Why Aren’t Things Worse?

John 3:16-18

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We often complain how bad things are in our life. Whether it’s issues we have for their health or finances or maybe relationship problems. A few weeks ago I was thinking to myself though it’s kind of interesting that things aren’t worse than what they are.

I want you think about this. Think about this last week. How many times have you lied? Even about something small. How many times have you gossiped? How many times have you stolen something? Again, even if it was just something small. How many times have you lashed out in anger?

I want you to think about this now. Think about the millions of people that live in our country. Now think about even the billions of people that live in the world and all of that sin just over this last week. Even with things that maybe people would say are small.

It’s kind of incredible to think about that we have anything that we do that it hasn’t all been stolen. It’s amazing that any of our relationships are intact our reputations with all of the gossiping and with all of the hurtful things that are spoken and the lies that are told isn’t it? Why is this? That even though our world does have many tragic things that happen in it, why is it that we experience relative peace? That we have peace with our possessions or we’re not worried about them being stolen. Peace with our our body and our relationships and all of those things. Because of God isn’t it? God who watches over and takes care of this world. In fact Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 that God sends the sunshine and the rain on the good and on the evil. That he watches over and he provides for the needs of people in this world despite the fact that they sin.

God also watches over us to keep away crass sin from harming us in our lives. He provides us with good government to keep criminals at bay and keep people from committing atrocious acts upon one another. As he gives us a conscience that tells us right from wrong that that too keeps people at bay from harming one another.

Yes certainly we know this that God is a God of kindness mercy and love. But we also know he is a God of justice. God of right and wrong. And that there will be a day when he will judge the world. So what about then? Where we stand on that day? God gives us comfort in John chapter 3 as he testifies to this truth.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. (John 3:16-18)

Not only is God a God of mercy and kindness continuing to provide for us that we don’t deserve it in protecting us though we don’t deserve it. But he also is a God of love that has provided a way for us to escape his judgement in condemnation through faith in his Son Jesus Christ. The one who has borne your sins on the cross.

Yes, next time when you think about how bad things are in your life, think about God’s incredible mercy and love for you. How he has watched over and protected you in so many ways, but especially in the way that he has shown mercy and love through His Son Jesus Christ, amen.