We advertise on CL to share our Testimonies. An example: “X Jehovah’s Witness, now a Born Again Christian. Receive the details, ask for our story." Someone from San Antonio, TX emailed back: "If God is All Powerful and a God of love, why do bad things happen to good people."
MY ANSWER. Consider these four things about the bad things that happen.
1) Bad things may happen to good people in this world, but this world is not the end. Christians have an eternal perspective: “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”. We will have a reward someday, and it will be glorious.
2) Bad things happen to good people, but God uses those bad things for an ultimate, lasting good. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. When Joseph, innocent of wrongdoing, finally came through his horrific sufferings, he was able to see God’s good plan in it all.
3) Bad things happen to good people, but those bad things equip believers for deeper ministry. “Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ”. Those with battle scars can better help those going through the battles.
4) Bad things happen to good people because some people choose to sin—murder, rape, pedophilia, etc. Life is about decisions. Sometimes the choice is between right and wrong—and unfortunately some people choose wrong. All decisions have consequences and unfortunately some people are negatively affected by the decisions of others. If God took away our ability to choose, we all become robots—we are no longer human with the ability to choose.
God allows
things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we
must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often, bad things
happen to us that we simply cannot understand. Instead of doubting God’s
goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight”. We walk by faith, not by sight.
Craig's List #5 is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment