I hear it all the time, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?”
In order to answer that question, you must first clarify who is God to you? Is the universe your god? Is buddha your god? Is muhammad your god? Or is the GOD of the old and new testament your GOD?
If your answer is the latter, then you must also convey how are you measuring “good and bad” because if you’re confused about why the GOD of the new and the old testament is doing something it is because you have not read the new and old testament or else you would have clarity. You are in an inner conflict because you and I were created in HIS image not the other way around. Asking “why does God allow bad things to happen to good people” is the same as asking “Why doesn’t God do what I think He should do?” You are saying the fault is with HIM instead of seeing that the fault is found within yourself.
You see, once you begin to read the Word of GOD you find truth and perfect judgement. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” and “whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”.
Long before there was a murder there was murder in the heart. Long before there was adultery there was adultery in the heart. If you and I don’t measure sin like GOD does then we have compromised in our Christian walk. As you read through the book of Kings, you find there were kings that “did wicked in the sight of the LORD” and kings that “did right in the sight of the LORD but not with a perfect heart” and kings that “followed after David and did right in the sight of the LORD with a perfect heart”. We also read in 1 Samuel 16:7 “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”.
If you think God allows bad things to happen to good people then your definitions of good and bad are skewed. It’s only in reading scripture we learn what GOD defines as good and evil. Like in Mark 7:21-23 Jesus tells us “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” and what Paul continues in Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”. In Micah 6:8 good is clarified “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” and Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Recently, I was wrestling inwardly with something that the Lord calls sin/evil/wickedness. When I brought it to God in prayer and I called it what HE calls it-something changed, shifted, and broke off me. When we think our unforgiveness and bitterness is justified, we are in a dangerous place. When we dismiss sexual sin as normal, we are in a dangerous place. When we judge greed and ambition and obsession as a good work ethic, we are in a dangerous place! When we don’t treat the inward sin as serious as we treat the outward sin, we are in a very dangerous place.
When sin remains unchecked it then festers and manifest outwardly. This is judgement but also grace. God letting us gets hurt by our sin is the most gracious thing he does for us. It’s when we can physically see just how far we let our heart wonder from The LORD that we learn the importance of staying close to and being pure before HIM. Romans 1:24+28 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…” + “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” We also read in the old testament in the book of Daniel that which happen to King Belshazzar in Daniel 5:20-21 “But when Belshazzar’s heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will.”
Interestingly enough, if you ask an atheist why they don’t believe in God they will say “suffering” and if you ask a Christian why they do believe in GOD they will also say “suffering”. It’s only through suffering I know His redemption. It’s only through suffering I learn He alone is my source and my refuge. Therefore suffering is not “bad”.
I encourage you, to begin reading and re-reading The Word of GOD for yourself. The travesties and wickedness we are seeing all across the world right now are not merely political issues but these are heart issues, and the only one who fix the heart is The LORD GOD almighty.
1 Peter 3:14-15 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded”.
Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
