ADVENT DAY 1 (I Am Forgiven): Losing the Blame Game

It is the first day of 25 as we walk through the Faith Radio Advent Guide, and we have chosen to feature the topic of forgiveness. We have been made right with God through what Jesus did - coming to earth, dying on the cross, rising from the dead. 1st John 1 provides this insight:
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In the Christian faith, we make much about the cross - rightfully so!  At Faith Radio, we annual make available 7-foot wooden crosses to be displayed during the Christmas season, as a reminder of why Jesus came to earth: a loving God sent His only Son into a fallen world that had been separated from Him, to be our substitute, to pay the penalty for our sins.  He died on that cross so that in Him we might have forgiveness and the ability to come to Him and confess our sins so that we may experience a consistent state of forgiveness.

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Welcome in to Day 1 of our 25-Day Faith Radio Advent Guide, with this year's theme, Because of Jesus.  The Guide can be found in the center of latest Faith Radio Ministry Magazine, and if you do not have it at your home by virtue of being a subscriber, you can find it online at the Ministry Magazine page at FaithRadio.org - there's a link from the home page. 

The cover of the Ministry Magazine emphasizes the word, "Forgiven," and features a rendition of Isaiah 9:6, which says, "For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given."  Combine the first and last words, and you have the word, "Forgiven."  

Certainly, Jesus came to earth so that we might receive salvation, that we might be redeemed, that we would receive forgiveness for our sins. Being forgiven means we are free to live the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our Scripture reading for Day 1 is found in Colossians chapter 1; it says:
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Franklin Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the relief organization Samaritans Purse, tweeted out recently about a soccer star's misfortune; he stated:

Soccer player Megan Rapinoe was in the news for saying that the injury in her final game was “proof” there is no God. She couldn’t be more wrong! Life is full of disappointments, but there is a God. He created us, and He loves and cares for us; but the problem we have is sin. Sin separates us from God. The only way we can have a personal relationship with Him is by repenting of our sin and putting our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

After the embarrassing early exit by the U.S. Women's National Team last year at the Women's World Cup, I shared a quote from The Stream, written by Joseph D'Hippolito, who had said:

Megan Rapinoe will be remembered for turning the national women’s soccer team into a personal political plaything, for contaminating team morale and for alienating large segments of the team’s fan base — in many cases, permanently.

The Christian Post included a quote from the soccer "star," that was tweeted by Outkick; she said in a press conference after the game: "I’m not a religious person or anything and if there was a God, like, this is proof that there isn’t," adding, after two short sentences, each including a profane word, "Six minutes in and I eat my Achilles."

So, let me get this straight - this soccer player, who represents the United States on a world stage yet protests the National Anthem, is blaming a God she doesn't believe in for something bad happening to her.  Her personal injury is proof that there is no God?  As if He owed her some sort of blessing to keep her from getting hurt?  But, wait, she doesn't believe in Him?  I'm sooooo confused.

It does seem rather convenient that atheists will go around and blame God for all the bad in the world. But, if we're assigning blame, we need to go back to the Garden, when two people, created by God to live in a state of perpetual fellowship and communion with Him, disobeyed Him, resulting in the fall of humanity and producing a curse on this world.

I am reminded of a conversation in the movie, God's Not Dead, in which professing atheist professor Radisson, played by Kevin Sorbo, is challenged by his student, Josh Wheaton, played by Shane Harper.  I found the transcript at the IMDB website:

Josh Wheaton : Do you hate God, professor?
Professor Radisson : That's not even a question.
Josh Wheaton : Okay, why, do you hate God?
Professor Radisson : This is ridiculous.
Josh Wheaton : Why do you hate God? You've seen the evidence and the science, it supports His existence, you know the truth! So why do you hate God, professor? Why do you hate Him? It's a very simple question, professor, why do you hate God?
Professor Radisson : BECAUSE HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! YES, I HATE GOD! ALL I HAVE FOR HIM IS HATE!
Josh Wheaton : How could you hate someone, who doesn't even exist?

I think this illustrates the fallacy and deception of atheism.  We must recognize that out of this fallen world came a Savior, who came to this world as a human so that He might redeem us. Rather than blame God for everything bad, we can rejoice in the Lord for all the good things He has done - including bringing us forgiveness for our sins, and enabling us to restore fellowship with Him when we do sin. 1st John 1:9 tells us that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Bad things that happen do not prove there is no God - rather, they can point us to a God who walks with us when the unfortunate occurs.  In the disappointment, pain, and suffering, we can run to the Savior, who died for us, who will walk through us in our desperation.  God's Son was given so that we might be for-given.