by Nancy Vandemark
I know God is sovereign, but I do not always understand why he chooses to intervene sometimes and other times He does not.
Starting in Genesis, Adam and Eve wanted to decide for themselves what is good and what is evil (Gen 3:5-6). They wanted to be as God; and so it started for mankind.
The book of Romans 1:18 – 3:18 describes mankind has rejected God.
As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:10-18
Paul tells us “just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28).
I went to the Missouri History Museum to view the Pulitzer Prize winning photos. I inadvertently went through incorrectly viewing the most recent winners first. I am glad I did as they were the least hopeful photos. Many of the photos depicted the results of mankind's depraved mind. There were very few photos which were not depressing to me. Other than my prayers of, “Thy Kingdom come,” most of the photos were of conditions I could do nothing about. The photographer of one particular tragic photo must have felt the same way, but he had no hope of God’s Kingdom and ended up committing suicide three years after he had won this award. His suicide note referenced the tragedies he had photographed.
Again, I do not always understand why God chooses to intervene or not, but I know God is sovereign. Ultimately he will intervene and all of mankind will know God is sovereign.
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
Until that time, I will continue to pray, “Thy Kingdom Come!”