My dad was one of
the best examples to me
00:00:01.40\00:00:03.48
of what it means to
be a true Christian.
00:00:03.51\00:00:05.89
He talked with God the way
friends talk to each other.
00:00:05.92\00:00:09.00
He knew God's voice.
00:00:09.03\00:00:10.76
And he set the example for
me of the kind of relationship
00:00:10.79\00:00:13.48
that I want to have with God.
00:00:13.51\00:00:15.44
It seems that everywhere he went
00:00:15.47\00:00:17.37
he was always showing his faith,
00:00:17.40\00:00:18.82
whether it was to his coworkers
00:00:18.85\00:00:20.80
or to his friends or
the complete stranger
00:00:20.83\00:00:23.32
in the gas station.
00:00:23.35\00:00:24.77
God used him to
touch countless lives.
00:00:24.80\00:00:27.90
That's why it was so
terribly confusing to everyone
00:00:27.93\00:00:31.03
when he suddenly passed
away with a heart attack
00:00:31.06\00:00:33.38
at the age of only 51.
00:00:33.41\00:00:35.54
Leaving me and my seven
siblings without our father
00:00:35.57\00:00:38.79
and my mom without her husband
who she loved and needed.
00:00:38.82\00:00:42.75
How could God
allow such a good man,
00:00:42.78\00:00:45.09
a good father, a good husband
00:00:45.12\00:00:47.30
and a worker for Him
to simply be taken away?
00:00:47.33\00:00:51.11
If God really is
an all powerful God
00:00:51.14\00:00:54.32
then He could have stopped it.
00:00:54.35\00:00:55.75
He had every ability
to prevent this tragedy.
00:00:55.78\00:00:58.68
And in fact, has every
ability to prevent all tragedy
00:00:58.71\00:01:02.14
and suffering and
pain in this world.
00:01:02.17\00:01:04.64
Yet He allows it
to continue. Why?
00:01:04.67\00:01:08.85
And how am I supposed to believe
00:01:08.88\00:01:10.58
that a God who has the ability
00:01:10.61\00:01:12.53
to stop these
things yet does not,
00:01:12.56\00:01:15.61
could really be a loving God?
00:01:15.64\00:01:17.91
Now have you ever
wondered the same thing?
00:01:17.94\00:01:20.35
Well, today we're gonna
00:01:20.38\00:01:21.75
take a look at
the teachings of Jesus
00:01:21.78\00:01:23.88
concerning these very questions.
00:01:23.91\00:01:25.63
It's the age old question
00:02:16.83\00:02:18.51
that continues to
cause a storm of controversy.
00:02:18.54\00:02:22.41
Why do bad things
happen to good people?
00:02:22.44\00:02:25.79
Or to say it another
way, if God is so good
00:02:25.82\00:02:29.29
why does He allow so
many bad things to take place?
00:02:29.32\00:02:33.62
There have been
many throughout the ages
00:02:33.65\00:02:35.69
who have struggled with these
very questions, and rightly so.
00:02:35.72\00:02:40.29
You would think that if God were
truly a loving and caring God,
00:02:40.32\00:02:44.82
He could never allow
such things as child abuse
00:02:44.85\00:02:47.68
or cancer or divorce or the loss
of a loved one to take place.
00:02:47.71\00:02:53.27
So why then are these
things so common in our world?
00:02:53.30\00:02:57.63
It's a very important question
for it has everything to do
00:02:57.66\00:03:01.05
with whether or not
you can truly believe
00:03:01.08\00:03:03.83
in a loving and merciful God.
00:03:03.86\00:03:07.09
A God of the Bible.
00:03:07.12\00:03:10.35
You know, often He is in
fact the first one to be blamed
00:03:10.38\00:03:14.40
when something tragic happens.
00:03:14.43\00:03:16.53
And some people have turned
their backs on God altogether
00:03:16.56\00:03:19.26
because they just can't
imagine believing in a God
00:03:19.29\00:03:22.69
who is seemingly
indifferent to our sufferings.
00:03:22.72\00:03:25.89
So how do we reconcile
the apparent inconsistencies
00:03:25.92\00:03:30.68
between a loving
and compassionate God
00:03:30.71\00:03:33.29
and the terrible
tragedy and suffering
00:03:33.32\00:03:35.79
that takes place in this world?
00:03:35.82\00:03:38.60
Often we hear answers like,
00:03:38.63\00:03:40.47
"we just can't
understand God's ways,"
00:03:40.50\00:03:43.21
or "well, I
suppose we'll have to wait
00:03:43.24\00:03:46.14
until we get to
heaven to find out."
00:03:46.17\00:03:48.98
Now however true
these things may be,
00:03:49.01\00:03:52.11
to many people,
these are quite frankly
00:03:52.14\00:03:54.74
just not satisfactory answers.
00:03:54.77\00:03:57.75
And to those people I
would say, "That's okay,
00:03:57.78\00:04:01.45
you don't have to be satisfied
with these answers." Why?
00:04:01.48\00:04:05.63
Because the Bible
gives us an answer.
00:04:05.66\00:04:08.65
And not just any answer
but a good answer. Levi?
00:04:08.68\00:04:14.82
It sure does, Charles.
