Like you today I am hurting over the events in our world, in our country this week.
Honestly, my heart hurts over the events in our world and in our country over the past several months and even years.
I’m overwhelmed at the state that we are living in.
I’m overwhelmed at how we treat others…both our friends and our enemies.
I’m overwhelmed at the injustices that exist everywhere around us.
I don’t typically comment or write about our world events that trouble my heart. What do I have to say of value? Nothing, really.
But, today I’m going to step outside what is typical for me because my heart is burdened for our world and for the people that Christ died for.
It is clear that we live in a broken world. There are broken lives, broken relationships and broken systems surrounding us.
We can see this brokenness by simply watching the news or reading our Facebook or Twitter feed. We see suffering, violence, poverty, pain, injustice, racism, crime, and death.
This brokenness is not a part of God’s perfect plan for the world that He created. This is not God’s design.
God planned a world of perfect peace–where everything and everyone fit together in loving harmony.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
God made each one of us with a purpose. We were created to worship and walk with Him.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1
But, because God’s design was broken, our world is filled with brokenness. Life just doesn’t work when we ignore God and His perfect design for our lives. And we have done just that over and over again.
We have selfishly insisted on doing things our way. The Bible has a word for that…a word that offends our broken world insistent on breaking us. That word is sin. We all sin…every single one of us…and this sin distorts God’s design.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
This sin…our sin…leads us to a place of brokenness. It has led our world at large and our country to a place of brokenness.
We see this all around us…in the news that constantly bombards us.
We also see this in our own personal lives.
Brokenness is the result of sin.
Brokenness is the problem that we all face.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator.” Romans 1:25
Brokenness is the problem that has ultimately caused the horrific events of this week…every single one of them.
Brokenness leads to a place of realizing a need for something greater.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12
At it is at this point that our own personal brokenness can be the solution.
Because of His great love, God did not leave us in our brokenness.
For God loved the world in this way; He gave His One and Only Son.” John 3:16
Jesus came to us and lived perfectly according to God’s perfect design.
He is the only one that has ever conquered sin and, thus, brokenness.
He came to rescue us. He took our sin and shame to the cross. He paid the penalty of our sin by His death on that cross.
Jesus was raised from the dead to provide the only way for us to be rescued and restored to a relationship with God.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…He was buried and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Brokenness becomes the solution when we admit our sinful brokenness and stop trusting in ourselves.
Brokenness becomes the solution when we come to God truly broken over our sin.
Brokenness becomes the solution when we humble ourselves before our Holy God in contrition.
We must admit that we don’t have the power to escape the brokenness of our sin on our won. We need to be rescued.
We need to turn from our sin and turn to Christ, trusting in Jesus for forgiveness.
We can then receive new life and God will turn our life in a new direction.
If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
When God restores our relationship to Him, meaning and purpose in a broken world is discovered. We can then and only then pursue God’s design in our lives. We can then and only then pursue God’s design for our world.
For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
And what is God’s design for us and for our world? It’s so very simple.
Jesus told us plainly what God’s desire is…to love God and to love other people.
If we would each purpose to do these two things, our world and our country would be a very different place.
It would be filled with peace and love.
People would give instead of constantly take from one another.
Racism and injustice would no longer exist.
We would not live in constant fear.
We would not seek to kill our fellow man.
Our words would be uplifting instead of damaging.
Brokenness is the problem that we are facing today.
Coming to God in brokenness over our sin is our only answer.
Jennifer Scruggs says
You put into words what my heart screams. I felt the burden of this truth after 9/11, after Ferguson, after Baltimore, after Paris, after Orlando, and very keenly this week as each day brought more horrors into the public eye. Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone to express the gospel so beautifully. May we each faithfully live it out and share it in our sphere of influence. Love your guts!
Jodi says
Great post!! Thanks for posting