But did God fail?

Something’s wrong

We don’t live in an ideal world. When we look at what goes on the expression ‘hell on earth’ readily comes to mind. So how did this big God make such a big mess?

Here’s where things let go

When God made people he gave them the ability to choose to love and obey Him. But the trick is they chose to go against God and do as they pleased. They chose to be autonomous, to live separately and independently from God. And so they left God’s fellowship and went their own way. We call that sin.

The problem is our hearts

When we look at the suffering in the world, it all stems from the day our species rebelled against its Maker’s design. Put water in your petrol tank, then try and get it repaired under warranty. Well next time you steal something, or hurl back insult for insult, or be just plain selfish … think twice about blaming the maker. He tells us how we are to live in harmony in His world, but we choose war not peace. He tells us how to enjoy marriage, but we choose lust over love. Ever noticed kids don’t need to be taught to be naughty? That comes from their hearts. So if you are honest, perhaps what’s wrong with the world is you. What’s wrong with the world? Me.

We are like fish

If you take fish out of water they die, but not straight away. They gulp for a while, they might flap a bit, but in the end they die. We were made to live our lives with God. Replacing God with other people or things just doesn’t cut it. And so we live our lives with a gaping need that can never be filled no matter how hard we try. And try we do, often at the expense of other people and our troubled world.

Yes, God made a mistake

He should have made us robots that ran like clockwork. He should have prevented anything bad from happening - which is the same thing as making us robots. But God chose to make Himself vulnerable. He gave us the ability to grieve him; He lets people deny He exists; He lets people make terrible choices, because that is how He made us.