00:04:14.85\00:04:16.22
And, you know, often when
we're seeking to understand
00:04:16.25\00:04:18.90
some of life's big questions,
00:04:18.93\00:04:21.13
the best way to go about it
00:04:21.16\00:04:22.68
is to take a look
at the big picture.
00:04:22.71\00:04:24.87
In Matthew 13: 24-30,
00:04:24.90\00:04:27.59
Jesus tells an
interesting parable
00:04:27.62\00:04:30.07
and that can
help us to understand
00:04:30.10\00:04:31.47
a couple of
very important points
00:04:31.50\00:04:33.67
about why so many terrible
things take place in this world.
00:04:33.70\00:04:37.19
In this parable, there was a man
00:04:37.22\00:04:38.78
who planted a wheat field.
00:04:38.81\00:04:40.18
But while he
slept, an enemy came
00:04:40.21\00:04:42.67
and sowed tares among the wheat.
00:04:42.70\00:04:45.41
When his servants asked him
00:04:45.44\00:04:46.81
what they should
do with the tares,
00:04:46.84\00:04:48.21
he said to let them grow
until the time of the harvest.
00:04:48.24\00:04:51.29
And at that time, they could
be separated from the wheat.
00:04:51.32\00:04:54.66
But then Jesus
goes on to explain
00:04:54.69\00:04:56.47
in verses 39-41 what
this parable represents.
00:04:56.50\00:05:01.11
He says that the enemy
in the story is the devil.
00:05:01.14\00:05:04.33
The harvest is
the end of the world,
00:05:04.36\00:05:06.01
that reapers are the angels
00:05:06.04\00:05:08.18
and the tares
represent all things that offend
00:05:08.21\00:05:11.50
and them which do iniquity.
00:05:11.53\00:05:13.52
Now with that
information we can understand
00:05:13.55\00:05:15.75
what Jesus was
actually saying in this parable.
00:05:15.78\00:05:19.02
And He said that an
enemy, that is the devil,
00:05:19.05\00:05:21.59
was the one responsible
for sowing the tares.
00:05:21.62\00:05:24.74
And again, what did
the tares represent?
00:05:24.77\00:05:27.85
All things that offend
and them which do iniquity.
00:05:27.88\00:05:31.87
Now let me ask you a question.
00:05:31.90\00:05:33.68
Would this all things that
offend include, say, genocide
00:05:33.71\00:05:37.41
or how about
child abuse or rape?
00:05:37.44\00:05:40.01
Would they be
included in this "all things?"
00:05:40.04\00:05:42.92
Of course, it
includes all of the suffering
00:05:42.95\00:05:45.83
and death and
pain in this world.
00:05:45.86\00:05:48.12
All things that offend.
00:05:48.15\00:05:50.01
And who is responsible for it?
00:05:50.04\00:05:51.55
According to the teachings
of Jesus Himself, the devil.
00:05:51.58\00:05:55.42
And so the first
point I want you to notice
00:05:55.45\00:05:57.66
is that God is not the
one causing these things.
00:05:57.69\00:06:01.25
And Jesus is very clear
00:06:01.28\00:06:02.89
that the
responsibility rests upon Satan.
00:06:02.92\00:06:06.48
Well, you say, I already
knew that God's not causing it,
00:06:06.51\00:06:10.02
but why does He allow it?
00:06:10.05\00:06:12.41
Well, let's go
back to the parable.
00:06:12.44\00:06:14.64
We're told in verses 28, 29
00:06:14.67\00:06:16.65
that when his
servants came and asked him
00:06:16.68\00:06:18.33
if they should go
and gather up the tares,
00:06:18.36\00:06:21.01
he told them to wait.
00:06:21.04\00:06:23.50
In other words, he
would allow the tares
00:06:23.53\00:06:26.13
to continue growing for a time.
00:06:26.16\00:06:28.39
Now notice,
this is the question.
00:06:28.42\00:06:30.87
Why does God allow
these things to continue
00:06:30.90\00:06:34.05
and what was the
reason Jesus gave?
00:06:34.08\00:06:37.02
"No, lest while
you gather up the tares
00:06:37.05\00:06:39.79
you also uproot
the wheat with them.
00:06:39.82\00:06:42.62
Let both grow
together until the harvest."
00:06:42.65\00:06:47.08
So the reason the
tares weren't dealt with
00:06:47.11\00:06:48.98
when they first sprang up
00:06:49.01\00:06:50.76
was because some of the wheat
00:06:50.79\00:06:52.16
may have been
pulled up with them.
00:06:52.19\00:06:54.22
You see, in their
early stages of growth,
00:06:54.25\00:06:56.50
the two plants look
virtually identical.
00:06:56.53\00:06:59.57
It's only as you
allow them to mature
00:06:59.60\00:07:01.99
that you can begin to clearly
distinguish between the two.
00:07:02.02\00:07:05.00
And so what was Jesus saying?
00:07:05.03\00:07:08.10
Sin, that thing that offends,
00:07:08.13\00:07:10.69
must be allowed for a time
to prosper, to grow to maturity,
00:07:10.72\00:07:15.38
that its true
nature, its true ugliness,
00:07:15.41\00:07:18.95
and all of its terrible
results can be clearly seen.
