Posted on 09/17/2014 7:06:26 PM PDT by impactplayer
Why do bad things happen to good people?
There is no real answer to this question, because it is a flawed question! The question assumes we are good. There really are no “good” people, so how in the world could any of us tell “bad” things from “good” things? The question we actually need to ask is: “Why would a good God let those trying to do His will suffer?” This question has real answers.
First, we need to review where we stand. We are fallen creatures, inclined to do wrong, and wrong thoughts and acts have bad consequences – sometimes for us – sometimes for others. And if God removed the bad consequences, we would never learn anything. Free will without consequences would just be a game, and God does not play games with our eternal souls. God is pretty firm on this – He did not make an exception even to relieve the suffering of His Son! The real wonder is that a world full of fallen creatures, making bad choices, doesn’t have more suffering in it than it does.
Secondly, who says suffering is bad? Not God. When a child is being punished, both he and his parents suffer: is that good or bad? And when he fails in school or in a play or in sports; works harder, then succeeds; we call that character building – but did the child suffer? Of course! A child’s frame of reference is today, ours is limited to this life – but God’s time frame is eternity. His training – His discipline – His focus – is eternal. Thus, we, like the child, are in a very poor position to weight the relative merits of temporal suffering.
And thirdly, what kind of a world would this really be if God’s people never suffered? Not one I would choose to live in. Just think: people would flock to be “God’s people” just to avoid suffering. They would all, of course, be very sincere! And if someone were suffering, it would be their own fault. Who would help? Who would care? All this sufferer has to do is join “God’s people”, and He will fix it! True love – real compassion – all empathy – would cease to exist. It is only as God’s people share in the lot of the world’s suffering that we can share His compassion and His empathy and His love with the world. It is a pity, but no other way will work.
But there is even a better reason we are sometimes tested in uncomfortable ways. God knows the strength of our faith, but we never will until it is used, or tested. This is the same principle as a runner or weight lifter working out before the competition – we will not be strong enough to rely on God when we really need Him if we have never had to trust upon Him along the way.
Finally, it really is through our weakness that God’s strength is revealed. For He will always provide the added measure when our reservoir is empty, and fills us with His grace and strength. Suffering, like death, holds great promise of God’s divine intervention into our lives – but never such that I would seek it. His future for us is far better than the life we have built here on earth. But for those enlisted to endure, there is a great and abiding promise that He will hold, nurture, and comfort us; and through it build us up and prepare us for eternal blessings.
So what are we left with? How do we respond when it is our turn to suffer? First, praise God that He cares and is in charge! That gets our mind and spirit started in the right direction. Then, give Him the problem and find others to support you in prayer. And be prepared to accept whatever He offers. And finally, share your hurts and blessing with others in the same boat. And who knows, you may be building your eternal character in God’s image, strengthening your faith muscles, and bringing a stranger to learn of His love. Not bad. Not bad at all!
I wanna know why so many good things happen to bad people. I’ve noticed a trend with career criminals. At times irpt seems as if there are supernatural protection. Things like sudden traffic jams stopping LEOs from capturing and arresting them, moving the day or week before a warrant is served, cameras not capturing their faces or the license plate numbers because someone walked by or blocked them by parking at the exact right spot to block the view, etc...
PFL
And the best person in the world ever, died a horrible torturous death on a cross after a sham trial by a bunch of conniving Rabbi’s and a few Romans who went along to get along.
Who is good?
Luke 18:19
I wanna know why so many good things happen to bad people. I’ve noticed a trend with career criminals. At times it seems as if there have supernatural protection. Things like sudden traffic jams stopping LEOs from capturing and arresting them, moving the day or week before a warrant is served, cameras not capturing their faces or the license plate numbers because someone walked by or blocked them by parking at the exact right spot to block the view, etc...I see this all the time...
Psalm 37:7-9
Psalm 73 (all of it)
Their time will be up soon enough and they’ll be gone (forever)
think about it this way.
if they are unsaved, this life, is the closest to heaven they will ever get.
for the saved, it’s the closest to hell we’ll ever get.
would you trade prosperity and seeming to get the breaks now, or later?
This should be forwarded to all who have suffered loss and grieved for their loss.
Thank you for this. We worship a true, righteous and omnipotent Creator who loves us far more than we will ever love Him.
Such a beautiful reality, where would we be without God?
All knees will bend and all heads will bow. The heavens will rejoice and all the angelic host. We may sleep before we see it come to pass. Sleep is good. We may be awake, awake is good also.
What a wonderful thing this is to read.
Thank you.
> would you trade prosperity and seeming to get the breaks now, or later?
Obama ensured that I have no prosperity left believe me. I used to earn so much more. To answer your question I would rather receive my reward later if I’m deemed worthy enough...: )
This world is not a paradise. Innocent people die, and little girls get messed up. God is not in control here. Nor is the devil. It is people who say whether there will be a hell on earth or a heaven on earth. God said let us make man in our image. “Let us give them dominion.” Jesus said I give you the keys to the kingdom. Anything you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “I give you power over all the power of the enemy.” In this world even God doesn’t get what he wants. Do you think God wanted man to fall? Do you think God wanted the Columbine shootings to happen? Do you think God wanted 9/11 to happen? Do you think God wants people to starve to death? “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health.” It is not “His will” that any should perish but have everlasting life. So stop with this misconception of reality that bad things shouldn’t happen or that it’s God’s will when they do. It’s up to us. To us.
There are no good people
It rains on the just and unjust. The sun shines on both as well....The same sun that causes some grass to grow causes others to wither. God’s Grace will cause some to continue in their sin until the end, while others will be convicted and turn to God.
Likewise, suffering will cause some to draw ever closer to God, while others would rather curse God and die.
When we are with God, we will see that all things worked to the good of those that believe. This does NOT say all things are good, some are bad things that God will turn to good for us.
Your grief is real - and justified! But Obama is not our savior. The most difficult thing in this world is to be in the midst of trouble and stay focused on the True Savior! But I’ve been there - and so has He - and He will see you through - I know!!
let’me set you right.
you are not going to be deemed worthy enough. stop’working for it.
you can receive the free gift of Jesus Christ’s toning death and have His righteousness imparted/credited to you, which pays your entire life’ sin debt and allows you to be reconciled to God, now and forever.
i know that may be what you meant, or believe, i just wrote it a little more precise. :-)
Or, it is sort of meaningless since, it's not real?
I see life on earth sort of that way. The bad things that happen to us here on earth.. from a heavenly perspective don't matter, because from Heaven our life here on earth seems like NPC living in a simulation. Except in there reality, we NPC’s can earn the right to leave the game and enter the real world we call heaven with new bodies created specifically for us by the game creator in the real world.
God IS in control - but He has given us the freedom to make decisions - for Him or for us. When we pick us, we get what we ask for - and that includes the consequences of our decisions. When we pick Him, we get what He promises. It really is that simple.
The real answer is in the real prophecies in Tanakh.
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