Perhaps you have heard or even sung the well-known Christian hymn, “This is My Father’s World.” Written as a poem by Maltbie Davenport Babcock, a Christian minister residing in New York, it was published in 1901. In 1915, the poem was set to music and became what is now a staple in most traditional Christian hymnals.
The words sung, complemented by a soothing melody, evoke scenes of beautiful landscapes, verdant valleys gently embracing clear flowing streams, the rhythmic rustling of grass, majestic mountains, tropical rainforests, waterfalls, undulating hills and tranquil skies. As the lyrics convey, the carols raised by birds; the intensification of the sun’s light rising above the eastern horizon, brings one to praise the creative genius and graciousness of God, the loving Father.
As the Scriptures reveal, the earth, all the silver and the gold, every beast of the forest, the fowls of the air, the creatures in the sea, all that dwells therein, every man, woman and child belongs to God (cf. Exodus 9:29, Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalm 24, 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28). God is the creator of all things through his son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9, cf. Colossians 1:15-16, John 1:3, 10). For those who believe in God, it is easy to confess that God is the creator of this earth and all that is on it.
In the Christian religion, the doctrine of, and the awareness of, God the Father is extremely significant. Jesus Christ came to this earth to reveal the Father (cf. Matthew 11:27 and John 1:18); teaching His disciples just who the Father is. Christ taught His disciples to pray, saying “our Father” (Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:2). Christ spoke constantly of God the Father and always focused the attention to and pointed the direction to the Father in heaven. The salutations of Paul, in each of his epistles, acknowledges God “the Father” or God “our Father” (cf. Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, Galatians 1:1, Philippians 1:2, et. el.). Well known within the Christian religion is the fact that there is God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son; two distinct beings. As Christ said, the Father is greater than I (John 14:28) and Christ did the will of the Father, who sent Him to this earth (John 5:30).
Prior to the time Jesus Christ came to this earth, born in the flesh, knowledge of the being who is now known as God the Father was obscured from mankind. Prior to the time of Christ, God the Father was unknown to the world. Christ plainly said, “O righteous Father the world has not known Thee” (John 17:25). Christ told the Jews of His day, that the Father, the one they called God, that they indeed did not know who He was (John 8:54-55). In fact, speaking of God the Father, no one has ever heard His voice or has ever seen Him (cf. John 5:37, 6:46; 16:3). At that time in history, Jews, Romans, Greeks, Celts, Parthians, Egyptians, Libyans, Ethiopians, Asians, Barbarians, Persians, Chinese, Mongols, those of India; those in the reaches of what is now known as the British Isles, those in North, Central and South America, simply did not know of God the Father. Still today, many cultures, religions and nations worship a god, but they do not worship the True God. Still today, the vast majority within this world do not know of the Almighty being who is God the Father. God the Father is absent from their knowledge.
However, for the Christian religion and for Christians, there is a God who is known as the Father. To understand that the earth and its fullness, all that dwells on the earth is God’s, is one thing. However, this world, the ways of the world and man’s involvement in this world; does God take a claim for all that?
By looking at the realities of this world, how could one honestly say this is my Father’s world and not be challenged in that belief? If God is as loving and merciful as the Bible makes Him out to be, then how could this be His world? Is this my Father’s world, as many Christians are led to believe?
We should be painfully aware these days; watching the daily news, reading newspapers, magazines, and more common these days, viewing the multitude of Internet news sources, how obvious it is that this world is in trouble. Circumnavigating the globe, observing the conduct of humanity, looking at the behavior of every country and countries leaders, we witness a world void of peace and tranquility, mercy and justice, honor and respect.
What about the trouble within Europe; in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Israel, Palestine? What about the mounting tensions among the Asian nations of North Korea, China, Japan? What about the Ebola outbreak in Africa and its potential of spread within Europe and even the United States? How about the fatal effects of diseases such as syphilis, meningitis, tetanus or the measles, which rank highest in Africa but are common throughout the world? What about drug warfare and the destructive consequences of narcotrade throughout South America? What about the many wars of history and the wars inevitable, soon to be fought?
What about the daily burdens and trauma prevalent within the cities throughout the world, cities as crowded and squalid as Mumbai to neglected cities the likes of Gary, Indiana or Detroit, Michigan. How about the crime-ridden streets of Chicago or Los Angeles? What about poverty and homelessness? What about the subjection of those held captive to the religion of Islam? What about the lives of those held captive to the teachings found within Hinduism – for the most part, those not living within the United States or other western cultured nations? Yet for that matter, what of those deceived by the charlatans posing as Christian ministers? What of the millions of deceived Christians who believe you can comingle worship of Jesus with paganism, sun worship?
