Author: Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

According to the word of God we are already granted everything we need in order to succeed in this life. God has already given us all that we need to have life abundantly. There is no such need in our life God has not taken care for yet. We only have to get to know God and His precious promises, so that we can prevail the lust of this world and fulfil our call from God.

«Seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.». (2 Peter 1:3-4).

«These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world» (John, 16: 33).

Trust God, be filled with His Word, walk in holiness, serve God with your gifts and talents and you will witness God changing all your problems, tragedies and sufferings into triumph!

You might want to ask why the devil (and not God) is the ruler of this earth. The answer is that God entrusted the rulership of the earth to humans for a time and He cannot take it back before the set time. «May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men» (Psalm, 115:15-16).

The majority of tragedies and disasters on earth that daily destroy great many people are a result of lawlessness of the people living on earth.

«So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel» (Numbers, 35:33-34).

Righteousness exalts a person and his people.

When a nation turns away from his evil ways and the violence of their hands, then the new times come; joy comes instead of joy and triumph comes instead of tragedy. An entire nation can fall under the judgment of God because of the sins of its people. Sodom and Gomorrah is a clear example of how sin brings a destruction and tragedy into the life of a whole nation.

How much suffering there is in the world because of the irresponsibility of fathers and mothers! How many children suffer today because of some addiction of their parents who because of their own satisfaction abandon their families and their children! Sin is the main cause of sufferings, tragedies and illnesses on earth.

«“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.». (Matthew 5:43-45).

If only all people lived according to the commandments of love there would be much less pain and tragedies on Earth. There would be much less tears on Earth if people took care for each other instead of seeking their own benefits.

«He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.» (1st John 3:8).

The devil inflicts pain, steals, murder and annihilate people, but God comes in Christ and manifests His power and mercy. In Christ God heals the sick, forgives sins, restores people lives, frees from curse and obsession by demons. A little later we will discuss the details about devil as a source of distress and sufferings people may have. Today I would like you to note that sins of other people also represent a source of pain and suffering.

If a person does not fulfil this duty, he won’t have enough light to see evil and hide from it. Besides, this verse tells us that such a person (he or she is called „simple”) goes ahead and is punished – not by God, but by his own ignorance. Ignorance separates a person from the life of God, because he knows nothing about God’s provision. «..having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart» (Ephesians, 4:18).

Because of ignorance human mind is darkened, heart is hardened and he himself is alienated from the life of God.

«Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows in his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life» (Galatians, 6:7-8).

«For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live»(Romans, 8: 13)