00:07:18.98\00:07:23.19
But why is it important for us
00:07:23.22\00:07:24.65
to be able to so
clearly see the results of sin?
00:07:24.68\00:07:28.51
Andrea is standing by
with that important insight.
00:07:28.54\00:07:32.96
Well, Levi, I think
the best way to understand
00:07:32.99\00:07:35.39
why it's important that
we see the results of sin
00:07:35.42\00:07:38.06
is to go back to the beginning
and look at the origin of sin.
00:07:38.09\00:07:41.71
How it entered the universe
00:07:41.74\00:07:43.51
and what was actually
at stake because of it.
00:07:43.54\00:07:46.60
Often, when we
think of where sin began,
00:07:46.63\00:07:49.06
we think of the Garden
of Eden and Adam and Eve
00:07:49.09\00:07:51.19
disobeying God and partaking
of the forbidden fruit.
00:07:51.22\00:07:54.76
But this is actually
not where sin originated.
00:07:54.79\00:07:57.90
As we touched on
in our previous study,
00:07:57.93\00:07:59.81
sin actually
originated in heaven
00:07:59.84\00:08:02.43
with one of the angels.
00:08:02.46\00:08:04.51
We read about this
in Ezekiel Chapter 28.
00:08:04.54\00:08:07.41
In this chapter, the writer
uses a wicked earthly king,
00:08:07.44\00:08:10.76
that is, the King of
Tyre as a figure to describe
00:08:10.79\00:08:13.56
this being in heaven
that would eventually become
00:08:13.59\00:08:16.25
who we know as
Satan or the devil.
00:08:16.28\00:08:19.26
Now maybe you've wondered,
00:08:19.29\00:08:20.95
"Why would God
create the devil?"
00:08:20.98\00:08:23.41
Well, the question
is, did He create a devil?
00:08:23.44\00:08:27.68
I want you to notice
a few important things
00:08:27.71\00:08:29.63
here in Ezekiel 28.
00:08:29.66\00:08:31.50
And describing this
being, verse 12 says
00:08:31.53\00:08:33.78
that he was not only perfect
00:08:33.81\00:08:35.55
but that he was
the seal of perfection.
00:08:35.58\00:08:38.40
That is to say,
00:08:38.43\00:08:39.80
he was the crowning
act of God's creation.
00:08:39.83\00:08:42.47
It also says that
he was full of wisdom
00:08:42.50\00:08:45.26
and perfect in beauty.
00:08:45.29\00:08:47.60
And verse 15 says that he
was perfect in all his ways
00:08:47.63\00:08:50.87
from the day
that he was created.
00:08:50.90\00:08:53.76
Now I don't know about you,
00:08:53.79\00:08:55.68
but to me, this doesn't
quite sound like the devil
00:08:55.71\00:08:58.26
we're used to hearing about.
00:08:58.29\00:09:00.24
Well, that's because it's not.
00:09:00.27\00:09:02.03
This was the
prefect sinless being
00:09:02.06\00:09:04.43
that God originally created
00:09:04.46\00:09:06.56
before he became
corrupted by sin.
00:09:06.59\00:09:09.77
And in fact, it
appears that this angel
00:09:09.80\00:09:12.10
may have been more closely
connected to God and His throne
00:09:12.13\00:09:15.69
than were any of the
other created beings.
00:09:15.72\00:09:18.53
This is evident by
what is said in verse 14.
00:09:18.56\00:09:21.87
"Thou art the anointed
cherub that covereth..."
00:09:21.90\00:09:25.82
And what does that mean?
00:09:25.85\00:09:27.57
Well, if you study the
Old Testament sanctuary
00:09:27.60\00:09:29.92
that God had Moses
build in the wilderness,
00:09:29.95\00:09:32.41
you'll find that on
either side of the mercy seat
00:09:32.44\00:09:34.96
which represented God's throne
in heaven, there were cherubim
00:09:34.99\00:09:38.82
which held their
wings above the place
00:09:38.85\00:09:40.71
where God's
presence was to dwell.
00:09:40.74\00:09:44.34
So a covering cherub was the one
who stood closes to God's throne
00:09:44.37\00:09:48.64
and would arch his wings
over the place where God sat.
00:09:48.67\00:09:52.23
And this was the
former position of this angel
00:09:52.26\00:09:54.72
described in Ezekiel 28.
00:09:54.75\00:09:57.07
The former position of the
one who we now call, Satan.
00:09:57.10\00:10:02.08
You know, it
really makes you wonder.
00:10:02.11\00:10:04.84
What was it that
cause one so highly exalted
00:10:04.87\00:10:08.16
and favored by God to
fall so far away? Stephen?
00:10:08.19\00:10:14.07
Well, Andrea,
that's a good question.
00:10:14.10\00:10:16.24
And it's
actually the same question
00:10:16.27\00:10:17.69
asked in Isaiah Chapter 14.
00:10:17.72\00:10:20.09
"How art thou
fallen from heaven,
00:10:20.12\00:10:22.12
O Lucifer, son of the morning?
00:10:22.15\00:10:24.38
How art thou cut
down to the ground,
00:10:24.41\00:10:26.37
which didst weaken the nations?"
