October 24 2017 – Click here to listen
I had an interesting conversation with some of my good friends over dinner last night. Recently George Soros, the multi-billionaire that is financing every malevolent cause in the country and whose desire is to destroy America, gave his Open Society Foundation another $18 billion dollars. This was in addition to the $2 billion already on hand.
This organization funds virtually every socialist/communist anti-Christ wicked organization in America. Their collective intent is to destroy this country as we know it and all for which it stands, and Soros money, along with other ultra-liberal foundations, add even more fuel to the fire.
I was asked why God seems to allow people like that to prosper so mightily, while those who fight for our Lord struggle. Indeed, I can only imagine the good the Jesus Alliance could do with just one million dollars, much less $20 billion.
I reminded them that the world is under Satan’s control. Yes, Adam and Eve were initially given stewardship of this beautiful planet, but relinquished it to him when they sinned. As evidence that Satan now controls what is in this world we need only look at the temptation of Christ which is detailed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. According to these manuscripts, after being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, Satan appeared to Jesus and tried to tempt him.
Matt. 4:8 – “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”
In Luke 4:6 Satan spells out the authority granted by God to him even more plainly: “And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.”
So, it is not God, but Satan who is giving the authority, splendor, and wealth to those who will do his bidding. Now it is very true that God is sovereign and could stop it, and it is likewise true that God blesses the righteous with all kinds of blessings including wealth just as He did with Abraham and other righteous people. But the question as to why God allows evil people to gain such incredible resources that are used almost exclusively for evil purposes still begs to be answered.
Mike Ford wrote: “We are not alone in this complaint. Several Old Testament figures were just as perplexed as we are. Notice Jeremiah’s prayer: Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? (Jeremiah 12:1)
Job has the same lament: Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; their cow calves without miscarriage. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment [in peace, Moffatt] go down to the grave. (Job 21:7-13)
This question pops up in the Psalms as well: “Lord, how long will the wicked triumph?” (Psalm 94:3).
It seems to offend the human sense of justice and order when the unrighteous are not crushed immediately and to our satisfaction. We want evil cursed and destroyed and good blessed and promoted uniformly no matter what . . .
In the end it doesn’t matter! Our neighbors’ fortunes are completely out of our hands. God will deal with them when it is appropriate, and only He knows when that time will come. What is under our control is how we respond to it and—far more importantly—how we handle what God has given us. Rather than gaze enviously at our neighbors’ wealth, we should strive to reach the apostle Paul’s example: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
Trying to understand God and His plans and thoughts are akin to my little dog Coopie trying to understand how to write a computer program as I patiently explain it to him. He just grins that silly little grin and wags his tail. He doesn’t understand how to write a computer program, but he loves me and he trusts me and knows that I will take care of him right up until the day he passes on. Coopie doesn’t worry about anything. He is content.
Similarly, even though we cannot begin to understand the mind of God, we should love and trust in the Lord, knowing that He will provide for all our needs and one day will make all things right. Until then just keep grinning and wagging and know that when we arrive in that glorious day, our eyes will be opened and we will understand God’s plan. But more importantly the evil days will be no more.
Rev. 21:5
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”