“If God really existed, He would have healed him!”
That’s what an atheist (we’ll call him “Tom”) concluded when he witnessed a person suffer and die from a heart attack. And this occurred in church! That’s right, the skeptic had visited a church that morning and observed the tragedy.
So was he right? His accusation carries some weight. Christians make much of God’s power and goodness, but neither seemed to be on display in that worship service.
Tom probably didn’t pray for the victim’s recovery, but several congregation members did. But their prayers went unanswered.
Why not? A miraculous healing would have saved the life of a dying man, persuaded an atheist that God exists, and reinforced the faith of concerned Christians. Everyone wins!
What did Tom want God to do? He wanted the Lord to heal the stricken man.
But is that the best that God could do? Does He care about anybody else? How about the person next to the victim, or someone a few seats down? Don’t they have needs? And wouldn’t Tom approve of God taking care of them, too? I would think so.
But go further. Consider everyone in the church that morning. Why confine divine blessings to a single person? Why not shower everyone with miracles?
You can see where this leads. If pressed, the atheist would have to admit that the Lord’s answers to people’s problems shouldn’t be limited at all. Not to a person, nor to a church, or a city, or a state. They ought to be universal.
Though a skeptic, Tom really wanted heaven on earth. Where God’s will is done, people are fulfilled and happy, sickness and pain are but distant memories, and blessings abound.
Jesus called it “the kingdom of God.” It’s what He announced at the beginning of His ministry: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
So why don’t we see the kingdom? Why does God allow a person to suffer a heart attack in church? Why do pains persist, trials wear people down, and injustices prevail? What’s keeping Jesus from setting up the kingdom He claimed was at hand?
The answer lies in His commands: repent and believe. It’s easy to believe in God’s power when you see a miracle. Can you believe in His goodness and His ability when you don’t?
It’s easy to trust the Lord when you feel loved and accepted. Can you rest in His love when society turns its back on you?
How can you trust God? By repenting. Sin is the biggest problem people have. It’s what separates human beings from God, and turns their thinking against Him.
Unless He dealt with our sins, the kingdom that Jesus set up would have remained empty. A kingdom of One. No citizens, no residents; just a lone king. Why? Because no one qualifies to enter. Sin keeps people out; repentance and faith bring them in.
Tom longed for a kingdom he couldn’t imagine. His heart wanted more of God than He might care to admit.
How about you? Search yourself and discover how deep is your desire for God’s kingdom. Draw near to God through Jesus Christ; let His peace rule your unsettled soul. Serve Him and one day, when He returns, you’ll enter His beautiful kingdom.
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