00:10:26.40\00:10:28.88
How could sin enter into a
perfect and sinless universe?
00:10:28.91\00:10:32.63
How could such a
bright and holy being
00:10:32.66\00:10:34.56
as this exalted
angel named Lucifer
00:10:34.59\00:10:36.45
become the most
bitter enemy of God?
00:10:36.48\00:10:39.71
It's something
called the mystery of sin.
00:10:39.74\00:10:43.60
It's a hard thing to understand,
00:10:43.63\00:10:45.61
but Ezekiel tells us
that it was ultimately
00:10:45.64\00:10:47.84
due to the seeds of pride that
began to grow inside of him.
00:10:47.87\00:10:51.25
Pride for the very
beauty and splendor
00:10:51.28\00:10:53.03
that God
intended to be a blessing.
00:10:53.06\00:10:55.97
Isaiah 14:13, 14 tells us
that this pride eventually
00:10:56.00\00:11:00.30
let him to desire the
very throne of God Himself.
00:11:00.33\00:11:04.31
I want you to notice all
of the references to ascending
00:11:04.34\00:11:06.84
or going up that we
find in these verses.
00:11:06.87\00:11:10.25
"For thou hast
said in thine heart,
00:11:10.28\00:11:12.08
I will ascend into heaven,
00:11:12.11\00:11:13.89
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God,
00:11:13.92\00:11:17.12
I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation,
00:11:17.15\00:11:20.21
in the sides of the north,
00:11:20.24\00:11:21.75
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds,
00:11:21.78\00:11:24.54
I will be like the most High."
00:11:24.57\00:11:28.18
He wanted to go up, to ascend,
00:11:28.21\00:11:30.26
to be above all
other heavenly beings
00:11:30.29\00:11:32.51
and even above God Himself.
00:11:32.54\00:11:35.51
He wanted to be
like the most High,
00:11:35.54\00:11:38.03
not in
character, but in position.
00:11:38.06\00:11:41.71
By his desire to
take God's position,
00:11:41.74\00:11:43.92
he was essentially saying that
00:11:43.95\00:11:45.39
he could do a better
job of running things
00:11:45.42\00:11:47.45
than could God Himself.
00:11:47.48\00:11:49.38
That God's ways
and God's holy law,
00:11:49.41\00:11:51.84
that law of love and liberty
00:11:51.87\00:11:53.97
which is the very
foundation of His government
00:11:54.00\00:11:56.62
were somehow faulty,
00:11:56.65\00:11:58.02
that he had a
better way of doing things.
00:11:58.05\00:12:00.52
So who was right
and who was wrong?
00:12:00.55\00:12:03.17
Who were the other
heavenly beings to believe?
00:12:03.20\00:12:05.58
And how were they
supposed to discern
00:12:05.61\00:12:07.32
between what was
truth and what was a lie
00:12:07.35\00:12:09.89
when all they had
ever known was truth?
00:12:09.92\00:12:12.50
So God had a
critical decision to make.
00:12:12.53\00:12:15.60
How would He deal
with this rebellion,
00:12:15.63\00:12:17.56
this sin that had entered
into His perfect universe?
00:12:17.59\00:12:21.69
If He were to
immediately rid the universe
00:12:21.72\00:12:23.80
of this rebellious
angel without allowing him
00:12:23.83\00:12:26.45
the opportunity
to prove his case,
00:12:26.48\00:12:28.81
there could for
ever remain questions
00:12:28.84\00:12:30.51
in the minds of all
the other created beings.
00:12:30.54\00:12:33.30
Questions about
who was actually right
00:12:33.33\00:12:35.02
and who was wrong
and about His justice
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.55
and fairness in
dealing with Lucifer.
00:12:37.58\00:12:39.92
And even if they
still chose to serve Him,
00:12:39.95\00:12:42.56
it will be
based, at least in part,
00:12:42.59\00:12:44.92
upon fear of punishment
00:12:44.95\00:12:46.32
rather than pure
and genuine love.
00:12:46.35\00:12:49.03
So He chose to allow
this being the opportunity
00:12:49.06\00:12:51.74
to carry out his principles,
to test his form of government.
00:12:51.77\00:12:55.43
And by experience
00:12:55.46\00:12:56.83
show where the result
of this rebellion or sin
00:12:56.86\00:12:59.62
would eventually lead.
00:12:59.65\00:13:01.34
Thus, the
evidence would be given.
00:13:01.37\00:13:03.59
The questions
answered and all of creation
00:13:03.62\00:13:06.04
could then of
their own free will
00:13:06.07\00:13:08.23
choose whether or
not they would still love
00:13:08.26\00:13:10.67
and obediently
serve their creator.
00:13:10.70\00:13:14.83
In 1 Corinthians 4:5,
00:13:14.86\00:13:16.91
Paul tells us to "judge
nothing before the time,
00:13:16.94\00:13:20.91
until the Lord come,
00:13:20.94\00:13:22.31
who both will bring to light
the hidden things of darkness,
00:13:22.34\00:13:26.33
and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts."
00:13:26.36\00:13:30.59
From what we've studied so far,
00:13:30.62\00:13:32.43
it seems that this is exactly
the principle God works on.
