Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Part 2)

#1 · July 9, 2004, 1:32 am

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Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

(Part 2)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them that are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

In Part 1 of this subject I gave The Question Advanced and The Question Analyzed. Now, I will give some answers that I understand from the Word of God. If the reader has not yet read Part 1, I highly recommend reading it before reading Part 2, because some important groundwork was laid that may prepare the reader to better receive these answers.

Just to be fair to the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, I should say that he did not get it all wrong. He did deal with agents of cause and effect (i.e. sin, Satan, the free will of man); and, I think he also dealt with some of the good that can result from "bad" things.

III. The Question Answered

"Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?"

Because many so-called "good people" are actually very wicked sinners who will of necessity suffer for many of their sins in this life;

Because even good people will reap some of the bad things they had sown when they were yet sinful; "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."   (Galatians 6:7)

Because truly good people are only good by the grace of God; "the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Because good people live in a bad (fallen) world; because God created and respects the free will of man, and He permits --but, does not approve-- for a time the sins of others; during humanity's probationary time, God allows the freedom of evil doers as well as the freedom of the good doers; (see the Holy Bible; ample proof throughout)

Because God has yet to balance the scales -- but, He will do so at the final Judgment; "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Revelation 20:12)

Because God uses "bad things" to chasten, or to correct, His children;   "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. .. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:6,11)

Because God uses bad things to cause us to lean upon Him, to trust Him more, to stay humble, and to draw us closer to Himself; because in our weakness we may find His strength "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Because, in the grand scheme of things, our love for God and faith in Him are perfected, proven, and portrayed in the midst of bad things; (Job is the classic example, also see the book of Daniel.)

Because God is sovereign and works all things out for His ultimate glory and our ultimate good;  (Romans 8:28, quoted above, and the words of Joseph to his brothers who had done very bad things to him that led to other bad things he had to endure: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good," -- Genesis 50:20)

Because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts; "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

If God only allowed the "good things" (as we understand good things) to happen, we would be spiritually "spoiled rotten". That really would be bad! Just to help us understand, let's consider the understanding of a child. The young child thinks of how "good" it would be to eat a lot of candy right now, but, his mother and father know for a fact that it really would not be good to allow it just before supper. Many a child has cried and "suffered" the denial of such a "good" thing, but has actually been made better by the loving and knowledgeable decision of his parent(s). Has not God spoken of us as but children? Jesus said that we must humble ourselves and become as children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Our Heavenly Father truly does know what is best for us.

Consider the one-sided argument that Job seemed to carry on with God. He was asking questions and making complaints similar to these: Why is this happening to me when I am righteous? Why doesn't God explain it to me? Sometimes I have thought, "Oh, if God would just send an angel down to instruct me." or, "How nice it would be to just have a supernatural vision or dream to clear everything up!"

But, dear people, He has given us His Word, and He is faithful to keep His promises. He doesn't have to tell us all the particulars. We never read that God told Job about Satan's challenge.  God didn't think it important to explain everything to him in his case. When God finally spoke to Job, He helped Job to focus on how great and powerful God is. He also pointed out that He didn't have to consult with anyone about how to create and run His universe, least of all Job. Job had the right response: he humbled himself and let God be God.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Because, through the bad things that happen, God proves Himself faithful, His grace sufficient, and His imparted holiness adequate. He thereby proves His workmanship in the hearts and lives of saints to be perfect.

Because He thereby gives the Devil enough rope to hang himself; He lets the Devil, with all his demonic schemes and activities, do things that actually end up accomplishing the will of God (whether directly or indirectly), much to the Devil's eternal chagrin! I've given the example of Christ's crucifixion in this connection before. (See 1 Corinthians 2:8)

Because the bad things are only temporary, and the good things that come about through them will be forever; "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18)

Because, if we make proper preparations, this life is but the battlefield of time and Heaven will be our eternal home; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7,8) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3) Because we're not home yet!

Because, when all the bad things come to an end, He will have proven His wisdom so far above all human wisdom that we shall marvel at it through the endless ages of eternity.

And, finally, because, since God knows best, He is ultimately proving that He loves us more than anyone else ever could.

Again, I say, I do not have all the answers. But, I firmly believe that God's Word has enough soul-satisfying truth to content our hearts until we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, when we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is; and then shall we know even as also we are known. (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield

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Posted by: <@...>

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

(Part 2)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them that are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

In Part 1 of this subject I gave The Question Advanced and The Question Analyzed. Now, I will give some answers that I understand from the Word of God. If the reader has not yet read Part 1, I highly recommend reading it before reading Part 2, because some important groundwork was laid that may prepare the reader to better receive these answers.

