Why Do Bad Things
Happen To Good People ?
Boast not thyself of to morrow;
for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
This is the age-old question used by many people to excuse themselves from being involved with a god who would let bad things happen to good people.
Now listen, if my parachute did not open, I would be just as mad as any of you would be. What to do about it? I have no idea, but don’t quote Bible verses to me on the way down. Exception to the rule – atheist parachuter.
This question cannot be answered with any degree of certainty without understanding the main theme of the Bible, the king and his kingdom. Looking at the problem through any other lens is just guesswork.
Satan is in charge of the world and people are his potential enemies. So the quicker he knocks them out, saved or unsaved, the better for him.
Adam forfeited the crown, Israel forfeited the crown, and Satan remains in charge with help from evil angels and little devils. God could interfere, and sometimes does, but he is definitely going to fix it all when Christ returns.
In the meantime, what happens to anyone here on earth is just a situation that you will have to deal with as best you can. Bad things happen to God’s children, our children, and his enemies alike. God seems to be most interested in helping you through a bad event and seeing how your faith holds up rather than manipulating the events of an evil world.
Innocence is stolen every day,
Satan is on the loose,
sin abounds everywhere,
and evil men have great freedom.
I Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
There are wars and rumors of wars and we often put ourselves in risky situations.
There just aren’t as many “good people” as you think there are, and life is not fair.
If the bad thing tests your faith and you remain faithful, you will be rewarded for staying strong. It will be a reward that you would not have otherwise had, so all bad things can work for good in the long run.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We are supposed to thank God for everything.
Easy to say, hard to do.
Ephesians 5:20
giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Authors can write books upon books about this subject, but the best they can do is make philosophical guesses. No Bible theme, no understanding.
How do I know this? I have had one extremely tragic event to endure in my life. It was an event than no natural man would ever get around to thanking God for. After years, I managed to see the spiritual silver lining of the physical black cloud and now know that all is well. Thank you Lord.
Many who endure such tragedies, including Christians, live with bitterness their whole life because they never commit the tragedy to God’s care. He can handle it for you.
I Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Now, a word of advice: Don’t quote Romans 8:28 or Ephesians 5:20 to a suffering person. When a person suffers, they want the company of a friend or loved one, that’s it, and maybe some legal drugs. They don’t want a philosophy, even if it is from the Bible. Maybe deal with the doctrine down the road.
Just let them know that you are there to help them. They have an immediate need to know someone cares and the best thing you can do is help fill the immediate need. Just like it is better to feed a hungry person before preaching to them.
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