00:13:32.46\00:13:36.23
And the same
principle that Jesus taught
00:13:36.26\00:13:38.25
in the parable of
the wheat and the tares.
00:13:38.28\00:13:41.55
God doesn't want His creatures
to serve Him out of blind fear,
00:13:41.58\00:13:45.64
but out of true heartfelt love.
00:13:45.67\00:13:49.07
Love that is
motivated by His goodness,
00:13:49.10\00:13:52.00
kindness, and fairness
toward all His creation.
00:13:52.03\00:13:57.18
"We love Him,
because He first loved us."
00:13:57.21\00:14:01.74
Not because
we're afraid that He'll
00:14:01.77\00:14:03.54
zap us out of the
existence if we don't.
00:14:03.57\00:14:06.47
It really all centers
on the freedom of choice
00:14:06.50\00:14:09.08
that God has
entrusted to each one of us.
00:14:09.11\00:14:12.48
You can't force
someone to love you
00:14:12.51\00:14:14.42
by simply yelling
loud enough or threatening
00:14:14.45\00:14:16.98
to hurt them if they don't.
00:14:17.01\00:14:18.97
If you would gain
true love from someone,
00:14:19.00\00:14:21.43
it can only be
because they want to love you.
00:14:21.46\00:14:25.16
They choose to love you.
00:14:25.19\00:14:27.43
So God chose to allow this
rebellion to run its course.
00:14:27.46\00:14:32.15
He chose not to
do away with Lucifer
00:14:32.18\00:14:34.40
and this
infectious disease called sin
00:14:34.43\00:14:37.76
until the
issues were made clear.
00:14:37.79\00:14:40.74
And we're told in
Revelation Chapter 12
00:14:40.77\00:14:43.16
that the sad
result of this uprising
00:14:43.19\00:14:45.73
was that Lucifer
actually persuaded
00:14:45.76\00:14:48.52
an entire third of
all the angels in heaven
00:14:48.55\00:14:51.63
to side with him and eventually
00:14:51.66\00:14:54.21
be cast out of heaven.
00:14:54.24\00:14:56.64
So now the two sides
have been clearly chosen.
00:14:56.67\00:14:59.64
It was Michael,
another name for Jesus,
00:14:59.67\00:15:02.28
and His angels versus Satan,
00:15:02.31\00:15:04.05
also called the Dragon or
the Serpent, and his angels.
00:15:04.08\00:15:08.50
The two sets of principles
for these two kingdoms
00:15:08.53\00:15:11.87
were also clearly established.
00:15:11.90\00:15:14.78
God and His holy law which is
based on the principle of love
00:15:14.81\00:15:19.96
versus Satan and his law
which is based on the principles
00:15:19.99\00:15:23.73
of selfishness
and self exaltation.
00:15:23.76\00:15:27.26
Coveting a position
that did not belong to him,
00:15:27.29\00:15:30.23
as it says in Isaiah 14:14.
00:15:30.26\00:15:33.15
"I will be like the most High."
00:15:33.18\00:15:37.28
Now that Satan's kingdom
had been solidly established,
00:15:37.31\00:15:41.02
can you guess where
he turned in order to
00:15:41.05\00:15:43.23
test his new and
"better form of government?"
00:15:43.26\00:15:47.34
Right here to planet earth.
00:15:47.37\00:15:50.20
That's exactly right, Charles.
00:15:50.23\00:15:51.93
The Bible tells the story
beginning in Genesis Chapter 1.
00:15:51.96\00:15:55.21
God had created a brand
new and beautiful planet
00:15:55.24\00:15:57.65
that was full of
life and happiness.
00:15:57.68\00:15:59.79
And He created Adam and Eve
00:15:59.82\00:16:01.19
as the first
inhabitants of this planet.
00:16:01.22\00:16:02.90
The father and
mother as it were,
00:16:02.93\00:16:04.36
of the whole human race.
00:16:04.39\00:16:06.33
He even made them their
own special garden to live in
00:16:06.36\00:16:08.70
and tend to which was
called the Garden of Eden.
00:16:08.73\00:16:11.79
In creating this new
planet, God never intended
00:16:11.82\00:16:14.13
for there to be sin or
suffering or pain here.
00:16:14.16\00:16:17.78
In fact, His
original plan for this world,
00:16:17.81\00:16:20.75
the original state in
which He created it is repeated
00:16:20.78\00:16:23.38
several times in the
first chapter of Genesis.
00:16:23.41\00:16:26.05
It tells us that
everything God made was good,
00:16:26.08\00:16:28.47
and in fact, very
good according to verse 31.
00:16:28.50\00:16:31.38
This was God's
original plan for this world.
00:16:31.41\00:16:34.50
He didn't create
it with the suffering
00:16:34.53\00:16:35.90
and tragedy that we see now.
00:16:35.93\00:16:37.41
And He doesn't enjoy
seeing these things take place.
00:16:37.44\00:16:40.22
Certainly Jesus proved
this by the life He lived
00:16:40.25\00:16:42.63
while here on earth.
