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| Why Bad Things Happen to Good People |
| Introduction Read Genesis 3:11-19 Read Job 1:6-12 Read Acts 27:9-15, 41 Read Romans 5:1-5 Read 2 Timothy 3:12 Conclusion |
| It is the intent of this study to do a general overview at Biblical reasons of why bad things happen to good people. Although someone who is hurting or questioning God might find some answers within this study, often no answer will satisfy them. Therefore, this study only presents bible verses that show reasons why bad things happen to good people. With in the Garden of Eden, life truly was a paradise. But because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were removed from the Garden. We are now all forced to live in a world that is full of pain, toil, and trouble. So often our sin not only affects us, but others in ways we can not even imagine. In 1 Chronicles 21, King David took a census after God had commanded David not too. David's disobedience cost the lives of at least 70,000 men. The Old Testament Book of Job explores the pain and suffering of an upright and just man. Satan mistakenly believed that if pressured, Job would turn away from God. God allowed Job to endure great torments at the hands of Satan yet Job never turned away from God giving us a great example of how we are to behave in the face of adversity. Although Job was richly blessed by God after his trials were over, scriptures never state that God explained to Job why he was tested. One lesson from this story is that we often do not know why we must endure suffering, yet this does not mean that our suffering is for no reason. It should have been oblivious to all involved that travel at that time of year was ill-advised. What is unclear is why Fair Haven was unsuitable for the ship to winter in and certain other options must have been open to them. In any case, against better judgment and Paul's warning, they set out and were later ship wrecked. How often do we ignore plain and clear warnings? How often do we go against better judgment? When we plow forward till disaster strikes do we blame God for allowing a bad thing to happen to good people? Although God protects us in many ways we are not aware of, we have been given free will to make good and bad choices. For metal to be refined and made into a tool, it must first endure great a great amount of heat. People are the same way. We learn and grow through the trails and tribulations that we live through. At other times, we are motivated to action only after we witness or endure a hardship. Fire codes, ship safety, and medical break thoughts often occurred only after a great loss of life. But through tragedy great good can occur. So often we see in our own lives how God will take a bad situation and turn it into something positive. Yet, if we are not moved to take positive steps we are doomed to commit the same bad situation again. For centuries there has been the view that while we are in this world, 'good people' will be reward by God and 'bad people' will be punished. Jesus was persecuted and knew His followers would be persecuted also (John 15:20). In fact, we should fully expect to be persecuted for being Christians. But we can take comfort that even if we are persecuted, even to death, we will never be abandoned by God (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Jesus conquered death for us and though our bodies may be destroyed, there is a place in Heaven that Jesus has prepared for us. Bad things occur because we live in a fallen world. Our sinful nature will not only bring ourselves trouble and woe, but also to others in ways we often can not image. We may have to face hardships because we are stubborn and ignore the facts before us. We may have to endure struggles and adverse conditions to be refined and tempered. We may be tormented with disease or persecution because of the spiritual warfare that is occurring in the battle between good and evil. But in all things, we should praise God even though it is very difficult in those conditions. With in his suffering, Job stated in 1:21 "....the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." |
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