Why does God let bad things happen to good people?
One of the most asked questions by anyone, ever... Why does God let bad things happen to good people?
With the one year anniversary of the loss of a dear friend coming up, this question has entered my mind constantly. After much contemplation, I finally came to this...
The biggest objection I get when trying to share my faith or when people question what I believe is why would God let the holocaust happen? To which I usually answer something about free will and how if God stopped things that are of human choice to happen, he would be taking away our free will, thus making us like little robots forced to worship. Who wants people worshipping them when its forced and not of free will? Not even God.
However, this is usually followed up by, “what about natural disasters? How is that a result of human free will?” One of my favorite chapters of the bible is Romans 8. Late in that chapter, we read this:
"For I am convinced, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANY other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)
This continues to remind me that there is so much more than this life. God's love transcends life and death. He is in, out, around and through absolutely everything. It cannot be comprehended. So sure, maybe he let that natural disaster happen, but this life is NOT all there is. Death is NOT the end. As we read ten verses earlier "For we know that God works all things for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28)
As much as a huge Earthquake in Japan is so terrible that I cant even imagine going through something like that and so many lives were lost or changed forever, look at all the people coming together and realizing that maybe life isn't all about them. Maybe helping other people come out of this disaster is way more fulfilling than doing something for themselves. As President George H.W. Bush said, "There can be no definition of successful life that does not include service to others" So if you've never taken a step back and realized that the world does not revolve around you, try doing something for someone else and find that you are doing exactly what we were created to do. Love God by serving His people.
I am not saying all this to be condemning. I am so guilty of forgetting all of this and thinking its about me. So I cant judge. These are all things that I am trying to remind myself of in hopes to transform how I live and treat others.
I recently heard something that really hit me. While I've always known this, I haven't heard it in these words: "Sin doesn't send people to hell. Denial of Christ's grace sends people to hell." I hate telling people that I think they're going to hell. I am not one to judge, I cannot say whether they are or not. But I do know one thing, if you don't admit that you cant do this on your own and you don't accept the unconditional love and grace of Christ, then yeah, there's no shot of going to Heaven when this life is over.
Ask anyone who has ever lost someone close. You learn not to take life for granted. Ask anyone who has survived a car accident or a natural disaster. You learn that there HAS to be someone out there who spared your life and there must be something more to do here, or He would have just let you move on to the next part.
Its almost easy for us to say after someone dies, "well at least they're in a better place now." But do you really believe that? If so, then you have to realize that death is NOT the end and that God has given us this time on Earth to let as many people see that as possible. God has given us this time to realize that we are not what this is all about, HE is what this is all about and that we cannot get to him on our own. Because He has given us free will, we are sinners, and we are no better than anyone else here. But we do have something. We have Christ, who lived a perfect life and died on the cross so that we could accept his grace and his unconditional love,
So why does God let bad things happen to good people? Because this isn't the end. Because we have to realize that our lives are but a breath on the span of eternity. God has a plan and reasons for absolutely everything. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Who are we to try to analyze that and judge Him for what or why he does or does not let things happen?
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteI love how you emphasize that this life isn't what it's all about. He is indeed omnipotent--maybe these "bad" things are merely His mercies? Mercies to ingrates like us who want more than what He has so graciously given? So good to hear your thoughts. Miss you! xxoo
Christi Griffith
My dear, indeed we are all born to die.. To me, heaven and hell are just paraphrases to indicate the roller-coaster life we all lead. Disbelief in a "Higher Power above all" does not exempt such people from His grace and love. There are so many things happening at the same time [zillions!], that all actions and subsequent reactions cant be accounted for. You see, He is like a surgeon..chopping away the gangrenous parts, plus some healthy tissue to prevent any pathological relapse.. why you may ask? evolution.. and free will. democracy in true sense of the term, sovereignty through surrender! All roads lead to Rome. There is a road to Heaven, through Hell as well.
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