00:16:42.66\00:16:44.45
And describing
some of the things
00:16:44.48\00:16:45.85
Jesus did, Matthew 11:5 says,
00:16:45.88\00:16:48.74
"The blind receive their
sight, and the lame walk,
00:16:48.77\00:16:52.09
the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear,
00:16:52.12\00:16:55.14
the dead are
raised up, and the poor
00:16:55.17\00:16:57.36
have the gospel
preached to them."
00:16:57.39\00:16:59.75
And it wasn't just Jesus
that hated seeing humans suffer
00:16:59.78\00:17:02.71
because He says in John
14:10 that it was the Father
00:17:02.74\00:17:05.85
doing His works through Him.
00:17:05.88\00:17:07.99
So God never
intended man to suffer,
00:17:08.02\00:17:10.17
He doesn't enjoy
seeing us subjected to pain.
00:17:10.20\00:17:13.08
His original
intent for the human race
00:17:13.11\00:17:15.58
was for us to simply
love Him and live forever,
00:17:15.61\00:17:18.50
enjoying the beautiful
world He had created for us.
00:17:18.53\00:17:21.26
But something happened that
would drastically change that.
00:17:21.29\00:17:25.41
It sure did.
00:17:25.44\00:17:26.81
Let's go back to the
story of this controversy
00:17:26.84\00:17:28.65
between Christ and Satan that
had been going on in heaven.
00:17:28.68\00:17:32.70
Genesis Chapter 3 tells
us that this fallen angel
00:17:32.73\00:17:35.64
now came to pay a
visit to Adam and Eve
00:17:35.67\00:17:37.96
in the form of a serpent.
00:17:37.99\00:17:43.07
And what was his intension
00:17:43.10\00:17:44.47
in visiting this
newly created pair?
00:17:44.50\00:17:46.94
He aimed to gain them
and the whole human family
00:17:46.97\00:17:49.67
which they represented
as subjects of His kingdom,
00:17:49.70\00:17:53.41
thus establishing the
arena in which he could set up
00:17:53.44\00:17:56.73
his new form of government.
00:17:56.76\00:17:59.52
But how could
he accomplish this?
00:17:59.55\00:18:01.92
Romans 6:16 says,
00:18:01.95\00:18:03.93
"To whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey,
00:18:03.96\00:18:07.23
his servants ye
are to whom ye obey,
00:18:07.26\00:18:09.88
whether of sin unto death,
00:18:09.91\00:18:11.97
or of obedience
unto righteousness."
00:18:12.00\00:18:15.50
By leading them to obey
the principles of his kingdom
00:18:15.53\00:18:18.34
while disobeying the
principles of God's kingdom,
00:18:18.37\00:18:21.74
he would gain them as his
servants, as his subjects.
00:18:21.77\00:18:25.48
So under the guise of a
serpent, he came to the garden
00:18:25.51\00:18:28.37
to do this deadly
work of deception.
00:18:28.40\00:18:31.73
"Now the serpent was more subtle
than any beast of the field
00:18:31.76\00:18:35.46
which the Lord God had made.
00:18:35.49\00:18:37.54
And he said unto the woman,
00:18:37.57\00:18:39.23
'Yea, hath God
said, Ye shall not eat
00:18:39.26\00:18:41.88
of every tree of the garden?'
00:18:41.91\00:18:44.14
And the woman
said unto the serpent,
00:18:44.17\00:18:46.22
'We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden,
00:18:46.25\00:18:48.59
but of the fruit of the
tree which is in the midst
00:18:48.62\00:18:51.40
of the garden, God hath
said, ye shall not eat of it,
00:18:51.43\00:18:55.23
neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die.'"
00:18:55.26\00:18:58.82
God had given them
one test of obedience,
00:18:58.85\00:19:01.39
one proverbial cookie jar
they were not allowed to open.
00:19:01.42\00:19:05.11
And said that if
they were to disobey,
00:19:05.14\00:19:07.50
death would enter
into the world. Why?
00:19:07.53\00:19:10.84
Because
disobedience to God on any point
00:19:10.87\00:19:13.47
regardless of how
small it may appear, is sin.
00:19:13.50\00:19:17.06
And the wages of sin according
to Romans 6:23 is death.
00:19:17.09\00:19:21.85
But I want you to
notice how the serpent
00:19:21.88\00:19:23.60
responds to the woman.
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.58
Here's where he
introduces to her mind
00:19:25.61\00:19:27.33
the principles of his kingdom.
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.40
The same principles of
pride and self exaltation
00:19:29.43\00:19:32.31
that had motivated his
own rebellion against God.
00:19:32.34\00:19:35.80
Here's where we find
him, as it were, inviting Eve
00:19:35.83\00:19:38.68
to become a part of his kingdom.
00:19:38.71\00:19:41.46
Notice what he says.
00:19:41.49\00:19:43.45
"And the serpent
said unto the woman,
00:19:43.48\00:19:45.54
'Ye shall not surely die,
00:19:45.57\00:19:47.52
For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof,
00:19:47.55\00:19:50.96
then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods,
00:19:50.99\00:19:54.74
knowing good and evil.'"
