God's Solution

By: John Carrigan

Friday, September 19, 2025

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7

Genesis 38 is dramatic example of sowing and reaping in a spiritual sense. For example, Judah lied to his father when he told him Joseph had been killed. In Genesis 38, Judah gets deceived by Tamar. “What goes around, comes around” isn’t a bible verse, but the general principle of that statement often comes true.

Genesis 38 also provides a stark contrast between Judah’s sin and Joseph’s victory. In our modern world, many people try to live on the edge of sin in the so-called "grey areas" of life. But there are only two kingdoms, and neither one of them is grey. God's is the kingdom of light, and Satan's is the kingdom of darkness. We are either for God, or we're against Him. Through Jesus, God gives everyone the opportunity to choose which kingdom they will live in.

So, we must all examine ourselves and consider who we're living for. But God's standard of living is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Once we choose God, the Holy Spirit lives inside us, and He helps us submit and surrender our will to God. The hope and trust God gives Christ followers sustains us when the world’s wickedness is revealed.

Murders, assassinations, and terrible car crashes were just some of the news stories last week. When tragedy strikes and evil surfaces, our world doesn't make sense. True peace and real hope are only found in God, so people that don't know God feel sad, angry, and hopeless. Satan knows this, so he steps in to fill their minds with evil ideas. God's Word also warns us that evil will increase until Jesus comes back. What does that mean? It means evil people and evil events will continue to be on the news. God's light (Jesus) is the only way to overpower evil's darkness!

But waiting on Jesus doesn't mean turning a blind eye to bad behavior, it means the only way to fix things is to point people towards Christ. The solution isn't political or governmental, it's spiritual! Consider this; if those evil people knew Jesus, Satan wouldn't have been able to manipulate them. That's why following Jesus is so important; if we're not in God's kingdom, whether we know it or not, we're in Satan's!

God, fill us with love and compassion for our enemies, and give us your peace when evil strikes. Lord, give us the courage to tell others about Jesus so we can make a difference while we wait on Your return!