What if Jesus saw a government treating its people poorly? What if he knew that
government officials were stealing public money and lavishing it on themselves
for their own pleasure when the people could barely survive?
I often think these questions. Unfortunately thinking about these situations (which really
do happen in the today in the developing world where I currently live) makes me angry. One way to look at these situations is that the people in the government are spiritually bankrupt andare surely on the path to hell. The regular people still can have spiritual salvation.Therefore, I should pity the crooked government officials. I should ask for their forgiveness in my prayers.
Am I just causing myself suffering for no reason? Surely Jesus wouldn’t worry like
I do. Can anyone help me with some scripture or advice on this topic?
Thank You
Jesus didn't come to change the world or make the world perfect. He came to be the sacrifice for our sins.
'Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'"
Hebrews 13:14 says, " For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come."
This world is not meant to be perfect. True perfection is within the believer that is in the Holy Spirit.
"Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
21nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:20-21).
There are two realms side by side. The physical realm and the spiritual realm. This earthly realm shows what is happening in the spiritual realm.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).
When a believers focus is on the material realm they are subject to that realm with its destruction, corrupt politics, suffering etc. When a believers focus is on God's realm which occurs when a person walks by submitting themselves to the Holy Spirit and letting God's life, power, love, and truth through them they see things from God's spiritual perspective rather than the material perspective in the world which is subject to doubt, fear, suffering, sorrows. Even if someone has trials in the material realm, if they abide in God's Spirit in the spiritual realm they can have his miraculous love, joy, and peace occuring within and through them during the trial.
Corrupt leaders are suffering a spiritual problem which causes them to do sinful material things. When believers focus on the material actions of people rather than the spiritual, then even if people join to cause suppression of an issue the spiritual won't be changed and the negative and sinful things will just manifest in other ways. Believers are supposed to be lights in the world.
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
A believer abiding fully in the Spirit of God has great power and impact. All believers are needed out there to spread the gospel so that people are saved. If all true believers were doing this it would make a far greater impact than changing the government. People being sanctified want to turn from evil. People being forced to change will only try to find another outlet for their evil.
The world wasn't meant to be a place of perfection. It is decaying and will end. This is a place for people to see both suffering and the good of God (that is the dichotomy) so that people have a real clear choice. It is the same choice that was in the garden of Eden. Faith in God and what he says or believing the world has something better that what God has.
Realize God's love is in the world now but one day it will be taken out. Those who believed in the perfection theory of earth and didn't get saved will one day be shocked to find out that they didn't accept God's gift of love and they will have an eternity separated from the love of God in a living hell. You only have so much time. Will it be for perfecting the earth or for bringing others to the perfection of God that is only in salvation through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.