Why does God allow evil nations to exist, and what purpose do they serve for the church?

In his message, Jeffrey D. Johnson emphasizes that even the most wicked nations exist under God's sovereign control for the benefit of the church. Though the church may seem small and insignificant in the eyes of the world, all nations and powers are ultimately organized by God for the sanctification and good of His people. Babylon's existence was not for its own sake, but as an instrument used by God for the spiritual growth of Israel. Similarly, today's nations serve a purpose in God's greater plan for His church.

Johnson reassures believers that although evil and corruption are present in governments and societies, they can rest in the knowledge that God is in control. The trials faced by the church and its people are part of God's divine plan, working for His glory and their ultimate good. Believers need not fret, as God loves His church and has a glorious plan for it. Even in the midst of suffering and uncertainty, believers are called to remain humble and godly, trusting that no situation can occur that does not have the potential to glorify God.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV): "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Remember this, one of the most glorious truths. The evil nations, if it's Babylon, if it's Russia, Ukraine, our own country, America, all these nations, as wicked as they may be, They don't exist for themselves. All the nations of the world and the church is so small in comparison. The power of the church seems weak and almost, according to the world, almost unworthy to even notice. We're a small group in this big, dark, ugly world.

But all the nations of the world, all the powers of evil, all the powers of Satan, all the powers of nations, of local governments, everything's organized by God's sovereign control for the good of the church. Babylon wasn't there for Babylon's sake. Babylon was an instrument for the sanctification of Israel. It was all about Israel, not Babylon. It's not about these nations.

God's plan is not ultimately to work these things out in the nations. His plan is the church. And we're here. And the wolves are needed for sheep. We need the nations.

The nations are all going according to the plan of God. Every evil thing is for God's glory and for our good. So we can know, we can step back and say, yes, we are concerned about evil. We don't rejoice in the evil. We're concerned about the degradation of our nations and the corruption that we see in our government, we are nervous for our children's sake, but we can rest that God is in control and he's doing it for his bride.

And God loves his bride. God loves his people. God loves your children more than you love your children. So we don't have to fret. We can rest in our beds at the end of the day and say, God, you do all things well.

I don't understand what you're doing. I don't know why we're going to Babylon. I don't understand why the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous seem to suffer. I don't understand that at this time, but I know you have a plan. It's going to be glorious.

I rest in you. And I want to be humble and I want to be godly and I want my kids to be godly and humble as we walk through this troubled times. Because another thing we should remember, there's no scenario, there's no bad thing that can happen to us that we can't bring God glory. All they can do, And I know this is scary, but all they can do is take our life. That's all they can do.