Jesus has overcome the world

https://odb.org/2023/09/01/gods-epic-story

The age-old question of why there is evil in the world when there is God can be answered simply – man is given the will to make his own free choice, and the natural precedes the spiritual. In other words, the world is made in such a way that there are natural laws in play at all times, and that includes the free will of man. So why did God not intervene when there is poverty, hunger, and starvation? Why did God not intervene when there are diseases and affirmaties that killed millions?

13 years ago, I came face to face with this question when my lay pastor and close friend passed on from a heart attack. He was 40 and had never done a full medical examination before. He was not well, and his GP did an ECG and found out he had a congenital heart condition. He was actually fit and exercised regularly. The doctor prescribed for him to be immediately admitted, but the hospital concerned refused as he did not have a heart attack. He collapsed while leaving the hospital and was in a coma for a week. We asked why God did not warn him to undergo a medical examination all those years? Perhaps the Lord did, and perhaps he had ignored the promptings. But most importantly, our life is our own responsibility. We can not ignore natural laws.

Jesus said before that we ought to be afraid of Him, who may destroy both our body and soul. But in the discourse in the Upper Room just after the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples that although they may find trouble in the world, He has overcome the world.

The message this morning is that we should not be too concerned with things that are beyond our control. The eradication of poverty and the elimination of hunger are matters in the realm of governments. China has been successful in this over the past few decades. In a Netflix program on Blue Zones (highest concentration of centenerians), it was found that the ability to determine things within our control is one of the keys to longevity of life. Like how our sheep or cattle should behave, rather than concern ourselves with climate change or global warming or why is evil in the world?

Ultimately, we are responsible for where we are headed after we pass on from this world. Jesus has settled that for us – He has overcome the world. He has died for our sins. But we still have the will to decide whether to follow him, the world, our selves, or some other person or diety. It is a choice each and every one of us has to make. No one is exempted.