Just to be fair to the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, I should say that he did not get it all wrong. He did deal with agents of cause and effect (i.e. sin, Satan, the free will of man); and, I think he also dealt with some of the good that can result from "bad" things.

III. The Question Answered

"Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?"

Because many so-called "good people" are actually very wicked sinners who will of necessity suffer for many of their sins in this life;

Because even good people will reap some of the bad things they had sown when they were yet sinful; "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Because truly good people are only good by the grace of God; "the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Because good people live in a bad (fallen) world; because God created and respects the free will of man, and He permits --but, does not approve-- for a time the sins of others; during humanity's probationary time, God allows the freedom of evil doers as well as the freedom of the good doers; (see the Holy Bible; ample proof throughout)

Because God has yet to balance the scales -- but, He will do so at the final Judgment; "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:27) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Revelation 20:12)

Because God uses "bad things" to chasten, or to correct, His children; "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. .. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:6,11)

Because God uses bad things to cause us to lean upon Him, to trust Him more, to stay humble, and to draw us closer to Himself; because in our weakness we may find His strength "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Because, in the grand scheme of things, our love for God and faith in Him are perfected, proven, and portrayed in the midst of bad things; (Job is the classic example, also see the book of Daniel.)

Because God is sovereign and works all things out for His ultimate glory and our ultimate good; (Romans 8:28, quoted above, and the words of Joseph to his brothers who had done very bad things to him that led to other bad things he had to endure: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good," -- Genesis 50:20)

Because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts; "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

If God only allowed the "good things" (as we understand good things) to happen, we would be spiritually "spoiled rotten". That really would be bad! Just to help us understand, let's consider the understanding of a child. The young child thinks of how "good" it would be to eat a lot of candy right now, but, his mother and father know for a fact that it really would not be good to allow it just before supper. Many a child has cried and "suffered" the denial of such a "good" thing, but has actually been made better by the loving and knowledgeable decision of his parent(s). Has not God spoken of us as but children? Jesus said that we must humble ourselves and become as children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Our Heavenly Father truly does know what is best for us.

Consider the one-sided argument that Job seemed to carry on with God. He was asking questions and making complaints similar to these: Why is this happening to me when I am righteous? Why doesn't God explain it to me? Sometimes I have thought, "Oh, if God would just send an angel down to instruct me." or, "How nice it would be to just have a supernatural vision or dream to clear everything up!"

But, dear people, He has given us His Word, and He is faithful to keep His promises. He doesn't have to tell us all the particulars. We never read that God told Job about Satan's challenge. God didn't think it important to explain everything to him in his case. When God finally spoke to Job, He helped Job to focus on how great and powerful God is. He also pointed out that He didn't have to consult with anyone about how to create and run His universe, least of all Job. Job had the right response: he humbled himself and let God be God.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Because, through the bad things that happen, God proves Himself faithful, His grace sufficient, and His imparted holiness adequate. He thereby proves His workmanship in the hearts and lives of saints to be perfect.

Because He thereby gives the Devil enough rope to hang himself; He lets the Devil, with all his demonic schemes and activities, do things that actually end up accomplishing the will of God (whether directly or indirectly), much to the Devil's eternal chagrin! I've given the example of Christ's crucifixion in this connection before. (See 1 Corinthians 2:8)

Because the bad things are only temporary, and the good things that come about through them will be forever; "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18)

Because, if we make proper preparations, this life is but the battlefield of time and Heaven will be our eternal home; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7,8) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3) Because we're not home yet!

Because, when all the bad things come to an end, He will have proven His wisdom so far above all human wisdom that we shall marvel at it through the endless ages of eternity.

And, finally, because, since God knows best, He is ultimately proving that He loves us more than anyone else ever could.

Again, I say, I do not have all the answers. But, I firmly believe that God's Word has enough soul-satisfying truth to content our hearts until we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, when we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is; and then shall we know even as also we are known. (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield

Please pass this Bible Note to others who may be interested or helped by it. To subscribe to FREE Bible Notes just send an empty e-mail to
[email protected]

To read Bible Notes on the Internet, go to:
http://welovegod.org/groups/bible_notes/

To contact me by e-mail please send to the following address:
[email protected]

  "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without  which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14)    --To unsubscribe, send ANY message to   <[email protected]