God Doesn't Fit

We have a tendency to try to fit God into a box. The problem is that an infinite God cannot fit into the finite boxes we create. One way we try to limit God is by limiting His sovereignty in our lives. What I mean by that is that we try to make God do what we want Him to or expect him to act in the way we think He should act.

We expect God to bless those who do good and curse those who do wrong; which isn’t against God’s nature except that we look for these blessings and curses in our physical day to day.

The result of this type of thinking is disastrous, because God rarely gives us what we think we deserve. When we see a good person lose a loved one, struggle financially, or suffer an illness, we think God is either cruel; that the person had some secret sin, or they didn’t have enough faith. When we see a wicked person thrive in his evil doings, we think that God isn’t fair, God delights in evil, or God doesn’t see or chooses to ignore their sin (Psalm 73). We can easily think that God doesn’t care about what we do. It doesn’t matter whether we obey God or not, since He doesn’t do anything about it either way. We can ignore Him.

Why does God allow suffering in the World? Why does he let horrible people go unpunished? Berea and I have asked these questions to ourselves many times. Here is what the Bible says and what we need to remember.

“You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord. "Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”  Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (Malachi 3:13-18)

God sees the righteous and the wicked: nothing escapes His notice. He will never forget. If you’re sinning against God, He knows. He is not passive and will not let it slide. If you fear God, He is writing down everything you do, He does not miss or forget a right word and thought.

God sees clearly the righteous and the wicked. Unlike us, who often distort things or get confused, He watches those who do right and those who do wrong. And He will judge fairly between them.

God will see to judgement one day. We wait for the day when God will act. He acts now in ways we not are able to fully understand, but there comes a day when the wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded. God is a compassionate God – He is like a father. He will spare those who serve Him and keep them as His treasure.

In times of hardships or times of pleasure it’s easy to forget these truths. 

Remember Who God is. 

Persevere for there is a day coming when sorrow will be no more. 

Beware for the day draws closer when God will judge the quick and the dead.

Sincerely,
Brooke