Why Bad Things Happen?

Part Two

By T. Sean Sullivan

Introduction:

The more we as a people have be­come accustomed to the comforts of life the more apparent any hardship seems. This observation can be applied physically and spiritually. Many have strug­gled in this physical life for the hope of sur­vival. Many also have struggled to maintain their spiritual life for their hope of salvation. Today we have become accustom to the ease of life. The smallest struggles have come to seem so big to us. We have, as a people, become very sensitive. This new sensitivity is a problem because it has been used as reason to either blame God or deny His existence.

In our first lesson we considered a better way of looking at life and hardships. We looked at actually causes for suffering such as: Freedom of choice, the mortality of hu­man life, and the nature of nature around us. In this lesson let’s again focus our thoughts on the word of God for the right answers and proper understanding. There are many people who have false ideas about suffering and why we suffer. Let’s clear up those misunderstandings with this lesson.

We Do Not Suffer as Punishment for Sin

It is remarkable just how many people think that hardships, illness, or suffering are punishments for wrong-doing. There is a classic case for this in the Old Testament re­cord of Job; going into the book we quickly learn that Job was suffering because of righteousness and not sin—Job 1:1—but his friends sure thought they knew better.

As his friends witnessed what he was go­ing through, each in turn proclaimed Job’s suffering was because of sin in his life. First Eliphaz (Job 4:8, 9); then Bildad (Job 8:6); and then Zophar (Job 11:5, 6)

This thought is still common so it real to have to deal with this. My grandmother demonstrated how this little notion could grow into bigger conclusions. I was told that whenever she would prick her finger with a sewing needle or stub her toe on something that she would say, “Oh, I must have told a lie!” This conclusion certainly would be ap­plied with bigger sins resulting in bigger problems in life, wouldn’t it?

According to God’s word, Job’s friends were wrong and my grandmother was wrong. Consider what God had to say con­cerning Job (Job 1:1, 22; 2:10 “in all this Job did not sin”). God states that Job’s friends had not spoken right (Job 42:7-9).

We also need to understand that some­times sinful activities result in suffering, as consequence. Things like sexual immorality resulting in a sexually transmitted disease or illegal drug use resulting in diseases or irreparable damage to the body—these are not punishment for the sin, they are simply the destructive results of their actions. If these things were punishments for sin no in­nocent people would have any of these prob­lems—this is clearly not the case. Sin is not punished by physical disease—the wages of sin is death—separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23a).

We Do Not Suffer Because God Lacks the Power to Help

Human hardships are part of our unalien­able rights as human beings—our freedom of will that results in much of our suffering is something that God cannot change. As we said in our first lesson God is moral and cannot be immoral in any way. God gave us the right to choose and it would be wrong for Him to then disallow the consequences of our choices.

God does not lack the power but it is His purity of character that prohibits Him from changing our chosen outcome.

God is evidently not limited by any mortal illness; He was able to extend Hezekiah’s life (Isaiah 38:1-5). Jesus Christ also showed us by working great wonders and healings (Mark 1:38-42: over leprosy; Mark 5:25-34: over long-term illness; John 11:39-45: over mortal death).

God created us (Acts 17:26) and His power is limitless within His will. God is not to blame; the value of our human life and experience is designed by God and re­spected by God. Those who attempt to blame God do not know God.

We Do Not Suffer Because God Doesn’t Care

Some see God sitting back, watching our suffering; not caring enough to change our situations. All too often the limitations of hu­man wisdom cause us to be arrogant in thought believing and saying things like, “If I were God, I would…stop all suffering, or mi­raculously change this situation.”

This is where we need to stop turning against God and assuming we know more than what He knows. God certainly does care (1 Peter 5:7). We must trust in and rely on God (Matthew 6:25-33; Hebrews 11:6). The Bible makes us aware of the fact that Jesus was the full expression of His Father (Colossians 2:9; John 14:8-9); and Jesus was full of compassion (Matthew 9:36, 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; John 11:35).

 So how can a caring God allow suffering to continue? We need to understand, as we have tried to establish in these lessons, that free will is a right given to us by God. With free will we can know true love, devotion, kindness, generosity, etc. But also with free will we can experience hatred, pain, and suf­fering. There is a necessary understand that we must have the humility to acquire: we must come to the understanding that God knows better! We must not assume we know what we need, or what is best for us (Jeremiah 10:23). Moral character is pro­duced through trials (Romans 5:3-4). Faith is proven by trials (1 Peter 1:6-9). Maturity of wisdom and faith are discovered through endurance (James 1:2-8). These things all benefit us and they are gained by suffering, is there a reason that suffering continues without intervention? We should know the answer.

Conclusion:

Many people have misconceptions about suffering. There is a better way of looking at all the hardships of life. We do not know what it best for us: We do know that suffer­ing is not punishment for sin. We do know that God does not lack the power. We do know that there is a reason our caring, lov­ing God allows human suffering to con­tinue.

Is there a way to avoid hardship and suf­fering? There is a better pathway to walk which may reduce your hardships. Our submission to God’s will can enable us to have choices based on wisdom, faith, and proper discretion (Hebrews 5:14). The best thing about God’s way is that regardless of what this life might bring, our hope is far beyond this life. Our loving and caring God has provided us with the hope salvation and life eternal; you can have that hope right now. &

Analysis of the Great Commission

(Acts 1:1-3)

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ²until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, ³to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The word “commandments” in verse two refers to the Great Commission of Christ to the apostles, which contains commands for both sinners and saints.

I.       The Great Commission is Christ-centered.

A.    Christ’s authority is back of it.

B.    The Gospel of Christ is the message of it.

C.   Christ promised to be with those who would carry it out.

II.    The Great Commission was given by Christ.

A.    It is the primary directive in the kingdom of Christ.

B.    It must be carried out.

1.      The gospel is that which saves.

2.      No one can be saved if the gospel is not preached.

3.      Man cannot be saved by philosophy, psychology, sociology, secular education, politics or anything else of human origin.

III. Analysis of the various accounts reveals certain distinctive characteristics of each.

A.    Matthew’s (28:18-20) emphasis is on teaching.

1.      Christian discipleship must be taught.

2.      Men are products of their teaching.

B.    Mark’s (16:14-16) emphasis is on the preacher and hearer.

1.      The preacher must proclaim the gospel.

2.      The hearer must obey the gospel.

C.   Luke’s (24:44-49) emphasis is on the divine plan.

1.      The gospel message not an afterthought.

2.      It was first spoken by Jesus.

3.      Its enforcement to begin at Jerusalem.

IV.            Certain denominational errors are exposed by the Great Commission.

A.    The error of unconditional election

B.    The error of infant baptism

C.   The error of a direct operation of the Holy Spirit being necessary to conversion

D.   The error of preaching politics and/or the social gospel

E.    The error of salvation by faith only