The question of evil

This great evil. Where does it come from? How'd it steal into the world? What seed, what root did it grow from? Who's doin' this? Who's killin' us? Robbing us of life and light. Mockin' us with the sight of what we might've known. Does our ruin benefit the earth? Does it help the grass to grow, the sun to shine?
- Private Witt in 'The Thin Red Line'

'Why does God allow evil to exist?' This is a question asked by believers and non-believers alike. Scriptures make it clear that Satan, 'the accuser' in Hebrew, exists and that this fallen angel stands opposed to God. Satan has made it his duty to thwart God's plans and attack humanity - God's most precious creation. Satan's work of evil can be seen around us - in popular culture and everyday news. His work can be seen in atrocities by mankind - i.e. the holocaust, racism, terrorist killings, etc. People with less awareness celebrate his mockery and those with selfish ambitions use his ways to inflict harm on others.

To the believer, Satan is a constant cause for discouragement, depression and bitterness. The simplest things such as happiness and solidarity are broken by anger and gossip. Satan makes his most desperate attempts on the believer, continually attacking him/her. As a result, the believer starts questioning God's ways and finally denies the Creator.

Why does God allow Satan to attack us?

God never intended Satan to attack us. It is humanity who allowed Satan to come into our lives. When Adam and Eve broke God's commandment they paved the way for Satan to tempt us into doing evil.

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In a real sense, it is humanity's fault for opening the door to satanic attack. Therefore, we cannot blame God that we are vulnerable to satanic attack. In fact, when Satan attacked Job through the loss of his family, wealth, and health, he didn't blame God. Notice Job 1:21-22, "And he (Job) said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-Satan-attack.html)

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If this is so, then we are doomed?

Not at all! God saw that mankind could not make it on its own. God's ways are superior to our's. He uses the ways of Satan against Satan. Job was a righteous man and God was glad in him. God boasted of Job to Satan. Satan said, 'take away all that he has and he will curse you'. Notice Satan's subtlety here in challenging God, he thinks he cannot lose. God accepts Satan's challenge and takes away all of Job's possessions, striking him with intense loss and sorrow. But Job doesn't curse God and as a reward God bestows him with far more possessions and happiness than he had before.

God later penetrates into his own creation as Christ Jesus. Jesus is to be the salvation for mankind and a bridge between Creator and creation. Satan is horrified at God's plan and attacks Jesus immediately. First Satan tries to tempt Jesus into abandoning his plan, this ends in utter failure. Then Satan uses the Sanhedrin and Roman governance to crucify Jesus, this seemingly succeeds. But God uses Satan's own plan against him, the crucifixion turns into resurrection!

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As believers experience the attacks of Satan, they can take to heart the truth of Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God..." Therefore, the assumption is that we will experience "good" things and "bad" things, but "all" of these things can be made to be "good" as God works them out. So even the attacks of Satan can be considered "good" as God uses them in our lives to conform us to Christ, His Son (see Romans 8:29). Attacks from Satan, along with all other tribulations will cause believers to love God more, resist Satan more, practice patience, resist temptation, and grow stronger in our faith in many other ways. Praise God for His abundant protection from Satan most of the time, as well as be thankful for God's plan to make the occasional attacks of Satan "work together for good" for you! (Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-Satan-attack.html)

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Evil does exist. However, evil has no dominion over God. Rather, it is God, revealed in the mighty person of Jesus Christ, who has power over evil. God has proven numerous times that evil does not have the final say.

...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NIV)

Remember the words of Christ Jesus when you think evil has surrounded you and there is no way out.

"Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27 NASB)

eBook: The Man from Galilee

Greetings,

The writing of 'The Man from Galilee' began last year around September. I'm glad to declare that it’s finally completed and ready for download. The book itself was written through some of the toughest and testing moments of my life, I hope the reader benefits greatly from it.

Without delving into anymore details, I present my first ever book 'The Man from Galilee' as a downloadable PDF eBook. To download or read it simply click on the book cover at the right-hand side of the blog (above the blog archives section).

I’m eagerly expecting your reviews.

Yours,
Surit Dasgupta

Struck Down, but not Destroyed

The following article is written by Sheila Scott. Sheila is a dear friend of mine, she has been through some of the most testing moments in her life. What she writes below is very encouraging for those going through tough times. I pray that this article will be a blessing in the midst of the storm for many.
Sheila can be reached via email at scottblessed44 [at] gmail [dot] com.

