Matt 5:14

Have you ever wondered why God gave us freedom to make our own choices? He certainly knows all about our potential for evil, cruelty and selfishness. He could have made it impossible for us to decide between right and wrong, good and evil. The world would be a much better place if humans only did what was right!

Many have wrestled over the problem of evil.

For example, when a child was killed in a hit-and-run accident, the parents refused to allow God’s name to be mentioned at the funeral. They were angry at God for letting their child die.

In reality, God did not kill their child – a man (the drunk driver) was responsible for the death. The man had chosen irresponsibility.

Was God responsible for the man’s choice?

Of course not.

Let’s imagine God made us without the ability to make choices. This limitation would have made it impossible for us to love at all! In order to love, we must first have the ability to make choices. This is because love is always a choice.

And the Bible declares that love is the fulfillment of the law.

God gave us the freedom to choose between loving and not loving. Because the ability to love was so important, God gave us freedom. Along with freedom, He made us accountable for our choices.

How do you feel about ‘hit-and-run’ drivers, who abandon their crushed and broken victims? Something inside us cries for justice, doesn’t it? That sense of justice within us is put there by God, right along with our freedom. We cannot run away from our wrong choices. Our own inner conscience condemns us if we try to do so.Whenever and wherever humans choose to be evil or irresponsible, they become the source of pain and sorrow.

The only way such pain could be avoided would be for us not to have the power of choice.

However, this will cost us our freedom.

Even creation suffers as a result of Man’s selfishness & irresponsibility (Read: animal abuse, poaching, animal extinction).

More answers:
God did save animals from extinction (Noah’s Ark).

Prayer has helped curb starvation in Africa and brought progress to the continent. (Missionaries, Christian aid & relief organisations are some of the largest financial, logistical & manpower contributors to relief efforts worldwide, e.g. The Salvation Army, Touch Community Services, City Harvest Community Services, YMCA, World Harvest etc.)

Praying to God would not have reversed or prevented the tsunami from happening (Read: Revelation: Tsunami Disaster Explained).

And all these were predicted 2,000 years ago, as ‘birth pains’, and ‘signs of the end-times’ in the Bible.

All these were appointed (or destined) to happen.

Even clearer, are the exact signs predicted: ‘And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring’.

God reveals these to believers and readers of the Bible and forewarns them, so we can take heed and have courage.

Prayer has definitely made the devastation more bearable (See above: Christian aid & relief work), and God’s hand of protection was there for believers. There are scores of testimonies (worldwide) that will attest to this.

To Anonymous:
You say you can do (or have done) 'what you can to protect animals despite their distrust towards you'.

Pardon my mild insolence, but what have you done, and what can you exactly do?

You meant to say you have done your utmost, so what about others (believers included) who have done much more than you have, & martyred themselves even? Can you do better? When and how will these comparisons end?

There can be no end to these, and thus we are not (and cannot be) justified by our deeds!

Let you in on a little secret, you cannot (and will never be able to) do any better than a good number of animal activists (believers included), I'm sorry (let alone God). No comparison, hands down.

How shall imperfect Man compare with their Creator, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, & all its inhabitants?

Did you think God was not around when the tsunami happened (aftermath also)?

So many were saved, and even more received Christ and were baptised into God's presence!

All because God works for them. So why not you?

Has not God done, (and He will continue to do) in your words, 'what He can for you, despite your distrust towards Him?'

How do you know that God 'is not parallel' to your standards? How do you judge someone you do not believe in (His existence included)? Is it fair to do so?

Are you being fair to God?

If you must hate someone (not advisable), do it for the right reasons (and then there are none).

I hope you do not harbour any hatred for believers (there are a vast majority worldwide).

You have seen how God has positively-affected so many in your midst, I'm sure. Me included.

The Bible says, our righteousness are as filthy rags.

You are being self-righteous.

Not that I'm complaining, but I'm worried.

This won't bode well for your lifestyle or your relationships. I say this because I'm genuinely concerned as a friend. Your salvation in Christ works solely for you, not me. I benefit nothing in telling you all this. I do so because I want to. I defend my faith, I do not preach otherwise.

God won't (will never) work in your life if you do not let Him. God is a perfect gentleman. He will not impose His will on you or any other person who is unwilling to receive.

Have you ever believed right? Did you respond accordingly to His word? Be honest. Are you responding positively now? Is God not speaking to you?

Be frank.

Before you should point fingers, search your own heart, and be fair. Before it's too late.

If God can work for me (and so many others), He can work for you. On God's part, He can keep any promise. The rest is up to you.

Posted on Skanque, 15th January 2005