"Plain and Simple"

 "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." (John 11:14 KJV)

  "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law break. Still, everyone died - from the time of Adam to the time of Moses - even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam's sin and God's gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:12-18 NLT)

 Some people ask, "Why, if God is so loving, does He allow so much death and destruction in the world?" It is a common question asked, as soon as you mention how much God loves them; it is almost textbook, as if it were something they heard once, and then burned it into their minds. 

 I have heard this explained, as I think I have shared on it before, but it deserves to be repeated. God loves us so much, and it breaks His heart to see what happens from what sin has caused; but, even in the hurt of seeing us suffer, He loves to see the joy and love that we can experience, despite the ugliness and the sadness.

 There are some people that say, "I don't want to have any children, because I don't want see them get hurt in this world." Well, it is going to happen, people get hurt and get killed every day. But does that mean you won't love a child if you have one? Absolutely not! You will love that child and hope and pray for the very best life for them! 

 Sadly, we cannot see what will happen in their life; how many times they will get hurt, whether or not they might get killed or die before they can even get married. But does that stop us from having a child or planning on a family? The good things in life far outweigh the bad!

 God sees the hurt; but more importantly, He sees the glorious time we will all spend together with Him in eternity...

"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." (1 Peter 1:18-23 NLT)