"We are hard- pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, or even months when it felt like everything and everyone was against you? Have you had your mind, body, and spirit all broken at once?

Well over 2000 years ago Jesus our Christ, stood nailed to a cross, arrested because He had been betrayed, broken because He had been beaten, and abandoned because He had been forsaken. But was He destroyed? Absolutely not! The final victory was and IS, HIS! When He died and shed His precious blood on that cross, the victory was also ours. Salvation became possible for all who believes. No longer does Satan have any power over us, because he was defeated on the cross. Our victory was signed, sealed and delivered when our Lord Jesus rose from His grave three days later!

So although we do have days when we are betrayed by friends or family; although we do have weeks when we are beaten up mentally and physically by this world’s pressures and problems; although we are forsaken by those we love the most, we can be victorious. Jesus overcame and so can we.

We have our beloved helper, the HOLY SPIRIT who dwells within us to give us strength; we have our Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent Abba Father who loves us without condition to pray to and ask for and receive guidance. How can we lose? We can't!! Remember, we already have the victory!!! We only need to tap into the resources God has given us.

So my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, we get struck down, but we are not destroyed! Jesus made it possible for us to be healed. Our body, our minds and hearts will be mended. We are a truly blessed people; we are well taken care of, and most importantly, WE ARE LOVED!!!

RECOMMENDED READING:
JOHN 13: 18-30
LUKE 22: 63-65
MARK 15: 33-34
MATTHEW 28: 1-8
JOHN 14: 15-18
PSALM 32: 8, JOHN 16: 13
1 CORINTHIANS 15: 57
ISAIAH 53: 5
JOHN 3: 16

A preview of my upcoming book

Greetings,

I'm almost done with my book. Though it will take up a couple more months for revision, I'll try my best to get it out as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, for those of you eager to know how it reads, here's a sneak peak. I've uploaded the first two chapters, they can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here.

Thanks to those of you who've been following this blog and please continue to keep me in your prayers. Love you and God bless you.

Surit

The Companionship of Jesus

Greetings,

Please pardon me for being a bit late but a Happy New Year to you nevertheless. May the year 2013 be full of glad tidings from our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm mid-way through writing my book so please keep it in your prayers. Meanwhile here's a wonderful devotional I found out about the companion of Jesus. It's written by A.S. Gumbart.

Among the Dutch the rose was sometimes cultivated by planting an inferior rose close to a rose of superior quality. The rose of inferior quality was carefully watched and its anthers removed so as to avoid self-pollenization; the object being that it should be pollenized by the superior rose. Gradually the rose thus treated took upon itself the characteristics of the superior life of its companion.


This is indeed a beautiful illustration of the blessing that comes to the life that knows the companionship of Jesus. If our lives are pollenized, as it were, by His righteousness; if His life-transforming truth is received into the heart, and self be sacrificed to make room for the incoming of His superior life, it cannot be other than that gradually the life loses its own inferior characteristics and develops the characteristics of the blessed life of Him who is Himself the Rose of Sharon. O Lord, let my life receive the pollen of divine righteousness, that more and more I may become like my blessed Master.

The Radical

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. (Matthew 5:38 NIV)

At the start of the twentieth century, a man from India – a lawyer who lived in South Africa – picked up the New Testament and started reading. The lawyer’s homeland was plagued by discriminatory laws enforced under British rule. The lawyer searched for an effective way by which he would resist the tyranny of the ‘Raj’, and he found it when he read the Sermon on the Mount. At one time, during one of his speeches, the lawyer simply stood up and recited the Sermon on the Mount and told the gathered to follow it. He would say, “Christ’s Sermon on the Mount fills me with bliss even today. Its sweet verses have even today the power to quench my agony of soul.” In a way, I think it is safe to say that India owes its independence to Christ.

Before Mahatma Gandhi, was the Christ. At the dawn of the first century, the Jews eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Messiah. The Jewish mindset of that time envisioned the Messiah as one who would fight the Roman Empire, claim the throne of King David, and liberate the Jewish people from foreign rule. Little did they know that the coming Messiah, who would indeed be the Liberator – but of a different sense, would also challenge the very core of human society.

When Christ preached the Sermon on the Mount He set off a chain reaction that continues to polarize the world today. Before Christ there was Rome, Babylon and Egypt, powers that ruled the weak with an iron fist. When Christ arrived He gave a sword to the weak, the sword of love and peace. That sword scared the living daylights out of the ruling party of Jesus’ time, and it continues to scare the powers-that-be today.

