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At first glance this seems to be an extremely difficult question. It is painfully obvious - bad things most certainly happen to people. Some things that happen to people are very bad. There are senseless accidents caused by a moment of carelessness, faulty design, or a lapse in judgment. There are terrible things that happen to people at the hands of other people who are driven by rage, greed, lust, or unstable minds. There is the tragic loss of many lives in the wake of an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, tornado, flooding, or endless wars and conflicts between people and nations. There is also an inconceivable amount of suffering because of disease and illness that is affecting a significant portion of humanity at any given point in time.
It is difficult to even begin to grasp the sheer number of bad things happening to people in this world at any given moment of any given day. Why do bad things happen to good people? This question is based on at least two almost universal presumptions;
It is these presumptions that force us to ask this question in the first place. But are these presumptions correct? Whether we presume that most people are good, or that only some people are good - it requires a reliable way to determine that people are in fact good. What is the proper criteria for making this determination?
There are obvious and significant differences in the way people evaluate each other. How do we know that the criteria we are using are reliable? On what authority can any one of us declare with certainty that another person is truly 'good'? But more importantly, even if we can determine who is 'good', we are still left with the nagging question of why bad things happen to 'good' people. There is no obvious and consistent justice to be observed in the calamities of life if these presumptions are true. But if these presumptions are false, then it is possible that there is a prevailing justice in the universe that is based upon a perfect standard beyond anything we would have ever conceived of on our own. The widespread presumption that most people are basically good is derived from our own perspective. There is no universal agreement on what makes a person good. There is no credible human authority that can make such a profound determination with any broadly accepted measure of legitimacy. Our own assessment of the human condition is biased, subjective, and inconsistent. It is fundamentally flawed and lacking in moral authority - who among us can make this profound determination with perfect justice? But there is an assessment of humanity that is just. It is legitimate, accurate, and based on the ultimate moral authority. The God who made us knows us better than we know ourselves. He is aware of more than what we do and say - He is also aware of our deepest motives. It is why we do what we do, and say what we say, and think what we think that demonstrates our true condition. Sometimes even the most impressive human deeds issue from the darkness of a heart filled with evil motives. Because God is able to see the heart fully, and because of His righteousness, and perfect justice, He is able to evaluate people accurately and without prejudice. God's assessment of humanity as a whole and of people individually is alarming - but it is authoritative. It is based upon moral perfection and inscrutable insight. If we are willing to see ourselves as we really are, we will be impressed with the fact that in God's Word we are given: The only adequate explanation for the actual human condition. All human explanations for the plight of mankind are inadequate in the face of reality. But in the Bible, we are told:
Jesus said:
In the third chapter of Romans we find this explicit evaluation of humanity as a whole, and of each of us as individuals:
God's Word explains how death became an overshadowing reality in this world:
Bad things happen to all of us because, in the eyes of God, we have all sinned.
The more appropriate question would be;
Why do good things happen to anyone? It is from this perspective that we can begin to truly appreciate the grace of God.
Of all the bad things that have come into this world because of our sin, there is something far worse that is waiting for sinners when this life is over - unless we have been granted a pardon from God. It must be a pardon based on a payment that fully satisfies God's perfect justice.
In the riches of His grace, God has provided the only possible payment in His Own Beloved Son;
Bad things don't happen to good people. From the perspective of Divine justice there aren't any good people.
There is however one exception - and it is an infinitely important one. When Jesus of Nazareth suffered and died on a Roman cross, a very bad thing happened to an infinitely good man. But God had determined before time began, that this extremely bad thing would be the exclusive basis for eternal good being bestowed upon multitudes of sinners. Though God is absolutely holy and just, He is also rich in mercy and abundantly good. God's holiness demands perfect justice, and His love caused Him to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to fully satisfy His perfect justice on our behalf.
In spite of our own defiance and defilement, God has provided an exclusive and fully adequate means by which we can be forgiven and made partakers of the very goodness of God. This remarkable reality can be ours for certain through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - and Him alone - as the only adequate payment for our sin.
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"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32
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