Subhead: Is God active or inactive
Why doesn’t God intervene for the starving children of Yemen? Why is there little support for refugees from Syria? Why has North Korea remained so isolated, threatening the world with nuclear bombs? Why the mass rape of women in political conflicts? Why did it take so long to remove Robert Mugabe’s cruel leadership from office?
In so many areas, from our limited perspective, God seems inactive. We are not alone in this viewpoint. The psalmists asked similar questions (see Psalms 10, 22, 42, 43, 44, 74, 88).
These questions become personal: Why did my son’s wife leave him? Why did my daughter lose her job? Why can’t I find a meaningful relationship? Why is there no relief from the constant demands of people? Why have my friends deserted me at this time of need?
The stories of God’s intervention in other people’s lives are encouraging but can give us feelings of jealousy and abandonment—why them and not me? When will God intervene?
While the above questions are significant, humans have two major issues to solve: evil (within and without) and death. If God has any value these issues must be dealt with.
God’s decisive intervention was Jesus. God became human. Jesus overcame the evil within (Hebrews 4:15). He actively confronted evil with healing and compassion. Jesus took the penalty and punishment of all this evil and conquered death (1 Corinthians 15). These are our realities if we choose to believe in Jesus.
It’s no wonder the angels sang with joy, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace and goodwill among the people” (Luke 2:14). Jesus was born a Savior from evil and death. He deals with our ultimate needs. I’m sure you and I will keep asking God questions, but let the Almighty’s relentless favor, unending love and perfect peace be in our hearts and minds—not just this Christmas but all year.