I heard an incoming email notification sound just as the sky was turning light, and my internal clock informed me it was about time to get up. Who would send an email this early? Marian?
Concerned that something might have come up, I forced my eyes to open fully and began reading the email:
“Good morning Lina,
“Can you take a look at the text below? I promised to send it by noon today to a family friend whose wife is a hagiographer [someone who writes about the lives of saints and/or produces icons]. Both have expressed indignation towards God because of the things that are lately happening in their life. The husband had surgery for prostate cancer a week ago. One of their daughters has lymph node cancer, and the wife has many minor health problems.
“Let me know what you think of the text I wrote. I told him the Bible answers all the key questions people have about life and the pain we experience. He is anxious for me to tell him verses so that he and his wife can read the Scripture together. It is so sad that although they have had the Bible in their bookcase for so many years, they never opened it to read through it.
“I will be waiting for your input on the text.
“Thank you.”
THE GREAT HISTORY OF THE WORLD
“Why do evil, pain, sorrows, afflictions, sickness and suffering exist in the world? Many of God’s people had the same question (Habakkuk 1:3).
“God created humans and angels with free will and let them choose whether they wanted to follow Him and have life (Genesis 2:16-17). He gave Adam authority and dominion over this world (Genesis 1:27-28). But an angel rebelled against God and, casting doubts about His way of governing, drew to his side one-third of the angels (Revelation 12:4).
“The humans also fell for the deceit of Lucifer. Eve gave him the benefit of the doubt when he questioned God’s actions (Genesis 3:1). Lucifer planted doubts in her mind by taking what God said and, twisting it, presented rebellion against the Lifegiver as a better way of existence (Genesis 3:4-5, John 8:44).
“From the moment Adam and Eve believed the rebellious angel and ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6), they also chose whom they would follow. God very clearly described to them the results of their choice and its effect upon their dominion over the earth (Genesis 3:16-18). Then He removed them from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). All this was what they had actually chosen for themselves.
“Since then and to this day, Lucifer is the lord of this world
(John 14:30), chosen by our forefathers
(Romans 5:12). He is the one who rules the earth (1 John 5:19) because all governments and powers that do not put their trust in Jesus through His cross belong rightfully belong to Satan (Matthew 4:8-9).
“Thus, it has come to pass that humankind rules over each other through intimidation and exploitation (Ecclesiastes 8:9). It is not only humans who groan under this yoke but the whole creation (Romans 8:22).
“Therefore, we cannot say God is responsible for our sufferings
(James 1:13-15).
“But God has promised this will not continue forever (Ecclesiastes 8:13).
“Knowing that there was always the possibility of apostasy, God had already prepared a deliverance plan to save His children and His creation
(Genesis 3:15). But not without our consent!
“An important question is: Why did God not destroy the rebellious angel before he deceived humankind?
“Because God did not want anyone to submit to Him out of fear
(Matthew 22:17). Also, if He did, the idea “Was the apostate right?” would always linger in the minds of all intelligent creatures.
“Therefore, God gave us the free will to decide whom to follow and to learn from our choices and mistakes, painful though it may be. The complete knowledge and experience that Satan offered through rebellion was brokenness—broken people resulting from a broken relationship with God.
“So, what does God intend to do for us? He already has! That is why He sent His Son to ransom us and to show us the way back to life
(Matthew 20:28, Colossians 1:13-14, John 3:16). We look at it and ask ourselves: What has changed in our life because of this?
“The change is this: Not only has the rebel, the enemy of humankind, already been judged (John 16:11), but God has promised to re-create us
(2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, Romans 6:4), and has prepared something great for His children (Isaiah 65:17). He is ready to bestow it upon us, but not without our consent.
“And what are we to do until then? The Bible gives us the story of salvation and restoration. It is our guide, for God inspired it (2 Timothy 3:16). Not only does it advise us what is the best course of action until the day of the Lord
(Exodus 20:3-17, Revelation 18:4), but it also helps and comforts us
(1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28) and reveals to us the truth: God is Love
(1 John 4:16, John 3:16) and life
(John 14:6, John 11:25).
“Until when? No one knows
(John 12:31).
“And what will life be like after that? We have the promises of Revelation 21:3-4.
“Today, we must take a stand to prove our desire for and acceptance of God’s government (James 2:18,
Matthew 5:16, John 3:21) if we abhor the pain, injustice and misery of this world.
“Thankfully, God has already warned us that Satan’s government will not exist forever (Revelation 18:2-5).
“When the Savior of men and all creation returns, it should be clear what position each of us has taken (Revelation 3:15-16). We should be sober and vigilant because we know that in the last days, things will get worse (Romans 12:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-4). Therefore, we should support one another (2 Corinthians 13:11) and not be deceived.”
Over the next couple of hours, Marian sent me a message through every means of communication she could think of to ensure I had seen the email. We talked and prayed, and by the end of the day, she shared the message she had written with her friends.
Several days passed. Then Marian’s friend called her and asked if they could arrange a time to discuss the story of the fall, redemption, and restoration in more detail!
Please pray for Marian as she is starting to actively share what she is learning in anticipation of bringing joy and hope into the lives of people around her.
