Sin = Death and Suffering
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26)
God created a perfect world: And God saw what He had made, and behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31), very different to the world we live in today!
People and animals ate plants, not other animals: Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be good for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food" and it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30)
There was no violence or pain in this 'very good' world.
This 'very good' world was marred by the first man, Adam. He disobeyed God and so committed sin which brought an intruder into the world, Death.
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12).
Everyone who has ever lived is a descendant of the first man Adam. We have all inherited this sinful nature and thus we are all sinners. Through sin we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
As a result of God's Judgement on the world, God has given us a taste of life without Him, a world that is in decay, a world full of death and suffering.
It is man's fault the world is in the mess it's in, not God's
Death and suffering is a result of sin. When Adam sinned he rebelled against God. Death is the penalty of rebellion against God, the giver of life.
What has God done about death and suffering?
God has already done everything you would want a loving God to do and more:
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made Him share ours in order that in union with Him we might share the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21)
God sent His only Son into the world to take the punishment for everyones sins. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb 9:22)
God was working through His Son to reconcile the world to Himself, do you believe the message of the gospel?
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
Do not delay;
(2 Cor 6:2) Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation
Updated 21st Dec 2005