When we delve into the lives of people, their day-to-day attempts at living, what becomes obvious? More uncertainty, doubt, fear, broken-heartedness and emptiness. No doubt, there are moments of excitement, encouragement, and self-fulfillment. However, when the day is over and one comes to his or her senses, life these days is half-lived and even less rewarding. Moments of self-willed, self-centeredness is about all most in this world can accomplish.
Among the more common events experienced around the world these days are the following: abuse, physical, mental, sexual; crime, theft, petty theft, white-collar crime; insurance fraud, retail swindles, internet hacking, identity theft, murder, gang warfare, drug abuse, both prescription and street. In addition, always growing pornography, prostitution, video and Internet sexual perversity practiced not only by adults but now among teens and tweens with the advent of social media and the likes of selfies, and sexting. Behavior that is characterized as self-serving, self-satisfying and self-gratifying. What of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, so-called because healthcare is big business these days, thriving on the ignorance and desperation of a sick public.
Sure there is still some good these days, but its becoming more rare. And when stories of good, altruistic behaviors are reported, one may often ask, “good, by whose standards?”
Whether it be a cursory view or an in depth, thorough, educated investigation, the results are the same. There is not much which is right, good and salubrious in this world these days. The facts are evident, clear and incontrovertible. From religion, government, economies, domestic life, education, culture, values, ethics and personal behaviors, one is within right to reject the notion of a loving God.
In truth, as the Bible gives clear explanation, this world is not the Father’s world. This world is not God’s. God has left His hands off this world, with the exception of the few here and there across this world who He has called to understand His truth. No blame can be laid at the throne of God for the wretchedness that infiltrates this world and the sufferings so evident to the inhabitants of this world. God is not responsible nor culpable, for this world is NOT the Father’s world.
When the question arises, “How can a loving God allow to occur the sufferings that happen to so many people?” the answer is clearly understood when you comprehend the reality that the god of this world is Satan, the devil. Yes, there is a real devil and his MO is simple. Lie, deceive, mislead and corrupt. His looks are not that of a conniving, sly, shrewd gentleman in a red body suit with a pointed goatee and two tiny horns protruding from his head. That would be too easy to spot. The disguise of Satan is that of an angel of light; masquerading as god (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14). Masquerading, deceiving, manipulating, obfuscating, denying and confusing.
A litany of scriptures reveal this reality. Satan, called the devil and the serpent of old, from the time of the Garden of Eden has, and is deceiving the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Satan is called the prince of this world (John 12:31) and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The world is held captive by Satan, the devil, at his will (2 Timothy 2:26).
In his attempt to destroy the Son of God, Satan divulged that he was the god of this world. Notice what Satan said to Jesus Christ, and notice what Christ did not dispute or challenge. In addition, the devil took Him (Christ) into a high mountain, showing unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment in time. “And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give You and the glory of them: for that has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. If You will therefore worship me, all this will be Yours” (Luke 4:5-7).
Why did Christ not challenge Satan’s words? Now of course, Christ told Satan to get behind Him, because “it is written you shall worship the Lord thy God and Him only shall you serve” (cf. Luke 4:8). Nevertheless, why did Christ not say, wait a minute; who do you think you are, demanding to be worshipped? Why not? Because Christ knew who Satan was and currently is – until Christ returns to the earth to dethrone Satan. Satan is the god of this world. Satan demands worship and this deceived world worships Satan in countless ways. Notice 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (New Living Translation): “If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing. Satan, the god of this evil world….”
The scriptures reveal, “The whole world lies in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). It is not hard to disagree with that fact today. This world, the world’s systems; ALL its forms of governments; all its religions; all its educational systems; its entertainment; its economic systems, its business cultures, its legal systems; its values, norms and cultures; its people; all these are prostrate in wickedness, in the darkness of sin. All these are influenced by the god of this world – Satan. This world is indeed Satan’s world and most certainly is NOT the Father’s world.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world” (cf. 1 John 2:15-16). Throughout the Word of God, the distinction is made clear. There is a dynamic difference between all that is God’s and all that is not; of all God is pleased with, all that He honors and blesses and all that He curses and condemns.
In the book of James we read: “You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). If this world is the Father’s world; if this world is God’s world, then why would you be an enemy of God if you love it? Why would God, the Father disavow you if you have favor for and a desire for this world?
The answer is simple. This world is not the Father’s world. You need to know that and understand that it is the will of God the Father and of His Son, Jesus Christ to deliver you from this present evil world (cf. Galatians 1:4). Satan is the god of this world. Are you willing to be set free from the god of this world?
