Have you ever asked the question or have someone ask you the question, “Why do BAD things happen to GOOD people?” How many times have we heard someone say, “If God is a loving God, why did God let this bad thing happen?” I’m sure that if you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you have been through some very troubling heart aches that have set you back. Most of us were raised in a culture that has suggested that if one becomes a Christian, then God will save us from trouble, trials and struggles. Allow me to be honest for a few minutes. I grew up in the church world where one of the evangelism’s approach was to present the gospel with the assumed notion that if we got saved, we would be saved from bad things happening to us. And of course, that is just not true. I don’t need to belabor the reality that Bad things do happen to Good people – namely Christians. Let’s address the “why” this happens.
First, “God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45). In other words, Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. Jesus was using Sunshine and Rain (weather) as a metaphor of life. Everyone in the world, whether good or evil live under the same weather at the same time. Weather doesn’t take place daily based on a decision that God makes. Sunshine or stormy weather is not based on some emotional reaction from God. Get it out of your mind that God decides for you to have a bad thing happen to you today or a good thing. Jesus was explaining that (like weather) circumstances happen from a set of “systematic cycles” of life. Each of us will have good days and bad days, regardless of what we do or not do. Predestination is not a decision of God, but the intention of God. God planned your life for good. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11-12). Every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). So, everyone regardless of how they live will face good and bad days. This is a part of nature – period.
Second, bad things happen to good people because of attacks of the enemy. Sometimes we (good people) sow the right seeds, do the right things, live a good life and still things go wrong and we’re forced to live through afflictions. David records, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them OUT of them all” (Ps 34:19). However, even when we do good, sow the right seed, and do nothing to give reason for a bad thing to come to our lives, the devil comes in and sows bad tears in our fields of life. Jesus reveals, “An enemy has done this” (Matt 13:28). Jesus told Peter that the devil was trying to “sift him as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Satan is before God accusing the righteous daily (Rev 12:10). Satan’s motive is to use trials, tests, troubles, loss, pain and suffering to get the righteous to “curse God and die” (Job 1:11). Therefore, bad things happen to good people also to cause us to deny our faith and leave God.
Third, bad things happen to good people because of the seeds we’ve sown. None of us would dare deny that much of the bad things have come our way because of dumb stuff we have done. If we could go back and undo things we’ve done over the past 10 years, I imagine that we could write a book of stuff we wish we could undo. Bad things happen to good people from the very seeds we’ve sown causing us to reap “bad things.” Sometimes these “bad seeds” are behavior we know of and sometimes from actions we do not know. We’ve all heard the term, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” The greater truth of this statement is true in Scripture (Rom 2:1). We will reap what we have sown (Gal 6:7). These are the three reasons Why bad things happen to Good people.
Elder couple in the courtroom
An 80 year old woman was arrested for shop lifting. When she went before the judge he asked her, "What did you steal?" She replied, "A can of peaches.” The judge then asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches and she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can. She replied "6". The judge then said, "I will then give you 6 days in jail." Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment, the woman's husband spoke up and asked the judge if he could say something. The judge said, "What is it?" The husband said, "She also stole a can of peas."
Funny Philosophies to live by:
* It’s not until mothers have teenagers that they can understand why animals can eat their young.
* Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your kids.
* Be nice to your children, they’ll chose your nursing home.
* Anyone who quotes the “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby” has never had kids.
COMING EVENTS
Oct 2009 – Vision – Theme for September, 10:30 AM Sunday’s
Oct 2-3 – Empowered Women Conference – Cathy Poulsen @ Promiseland
Oct 11 – Power Weekend – with Pastor James Sizemore – 10:30 AM
Oct 16-18 – Fellowship Groups – @ a place near you – call 321-216-8030
Oct 31 – FALL FEST – Community Outreach @ Melbourne Square Mall 5-9 PM
Nov 5-7 – Live the Dream Conference – London, England: www.oikas.biz
Promiseland Church
1855 Lansing St. Melbourne, FL 32935
www.promiseland.org
http://www.oikas.biz/blog.php?user=Timmcclure
http://www.memberstar.com/redir_a.php?LFAId=2540
www.freedomfromthe925.com
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