00:19:54.77\00:19:57.61
Sadly, verse 6 tells us
that, "When the woman saw
00:19:57.64\00:20:00.75
that the tree was good for food,
00:20:00.78\00:20:02.48
and that it was
pleasant to the eyes,
00:20:02.51\00:20:04.76
and a tree to be
desired to make one wise,
00:20:04.79\00:20:07.33
she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat,
00:20:07.36\00:20:10.19
and gave also unto her husband
with her, and he did eat."
00:20:10.22\00:20:15.49
Thus, they
forfeited their citizenship
00:20:15.52\00:20:17.81
of the heavenly kingdom.
00:20:17.84\00:20:19.39
They delivered
the whole human race
00:20:19.42\00:20:21.19
into the hands of the enemy
and into the slavery of sin,
00:20:21.22\00:20:25.53
to be the legal subjects of
the kingdom that Satan had now
00:20:25.56\00:20:28.57
successfully established.
00:20:28.60\00:20:30.87
But that's not
the end of the story.
00:20:30.90\00:20:34.54
And praise God
that it's not, Andrea.
00:20:34.57\00:20:36.75
Only nine verses later,
God gives a first promise
00:20:36.78\00:20:40.87
of one who would come
and defeat this serpent,
00:20:40.90\00:20:43.09
taking back what had
been lost and making a way
00:20:43.12\00:20:46.14
for human beings to again
be a part of God's kingdom.
00:20:46.17\00:20:50.79
In fulfillment of this promise,
Jesus came to this earth
00:20:50.82\00:20:54.11
and through His sinless life and
sacrificial death on the cross
00:20:54.14\00:20:58.55
provided everything
needed for us to again
00:20:58.58\00:21:01.73
have the eternal and
happy life that He intended.
00:21:01.76\00:21:05.40
Jesus, the God of all creation
was willing to humble Himself
00:21:05.43\00:21:10.11
to an almost infinite
degree and becoming part of His
00:21:10.14\00:21:13.80
own creation and
allowing Himself to be beaten,
00:21:13.83\00:21:17.75
spat upon and crucified are
the very ones He came to save.
00:21:17.78\00:21:22.69
At the cross, the contrast
between these two kingdoms
00:21:22.72\00:21:26.36
was more clearly seen
than ever before or since.
00:21:26.39\00:21:31.59
The one based on principles
of such selfishness and hatred
00:21:31.62\00:21:35.93
as would cause the creature
00:21:35.96\00:21:37.89
to take the very
life of its own creator.
00:21:37.92\00:21:41.47
And the other of such
humility and love as would allow
00:21:41.50\00:21:45.51
His own creation to take
His life in order to save them.
00:21:45.54\00:21:50.00
If to the on looking
universe the results of sin
00:21:50.03\00:21:52.93
had not yet been made clear
enough by all of the suffering
00:21:52.96\00:21:56.12
and degradation it had
wrought, it was certainly made
00:21:56.15\00:21:59.23
clear enough at the cross.
00:21:59.26\00:22:02.03
This rebellion
had essentially placed
00:22:02.06\00:22:04.30
God's own character on trial.
00:22:04.33\00:22:06.64
This sin that had entered
into God's perfect universe
00:22:06.67\00:22:10.11
and had been
allowed to grow and mature
00:22:10.14\00:22:13.41
had now shown its true colors.
00:22:13.44\00:22:15.98
So this begs the question.
00:22:16.01\00:22:17.82
If the results of sin were
made clear enough at the cross
00:22:17.85\00:22:21.57
then why didn't God just
end the controversy there?
00:22:21.60\00:22:24.83
Why is He still
allowing it to continue?
00:22:24.86\00:22:28.05
And speaking of
the promise that Jesus
00:22:28.08\00:22:30.12
made to come back
and take His people home
00:22:30.15\00:22:32.50
and end this controversy
with sin, 2 Peter 3:9 says
00:22:32.53\00:22:37.12
that "The Lord is not
slack concerning His promise,
00:22:37.15\00:22:40.71
as some men count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us,
00:22:40.74\00:22:45.14
not willing that
any should perish,
00:22:45.17\00:22:47.53
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:22:47.56\00:22:50.98
So why is He still waiting?
00:22:51.01\00:22:53.12
He is waiting for
you because He loves you
00:22:53.15\00:22:56.12
and He wants to
save every last person
00:22:56.15\00:22:58.53
that He can before
He makes an end of sin.
00:22:58.56\00:23:02.13
The Bible is clear that
very soon Satan and his angels
00:23:02.16\00:23:05.65
and all who choose to follow
in their ways will be destroyed.
00:23:05.68\00:23:10.01
Sin will be no more.
00:23:10.04\00:23:11.77
This earth will again
be free from the curse
00:23:11.80\00:23:14.92
and will then be recreated
back to its original beauty.
00:23:14.95\00:23:18.46
And best of all, God himself
will then move His capital
00:23:18.49\00:23:22.79
to this very planet and live
here forever in perfect peace
00:23:22.82\00:23:27.46
and happiness with His people.
00:23:27.49\00:23:30.08
The controversy will be ended.
00:23:30.11\00:23:32.12
Every question will have been
answered and God's character
00:23:32.15\00:23:35.57
will have been vindicated
before all of His creation.
