Why does God allow suffering?
This is probably the question that keeps a lot of people from God. If God is real, why does he let babies die? Why does he allow wars and earthquakes? Why does he... Why, why, why?
The short answer is, God is God...he can do anything he wants; but a more serious answer is because God has a plan. He, unlike us, sees the end from the beginning.
God created the earth (and all that's in it) for "man" to live and enjoy for eternity. He gave Adam and Eve a choice to obey or disobey. Their disobedience added six thousand years of trials and tribulations (a thousand years for each day of creation) to his plan. The plan hasn't changed, only the timing.
Instead of eating from the Tree of Life (immortality) Eve was deceived by Satan into believing she could be like God...to know good and evil. God said, (I'm paraphrasing here) "Okay, have it your way, here's six thousand years of good and evil to learn the difference. Did it need to be? The answer of course, is "No." If you listen to wisdom, you don't have to touch the stove to know the stove is hot. We just don't (or won't) listen to wisdom.
An abundant life hinges on two things...trust and obey. First, you must trust that God knows best...even if it doesn't seem that way. Until you understand that, you will never have peace in your life. Next, you must walk in his ways and obey his voice. Until you understand that, you will never have a blessed life.
Oh, you can amass material things, but they won't bring you peace, contentment or eternal life. You can't "buy" your way into God's good graces. When you focus on "things," it will never be enough.
Life is more than things. Life, Eternal Life, is knowing God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:3)
You won't KNOW either, until you are born again.
Until then, nothing else matters.
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