Christ took centre-stage and told the masses to ‘turn the cheek’ and not retaliate. He commanded his people to ‘love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them’. By hearing this, the crowd was dumbfounded. Certainly, they had expected, the Messiah would urge them to take up arms against Caesar. They altogether missed the point that the real enemy was not Caesar; the real enemy was Satan who controlled Caesar.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NASB)

Today, Christians think that Christ established a new religion – set of beliefs or a code of conduct – but in reality what Christ initiated was something revolutionary in that it stood contrary to the pattern of the world (Romans 12:2).

Christ was often at odds with the establishment of society.

Society favors the rich and the strong but Christ champions the poor and the weak.

Society glorifies evil but Christ rebukes it.

Society is self-preserving but Christ denies self-preservation.

Society spreads sin but Christ cleanses the sinner.

Society kills its opposition but Christ Himself died to save us.

The radical message of Christ today continues in the form of Christ’s church. The church is the Body of Christ and therefore we must not conform to the pattern of the world but to the pattern of Christ. It is up to the Body of Christ to challenge the sinful actions of society by means of Christ-like living.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)

A friend of mine once asked me, ‘How can you spread the message of non-violence all by yourself?’ So many times we make the message all about ourselves, but it was never about us. Christ is that message pure and simple, like Shane Claiborne says: “We’re just the jackasses that get to bring Jesus into our community.”

Let’s have confidence that we are not alone.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NIV)

Christ in us

There is a scene in the 2003 film Luther that captivated me the moment I saw it. In the scene, Luther (portrayed by Joseph Fiennes) steps down from the pulpit and goes to each member individually as he preaches with passion.

“He does not live in the bones of dead saints or relics. Christ lives in you!” Luther says pointing to each member of the laity in a church marred by tradition and superstition.

Paul boldly declares that his own self died in baptism and in its stead Christ lives in him.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20 NASB)

In Romans 8:9 Paul says that the Spirit of God dwells in us. And he says, in verse 11, that through this dwelling of the Spirit we receive life.

Today Christians are marred by a different kind of superstition. In the 1990s a trend started among the youth in America, ‘WWJD – What Would Jesus Do?’ Evangelical Christians began to wear bracelets with the initials ‘WWJD’, and they would contemplate on the question before each and every action of their day to day lives. These practices, in the light of Biblical truths, deserve nothing more than a face-palm reaction.

Believers act as though Christ is a mere person who lived and died two thousand years ago, but scriptures tell us that Christ is alive… and not just alive! Christ’s magnificent and wondrous story continues today by His indwelling Spirit in us.

When Christ came to earth in human form He often preached about ‘eternal life’. What is this ‘eternal life’ that Christ so often spoke about? Is it our ‘ticket’ to heaven? Most people assume that it means nothing more than immortality. Christ says in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Again, what is this ‘life’ that Christ spoke about?

John, the beloved disciples, writes:

"The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1:2 NIV)

Jesus says:

“I am the way and the truth and THE LIFE" (John 14:6 NIV) emphasis mine

That same Jesus, who turned planet earth upside down and spinning, is the same – magnificent, wondrous, almighty, powerful – Christ who dwells in us! The eternal life is none other than Christ Jesus – the beloved Son of God.

Colossians 1 and 2 speaks volumes of the vastness of Jesus Christ. The titanic image of Christ grows more and more when Paul says all creation is held inside Him (Colossians 1:16-17). All creation, even time itself, is inside the Giant that is Christ Jesus! Indeed, Christ does say "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13 NASB). It is this indwelling of Christ’s life in us that truly humbles us.

Through our sinful nature we deserved the death that resulted from it – alienation from the fellowship of God. God, through His Son Christ Jesus, reconciled us to His fellowship by dying a torturous death on the cross. But the real eternal purpose lay not only in salvation, as so many think, but in that God made His dwelling among us (Ephesians 3).

People tend to think that eternal life is separate from God. It is not separate from God but it is in Christ Jesus Himself. It is a ‘Gift IN Christ Jesus’ according to Paul in Romans 6:23. When we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ it is no longer we who live but Christ in us.

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4 NASB)

Let us then rejoice that Christ Jesus abides in us. He doesn’t look upon us from far away but moves wherever we move, just like the song goes “Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.” Let us be joyful as Christians in a church which is in fact a colony from heaven, for Jesus has promised to be with us forever.

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b NASB)