Our spirits are saddened when we see atrocities inflicted on innocent people. Wars force thousands of refugees--old men and women, children and families--out of their homes. Teenagers coldly murder their school classmates. Small children disappear, never to be seen again. Hurricanes and violent storms and earthquakes devastate homes and families.

        In the midst of the world's carnage it is only natural to wonder, Why does GOD allow all this to happen? Why doesn't He do something? Where is He anyway?

        God already has done something even though it may be difficult for us to understand. He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to save us. But Jesus did not enter this world to stop criminals or overthrow governments...He came to change our hearts. It is only a change of heart that will make any long term difference.

        Even the people of Jesus' day thought their Savior came to liberate them from oppression. But that was not His purpose. He told them;

John 18:36 (KJV)
³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

        This world--with all its' godless wars, murders and inhumanity--exists under the dominion of Satan. Though the Bible clearly states the absolute authority of God, Satan has been given much power, and with the permission of God the evil in this world is under Satan's control.

Luke 4:5-7 (KJV)
⁵And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. ⁷If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

John 12:31 (KJV)
³¹Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV)
²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

        That's why the apostle Paul asserted;

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

        Satan was the first one in history to openly defy God. He also started a philosophy of life that was self-centered and rejected God's authority. That was the birth of sin.

        Sin assumes a self-designed life plan rather than one purposed by the Creator. Today sin affects the entire human race. We are all guilty of it, and therefore all deserve sin's penalty;

Romans 6:23 (KJV)
²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

        According to the Scriptures, peace on earth will not come until after God's final judgments and Christ's Second Coming.

Matthew 25:31-43 (KJV)
³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: ³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴²For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Colossians 1:20 (KJV)
²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

        But peace with God is available now for all who faithfully accept Jesus' death as payment for their sin.

Romans 5:1 (KJV)
¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

        Yes, God permitted evil to be present in this world. He gave all of us, including Satan, free will. He allows us to choose whether or not we will follow Him. If God forced us to love and worship Him...that wouldn't be love. He lets us make up our own minds.

        Satan and death were defeated when Jesus Christ rose again after dying on the cross.

John 16:11 (KJV)
¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

        Satan has no reprieve. But you still have a chance. You can come to know "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) by acknowledging the sin in your life and believing that Christ's death on the cross paid sin's penalty for you and that His resurrection offers you new life.

        We will never know all the answers to the question Why, God? But when you open your life to Jesus Christ, He promises to walk with you through this world's troubles. You will begin to see the world through His eyes. And He will birth new feelings inside you that you may not have felt for a long time, if ever...like love, joy, hope...and peace.

        Jesus said;

John 16:33 (KJV)
³³These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.