All sorts of people ask on lots of occasions, ―Why God?‖ Some ask in times of pain and difficulty, ―Why God are you doing this or allowing this?‖. For them, Why God?‘ Is a deeply emotional issue. Others ask the more intellectual question, ―Why would you accept there is a God at all?‖ The last two years have seen a plethora of books by atheists, most notably Richard Dawkins, ―The God Delusion‖ seeking to persuade us that God is dead and only the gullible still fall for that old story. And many others sim ply have questions that they wish to know the answer to, Why God?‘
Let me assure you there are answers to the questions. We here at St Barnabas are per suaded that not only is God there but that he has answered all the Why God?‘ ques-tions. He has answered the critics of his existence by coming 2000 years ago in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He has answered the questions of suffering and pain by himself going through them: in the temptations he faced, in the loss of friends, and in his own death. But his coming and his death were not just so that God could experience what he had not before.
His death was for something—for us—that he might die our death, pay for our sins, take the punishment we deserve. And we might ask if this is true ―Why God? Why would you do such a thing?‖ And the answer returns, ―For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life‖ (John 3:16).
Why would God send his Son to die for us? Because in his tender mercy he did the only thing that would save us, for we could do nothing to save ourselves—he paid the price for our sin himself. But that was not the end of the story—he rose again and has conquered death and assures those who trust him that life and forgiveness is theirs.
In this special Easter issue of The Son Herald we see the impact of this answer to ―Why God‖ in the lives of sev-eral individuals. These people have come from different backgrounds, but the remarkable truth of God‘s love in their lives unites them. They are all part of a team of people spending this week in Ingleburn, joining with our church, visiting our community to share with others the truth of God and how he can and does change lives.
I trust you enjoy reading their stories. I pray that God might answer your questions and work the same miracle in your life too.
His death was for something—for us—that he might die our death, pay for our sins, take the punishment we deserve. And we might ask if this is true ―Why God? Why would you do such a thing?‖ And the answer returns, ―For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life‖ (John 3:16).
Why would God send his Son to die for us? Because in his tender mercy he did the only thing that would save us, for we could do nothing to save ourselves—he paid the price for our sin himself. But that was not the end of the story—he rose again and has conquered death and assures those who trust him that life and forgiveness is theirs.
In this special Easter issue of The Son Herald we see the impact of this answer to ―Why God‖ in the lives of sev-eral individuals. These people have come from different backgrounds, but the remarkable truth of God‘s love in their lives unites them. They are all part of a team of people spending this week in Ingleburn, joining with our church, visiting our community to share with others the truth of God and how he can and does change lives.
I trust you enjoy reading their stories. I pray that God might answer your questions and work the same miracle in your life too.