00:23:35.60\00:23:39.16
Consequently,
we're told in Nahum 1:9
00:23:39.19\00:23:42.05
that "Affliction shall
not rise up a second time."
00:23:42.08\00:23:46.62
It'll be a better
and safer universe
00:23:46.65\00:23:49.18
than before sin entered.
00:23:49.21\00:23:50.74
And His desire is
for you to be there.
00:23:50.77\00:23:55.70
The Bible is an amazing book
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.29
written by many
different authors
00:23:58.32\00:24:00.04
yet containing one
cohesive storyline.
00:24:00.07\00:24:03.31
From beginning to end, it tells
the story of this great conflict
00:24:03.34\00:24:07.49
with sin and
contains all the instructions
00:24:07.52\00:24:10.85
you and I need in order
to safely make it through.
00:24:10.88\00:24:15.36
This is very
clear when you look at
00:24:15.39\00:24:17.46
how the Bible is
actually laid out.
00:24:17.49\00:24:20.52
The first two
chapters in the Bible,
00:24:20.55\00:24:22.58
Genesis 1 and 2
describe creation
00:24:22.61\00:24:25.67
and the happy
existence of mankind
00:24:25.70\00:24:27.86
in a perfect and sinless world,
00:24:27.89\00:24:30.48
being in perfect
communion with its creator.
00:24:30.51\00:24:34.63
And then the
third chapter of Genesis
00:24:34.66\00:24:36.48
describes the
entrance of sin into the world
00:24:36.51\00:24:40.09
and the beginning of all
the sorrows it would cause.
00:24:40.12\00:24:43.81
These three chapters
begin the story of the Bible.
00:24:43.84\00:24:47.46
And notice how the Bible ends.
00:24:47.49\00:24:50.52
The third chapter from the
end of the Bible, Revelation 20,
00:24:50.55\00:24:54.48
describes the
eradication of sin and sinners.
00:24:54.51\00:24:58.70
And the last two chapters
of Revelation, 21 and 22
00:24:58.73\00:25:02.39
describe the recreation of
the earth and mankind again
00:25:02.42\00:25:06.82
living the happy and sinless
existence with its creator.
00:25:06.85\00:25:12.04
Everything in
between is the story
00:25:12.07\00:25:14.57
of this great battle that's
taking place over you and me.
00:25:14.60\00:25:19.59
And this is the framework into
which every teaching of Jesus
00:25:19.62\00:25:23.86
and His word will fit.
00:25:23.89\00:25:26.71
But how about that big question?
00:25:26.74\00:25:29.22
Why do bad things
happen to good people?
00:25:29.25\00:25:32.75
How does this study
help us answer that question?
00:25:32.78\00:25:36.01
Here's how.
00:25:36.04\00:25:37.47
First, think about this.
00:25:37.50\00:25:39.25
Though God does often intervene
to stop human suffering,
00:25:39.28\00:25:43.09
if in every instance
He stopped every murder,
00:25:43.12\00:25:46.25
every disease,
every war, every famine,
00:25:46.28\00:25:48.97
every bad thing that could
ever take place in this world,
00:25:49.00\00:25:52.97
could the results of
sin ever be clearly seen?
00:25:53.00\00:25:57.17
Think about that.
00:25:57.20\00:25:59.39
The answer is no.
00:25:59.42\00:26:02.14
And why must He allow the
results of sin to be seen?
00:26:02.17\00:26:05.90
So that all of His on
looking creation can clearly see
00:26:05.93\00:26:10.18
where the results
of rebellion will lead.
00:26:10.21\00:26:13.00
And thus, choose
to love and serve God
00:26:13.03\00:26:15.94
of their own free will.
00:26:15.97\00:26:18.83
It all comes down to
this one great eternal truth,
00:26:18.86\00:26:23.24
that God is love and He desires
true love from His creation.
00:26:23.27\00:26:29.54
So what about you, friend?
00:26:29.57\00:26:31.71
What side will you be on?
00:26:31.74\00:26:33.89
Being in the middle-east
00:27:34.60\00:27:35.97
and preparing
this new teaching tool
00:27:36.00\00:27:38.18
will forever be a
highlight in my life.
00:27:38.21\00:27:40.81
I agree, Levi.
00:27:40.84\00:27:42.23
It was a lot of work.
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.06
But what a joy to
be where Jesus was,
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.48
digging into the
teachings that have made
00:27:46.51\00:27:48.24
the world a
better place to live.
00:27:48.27\00:27:50.75
But what did you mean
when you said, "Teaching tool?"
00:27:50.78\00:27:54.24
Well, Andrea,
"Thunder in the Holy Land"
00:27:54.27\00:27:56.42
was designed from the
ground up to be a Bible study
00:27:56.45\00:27:59.44
where the local pastor
gets inserted into the video
00:27:59.47\00:28:02.52
as the host, replacing Charles.
00:28:02.55\00:28:05.16
What a great idea.
00:28:05.19\00:28:07.34
And now the local
pastor and the church members
00:28:07.37\00:28:09.70
can be a team working together.
00:28:09.73\00:28:12.14
And our viewers can
get all of the details
00:28:12.17\00:28:14.39
at our website, QLP.tv
00:28:14.42\00:28:18.34