Why Bad Things Happen?

Part One

By T. Sean Sullivan

Introduction:

The more we as a people have become accustomed to the comforts of life the more apparent any negative thing seems. This at first may seem to be a strange statement; there have been times in our history when life was difficult for everyone and there were certain things that we just accepted as normal: hardships, toiling, struggles to survive. Our ancestors were accepting of life as it happened and made the best of it to survive—we are living proof of their chosen tenacity.

The first observation of this lesson can be applied physically and spiritually. Many have struggled in this physical life for the hope of survival. Many have struggled to maintain their spiritual life for the hope of salvation. On occasion these two battles cross one against the other.

Today we have become accustom to the ease of life; the smallest struggles have come to seem so big to us—we as a people have become very sensitive. Why is this a problem? Many are pointing a finger-of-blame at God. Many have begun to deny the existence of God, since these bad things exist.

We need to have a better understanding. Let’s refocus our thoughts on the word of God and what we can know. Let’s examine from the source of truth some common hardship and let’s find a place of understanding so that we might deal with them.

God created us and gave us free will

It is important to know these points: Free will is God-given. It is this freedom to choose for self that is intrinsic to the value of human life and the fulfillment of our purpose in this creation (Acts 17:24-27). It is this ability that allows us to be truly compassionate, caring, and loving (Luke 10: 27).

It is by the reflection of this ability that we can build relationships based on true feelings Such as that of husband and wife (Ephesians 5:25).

Our Creator God is a moral God. He cannot be immoral in any way. It would be immoral for God to create us with free will and then refuse to allow it. God cannot disallow negative consequences; they are our unalienable right from the choices we make. We must understand that all choices have consequences. This is the value and risk of our choice making freedom.

Sometimes our ability to choose results in bad consequences. We are free to choose carelessly: resulting in accidents caused by self and others. We can make choices without knowing, or in ignorance: for example taking a wrong prescription, eating a food that you were unknowingly allergic to. We can choose to follow our lusts resulting in major worldly consequences such as criminal charges, diseases related to immorality, and certainly destruction of character and shame. We could also choose irrationally: acting without thinking through to the results or our choice may be chosen maliciously: intentionally seeking to harm others. Because everyone is free to choose they may choose poorly and their choices may affect your life.

We live in a natural place

Again we begin with our Creator God. Our habitat, this place called Earth is designed to be well-suited for us (Acts 17:24). However, in this natural realm the laws of nature maintain our world (Ecclesiastes 1:5-7). Sometimes when we get in the way of nature and we are affected. As simple as sunburn through such major things as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, we live in a place where we must interact with nature. It has been reasoned that natural calamities bring our minds back to the perspective that life here is uncertain.

By God’s design, nature cycles. Because of natural cycles we might have a flooded yard or basement or maybe we will not have any water at all—from floods to forest fires, earthquakes or mudslides this nature around us is a cycle. Clearly nature does not have reasoning abilities—no storm purposely chases you. God does not send lightning down from heaven to zap sinners.

Is there any purpose to these things? Perhaps these problems remind us that this world is not the permanent home of our soul (Hebrews 11:13-16). There is a better land prepared (John 14:1-6)—a place in the presence of God (Revelation 21:22-27). We are clearly told that our life here is short in comparison to eternity and that we have an uncertain amount of time (James 4:14)

We are mortal

We all must face the fact that our flesh is not designed to function forever according to God's design (Genesis 3:19; Psalms 139:14). We all have an appointment with death according to Hebrews 9:27 ”It is appointed unto men once to die”. Ecclesiastes 3:20 “There is a time to be born and a time to die”. Later in Ecclesiastes wise Solomon provides us with this word picture to open our eyes to process of aging and the finality of life (Ecclesiastes 12:1-6). When our bodies are no longer fit to house us our spirit will depart (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Peter spoke of death as leaving his tent behind (2 Peter 1:12-15). We are just not meant to live forever. We are temporary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Conclusion:

Is there any hope of having a life free from hardships? We can minimize our troubles by finding a better way of living. We can seek out wise counsel to enable better decision making. God provides a better way of living—with respect of body and soul (morally and ethically pure). God provides wise counsel to enable our own wisdom (Psalm 1; James 1:17-25). The opportunity to begin on a new a better road is now. The hope our eternal life in the perfection of Heaven can be yours right now. Obedience to God’s will brings us to the better pathway of life. For the hope of betterment obey the gospel today. &

Babel in Reverse

The Tongues of Pentecost

By Terry W. Benton

The Apostles Speak with Tongues – Acts 2:1-4

There were many languages represented but ONE message needed.

·             Purpose:

·             Bring many people together to listen to the Holy Spirit giving utterance to the Apostles (v.4,6)

·             Bring understanding to the listeners (v.6,8,11)

·             Confirm that God is with these Apostles (Mk.16:17-20; Heb.2:1-4).

Babel’s Goals  –  Gen.11:1-9

·             Come, let us build OURSELVES a city,

·             And a Tower whose top is in the heavens

·             Let us Make a Name for Ourselves

·             Lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth

·             Working a plan whereby man can boast

God’s Goals

·             Build a city – Heb.11:10; 12:22

·             Build a Tower for man to Heaven (Access by faith –Rom.5:2)

·             Make the Greatest Name –Phil.2:9-11

·             Lest man be divided from Him and Each Other – 1 Cor.1:10

·             Working His plan whereby no man can boast in Himself, but in Jesus – Eph.2:8-10; 1 Cor.1:30,31

God’s Remedy for United Babel’s Plans

·             Let Us Go Down  Gen.11:7

·             Confuse Their Language

·             Break down understanding of one another’s speech

·             Scatter the people

·             Cause building their city to cease

God’s Remedy for Divided Peoples

·             Let Us Go Down (sound from heaven) – Acts 2:2

·             Use Their Confused Languages – 2:4,6

·             Build Up Understanding of Apostle’s Message – 2:11

·             Unite the People – 2:44

·             Cause Building God’s City to Begin – 2:47

Conclusion: God's word is amazing. The connection between confounding Babel's languages and bringing tongues to the Apostles to bring focus and understanding about God's message to divided languages and people seems to fulfill the plan of God for His House that is exalted above the hills and connects man in God's way to heaven. You can now enter the city of the living God that truly connects you to heaven. Are you willing to become a living stone in God's spiritual house? &