The day after the senseless terrorist massacre in San Bernardino California, the New York Daily News declared: “God Isn’t Fixing This”. The tabloid mocked calls from political leaders for “thoughts and prayers,” describing them as “meaningless platitudes.” This irresponsible attention-getting outburst only added to national outrage and added further pain to victims’ families who needed a voice of compassion at that time to embrace them. The author offers little in concrete solutions other than to limit the sales of guns.

Obviously this bloodbath was allowed to happen. No unseen hand stopped it. So what can we make of this and what can we learn?

An event with similar parallels occurred in ancient history. In the sixth century B.C., Judea was invaded by the Babylonian Empire. They destroyed the capital Jerusalem. They plundered and razed the beautiful temple of God. Tens of thousands of people were marched as captives to Babylon on the Euphrates River in today’s Iraq. This was a national calamity as all of Israel now ceased to exist after falling to violent conquests. But a few years before that happened, Habakkuk the prophet pleaded with God to fix and save a nation that had departed from God and plunged itself into all types of sin and corruption:  

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!" but you do not save?" (Habakkuk 1:2, New International Version).

He goes on to enumerate the moral state of the nation:

“Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted" (Habakkuk 1:3-4).

God’s answers in the following verses was not the answer Habakkuk wanted to hear:

"Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own" (Habakkuk 1:5-6).

God was not going to fix or save the nation of Judah. He was not going to give them a remedy that would only treat the effects of their national rottenness and take away the undesirable consequences. The nation of Judah knew better. The Jews were the custodians of the oracles of God: “The Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:2). They were a nation that was to model and show a superior way of life to the nations around. They failed. In fact, they adopted the pagan ways of the nations around and even went as far as offering child sacrifices. God wasn’t going to give them a pill to take away the after-effects of their decadence. Because a change of heart and attitude was not in the offering, the people had to suffer the consequences.

One might say in response that the Bible says God is a God of love. He loves us. What is He doing?

The truth of the matter is that God is active today. At a coming time in the future, God will intervene in the affairs of all of humanity. But for now, unless it specifically benefits His divine purpose, God largely stands aside. Unless a nation collectively repents like ancient Nineveh (Jonah 3:10), this world is in for some very serious times. According to His biblically revealed plan, God today allows men and women of all nations the free will to make key choices, even if these choices have horrific consequences.

Can we count on God to “fix” anything? To be sure, just as God swore on oath to ancient Israel, we today all have this unbreakable promise:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasis added throughout).

But until that happens here are some key points for you to think about.

1. Today’s world is not God’s world 

Right now, “all authority” has been given to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18). But the Bible warns us that at present “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).  As the coming King of Kings, Jesus will soon broadly exercise the powerful authority He has been given, but according to God’s plan (and humanity’s fateful choice), He presently allows Satan and human nature to run their course.

2. Humans choose destructive paths themselves

As the ancient prophet Isaiah foretold of this human age: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:7). Barna Research recently released a summary report that chronicles the sorry state of affairs in America, as the nation rapidly turns from multiple decades of affirming faith in key biblical principles. As the Barna research confirms, today people in the world “don’t know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good” (Isaiah 59:8, New Living Translation).

3. God does not tolerate sin, nor does He bless or protect people who insist on living in a state of sin

Make no mistake. God takes a very dim view of biblically defined sin: “You [God] cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked…you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies” (Psalm 5:4-6, NLT). Take a look back at Isaiah: “The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you…it’s your sins that have cut you off from God…misery and destruction always follow” (Isaiah 59:1-2; Isaiah 59:7 NLT).

4. Bible prophecy generally reflects the accumulated consequences of breaking God’s law

What did Jesus Himself say? “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17). He also said, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). The result for willful commandment breaking? The Bible defines sin as the breaking of the commandments (1 John 3:4), and it also emphatically states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When you read of God’s coming punishment on the nations in prophecy, you are simply in many cases reading the consequences of what happens when unrepented sin piles up over decades and centuries.

5. The coming Kingdom of God will completely replace the present systems and beliefs of this world

When Jesus returns as King of Kings to set up the promised literal Kingdom of God, little will be left of this present age. Many Bible passages wondrously foretell of this coming time: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

So what’s the answer? Unless the United States and other nations turn back to the Lord God Almighty, as stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14, fewer and fewer things will be “fixed” and set aright.

That doesn’t mean all is lost. Today God offers you a personal choice. He enthusiastically directs you to “choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). You don’t have to suffer for the sins of the nation.

The same Habakkuk who was told that Judah would fall and be taken captive by an evil people also wrote, “The just shall live by His faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). In the same verse he mentions the upcoming invasion: “The enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright.” The just live (survive) by faith, which is a way of life that may be very counter-cultural to what society today allows. That is your promise. Take it!

I’d like to offer more on the subject from our UCG.org website. You will find several articles about why God allows suffering. In the main search box type in “why suffering?” You will see a myriad of articles and study aids to help you be further enlightened.

We are taking this message live to a number of cities in the United States. I personally invite you to consider attending one of these critically important presentations. You can find more information at this online link: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/events.

Don’t rely on a quick “fix.” God has a plan, and He has a role in that plan for you.