To the editor:

In an article headlined, “2020 proves that nature still has a say in our survival”, syndicated columnist George Will stated, “The human story is not entirely about human choices.” (Independent, 1/5/2021)

Will listed other diseases and plagues besides covid-19 that make us aware of “the fragility of life.” He questioned belief in a “benevolent God”, and predicted that “everything is not going to end well. The universe will either continue to expand, ending in life-extinguishing cold or will collapse into incinerating heat.”

Those who believe in a benevolent God see the past, present, and future with faith in His Story:

l. The earth and the entire universe were perfect when God made them. (Genesis 1:31)

2. The first two people God created put their desires above God’s will, as Lucifer, the original name for the devil, did. (Genesis 3:4-6)

3. When Adam and his wife disobeyed God, the entire world fell under the curse of sin. (Genesis 3:17-19)

4. God promised to send One who would crush the devil’s power and conquer death. (Genesis 3:15 and John 3:16)

5. Adam believed God’s promise and named his wife Eve (living) “because she would become the mother of all the living.” (Genesis 3:20)

6. God’s son, Jesus, set aside His glory and became a man, born of Mary, and took the punishment we deserved when He died on a cross. Now death is but a sleep until Jesus returns. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23)

George Will concluded, “Human choices cannot subdue all the brute forces that always lurk. Choices can, however, make a difference.”

God made the choice to save us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8) The choices we make can either glorify ourselves or give glory to God.

Trudy Madetzke

Marshall