April 22 - There is a God!
The reason most people give for not believing in a personal God is because of the terrible state of the world today. They do not understand the reason why innocent people are being killed by accidents, natural disasters and horrible diseases. No one could comprehend why wicked people are having their ways, harassing good people. There seems to be no justice and no sense of right and wrong. The world seems to be on a collision course with destruction and no one seems to care.
The psalmist openly challenged evil in his time. He challenged the rulers (gods of that day) about not judging uprightly. The wicked were violent and deceitful, they were like snakes with their venom. They were deaf like an adder not hearing the voice of the charmer. They were like young lions devouring others with their wide opened mouths. Arrows were shot at the innocent and God seemed to be silent.
In his deep trust in God and His good purpose for the world, the psalmist pleaded with God for action. He asked God to break the teeth and tear out the fangs of the young lions. They might think that they are young lions but in God’s eyes they are like the snail that dissolves into slime, or like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. God is going to cook them in His pot of judgment and will sweep them away. God will avenge all wrongs and the righteous will rejoice at last so that mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
God’s judgment of the world is the best evidence for His existence. His reward for the righteous is another sure sign of His presence. We who are justified by faith are called righteous. The righteous of this world has been persecuted and oppressed by the wicked through the ages. Without the second coming of Jesus and the final judgment, there would not be any justice. The promise of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus actually is a true guarantee of wrongs being made right, of sin being obliterated, of all wickedness removed, of tears wiped away and of a future Kingdom of righteousness and peace.
When Jesus comes back again, all will see Him as He is: the Lord of lords and the King of kings. We have to watch ourselves lest our hearts be weighed down with the worries and the terrible things of this world. The Kingdom of God is near, we will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Let us raise our heads, because our redemption is near. Are you suffering because of the wicked? Is your heart weighed down because of what is happening in the world? Are you discouraged and about to give up? Remember: God is alive! He will judge the living and the dead! Jesus is coming back again! There is a God!
Ps 58:1-11 Josh 24:1-33 Luke 21:1-28 Prov 13:20-23