, He sent His own Son out of heaven, to become a man and take the judgment for our sins.

We are all guilty before God, but His Son has taken our sins out of the way, and nailed them to the cross! -COL 2:14

Now it is your choice to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or not. He is the only One that paid for your sins. If you believe in Him, you will be justified in God’s eyes, and you will receive the gift of eternal life.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” -Acts 16:31

Bloom Where You’re Planted

I was out walking through the woods a while back when I came to a clearing that was full of tall weeds. Everywhere I looked there were these dried up, brown, ugly weeds,

Everywhere I looked there were these dried up, brown, ugly weeds.

As I continued walking, about a hundred yards in, I saw this beautiful flower. It was so bright and colorful; so refreshing. It had bloomed right there in the middle of all those weeds.

As I looked I thought, “Really, that’s what God wants us to do. He wants us to just bloom wherever we’re planted.”Your environment does not have the power to keep you from being happy.

You may work around a bunch of “weeds,” but that doesn’t have to stop you from blooming. The key is to not focus on the weeds. Some people spend all their time trying to pull up the weeds, so to speak.

In other words, they try to fix everything around them. They try to make people do what’s right. They try to straighten out all their co-workers. But we have to realize that we can’t change people.

Only God can.

If somebody wants to be a weed, no matter what you do, they are going to be a weed. If you spend all your time and energy trying to change others, it’s going to keep you from blooming.

One of the best things you can do is to focus on what God has for you to do. You can bloom right in the middle of those co-workers who are negative and critical.

You can put a smile on your face and be kind and friendly. You can have a good report. Your job is not to pull up the weeds. Your job is to bloom.

Remember, you may be surrounded by a bunch of weeds today, but you can just bloom right where you are. You can be the one to set a new standard for your family.

You can be the one to raise the bar. When God sees you doing what you can do, He’ll show up and do what you can’t. He will give you breaks that you didn’t deserve.

He will cause people to be good to you for no reason. He will open up doors that no man can shut, and He’ll pour out His favor and blessing upon you in every area of your life!

I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels (Eze 16:7, NIV).

A Father’s Love

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH’S PASTORS LOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WASIN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.”A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST.”

HE BEGAN. “A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT ANDTHE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.

“THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY.”

GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFELINE.

HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON’S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES.AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, ‘I LOVE YOU, SON!’

HE THREW OUT THE LIFELINE TO HIS SON’S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.”BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER’S MOUTH.

“THE FATHER,” HE CONTINUED, “KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON’S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS… THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON’S FRIEND.”

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BES AVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE HOLDOF THE LIFELINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO TODAY”

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM. THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END.

HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TOTHE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN’S SIDE.”THAT WAS A NICE STORY,”

POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM, “BUT I DON’TTHINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON’SLIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.””WELL, YOU ‘VE GOT A POINT THERE,” THE OLD MAN REPLIED.

GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE, A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, “IT SURE ISN’TVERY REALISTIC, IS IT?

BUT I’M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TOGIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON’S FRIEND.”

A Letter To Singles

My dear child…Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone – to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.

But I say, “No. Not yet. Not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with living…living loved by Me alone.” I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.Until you are united with Me – exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desire and longings – you can never be united with another.

I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing – one that you can’t imagine. I want you to have the BEST. Please allow Me to bring it to you. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you.

For now, you must wait. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things others have, or at the things you think you want.

When you look away, you may miss what I want to show you. Lean into Me, lean on Me, place your trust and hope in Me, let Me be enough for you.

And then when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than anyone would ever dream!

You see, even now I am preparing another for you, working to have both of you ready at the same time. Until both of you are satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you, neither of you will be able to fully experience or appreciate the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me and this is perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me – to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I am God almighty.

I truly want only the very best for you. Do you believe Me?

Believe and be satisfied.

I love you,

– Your Heavenly Father

Recovering From Loss

Scriptures to Help Recover from Loss
Ps 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Ps 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Isa 25:6-9
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.

The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Isa 35:9-10
No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isa 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isa 60:20
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
Isa 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Lam 3:21-26
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Matt 5:1-4
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
2 Cor 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Rev 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”