Imagine you had the power and resources to buy an island on say, the South Pacific. On this island, you would build beautiful houses suited for the environment. There would be rivers, streams, Japanese gardens, and a bountiful variety of wildlife to enhance the quality of life.
What could possibly spoil your project? Humans.
Image by https://unsplash.com/@jailam_r
The Why Question
To combat this moral deterioration on your island, you would observe and scrutinise the human family. Looking for those that would appreciate you as a landlord and respect their neighbours by following the rules necessary to keep this island a tropical paradise.
When God put our first humans in the Garden of Eden, he said,
"Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:28 (WEB).
He then said,
"Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die " Genesis 3 (WEB).
God laid a moral requirement upon man, not to touch the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. Possibly a symbol of loyalty to God’s ways.
One of the greatest gifts we have from the creator is free will. However, it is not absolute. We have the freedom to drive, but we must respect the driving laws less we encroach upon others’ freedom.
And so it goes with life on earth. We can use our free will to do good or do evil. Now if you plan to populate a society with the right kind of people (as God intends), you will observe. And that’s what God is doing.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” 2 Chronicles 16:19 (WEB).
But what if man was unaware of his being observed by God. Isn’t it true that when there is no police or traffic lights around, people abuse the law. So, could this be the reason why God tolerates suffering; to put humans on a level playing field where they believe we are dancing to our DNA in a dark, aimless universe. That is when we show who we really are.
We read the following account when Jesus was being put to death,
One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23: 39-44 (WEB).
Over the centuries, God, and Christ Jesus, are preparing certain humans to inherit paradise. It’s those who have a loyal heart and a will to enhance paradise.
Writing: © 2024 Jim McCrory