We Always Ask Why

We always ask why because we simply do not know.  The why question may be the most asked because We Always Ask Why.

We always ask why because we simply do not know.  The why question may be the most asked question in the world.   The why question came to my mind last night as I prepared to go to bed.  Like many of you we had been watching the tragedy that unfolded in our country. On the same night thinking of what tomorrow would bring in remembrance and memories of the effects of the same evil some 24 years ago.  The source of this evil is as the Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 NKJV that-

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Evil is all around us and it is not the flesh and blood we see it is what is inside and what is motivating evil to action. This is a spiritual battle being raged and we are wrestling with it and its effects on our lives.

Isaiah 5:20 NKJV tells us-

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Satan tempted Eve and she succumbed.  Then Adam succumbed to the temptation.  Evil entered a creation that God had said was good and in Genesis 1:31 we learn-

³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

What God made was good and what Satan tempted man to do was evil.  It is important to understand that God gave Adam and Eve free will.  That is, they could decide to do as they pleased.  If they stayed within the confines of God’s guidance and direction, everything was good.  Because they saw and experienced everything from His, their creator’s perspective.  Yet, when the influence and the persuasiveness of Satan entered the garden, with it came the temptation to exercise a will that was outside of the guidance and direction of God.

Why do we see evil in the world around us every day?  Because there is an influence which is satanic effecting this world.  People are affected by the spiritual influence which is not of the Lord God but a satanic nature.

Why does someone do something?  Because they can and because they want to.  Yes, it can be for good, but it can just as easily be for evil.  I cannot understand or even contemplate the hate and the evil that is all around us today.  Why?  Well, because I am a Christian and I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded He will keep me until the day.

When Paul was writing his second letter to young Timothy in 2 Timothy1, he was telling Timothy why he was not ashamed of the Gospel.  In the latter part of the 12^th verse, he said-

…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Paul said in Romans 1:16-17

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

I am not ashamed of the gospel.  The gospel is, in the big picture, the whole of Scripture.  Yet it is more specifically, the good news of God’s Son Jesus Christ and the way of salvation.  In a conversation today with a pastor friend, we were lamenting all that is going on and how terrible it is to see what is happening in our nation.  I commented that if everyone would know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we wouldn’t have these problems.  He agreed, but we all know that will never happen.

Elaine and I were out today and stopped for breakfast.  As we were checking out, I stepped up to the counter area.  A woman was in front of me and was looking at her phone.  I asked her if she was waiting and she said not to pay but to pick up an order, so I should go right ahead.  I thanked her and she said she appreciated me asking.  She commented that it was courteous, and I replied that the Bible says we are to treat others the way we want to be treated.  She agreed and said she wished she saw that happening more often.  To which I replied, so do I.

It is unfortunate but true that evil breeds hatred.  When hate is manifested in action that hurts emotionally or physically, it is wrong by every standard of common decency.  Those who spew hatred are the ones who are the cause of emotional and physical pain that many suffer.  We have seen that played out in these last few days.

Pray for our nation, for the lost and for the family of a brother in Christ who was taken by evil and hate. Why? Only God knows and that’s where I put my faith and trust.

In God’s Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy