Why Bad Things Happen
I am not sure if there is an increase in the number of disasters in the world today compared to forty years ago or if it just feels that way because of modern technology. Forty years ago we might have seen a picture in the paper about the tsunami in Japan; today if we have enough notice there are web cams we can access to watch it occur live! At the very least the images are thrown in front of your faces over and over on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.
Regardless of how often they are occurring, there is one question that seems to get asked especially by those who were directly affected by the disaster. That question is “Why?” “Why did my house get hit and not my neighbors?” “If it is true that God spared them, why didn’t he spare me?”
Why do bad things happen? The simple answer is Satan. In scripture Satan is referred to as the prince of this world (John 12:31, John 14:30). He is also called the god of this age in 2 Corinthians 4:4. In Ephesians 6:12 we are told that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Look at those words: rulers, authorities and powers. Although God is in control it would seem that scripture indicates that Satan has power and authority here on earth, at least for now. So where did he get that power? Why would God create a world and then turn it over to Satan?
The answer is, “He didn’t!”
If we look back in Genesis 1:28-29 we see God’s blessing over Adam and Eve after he created them. He gave mankind dominion over the world. That dominion came with a warning not to eat of one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We all know the end of this story; they chose to eat and sin entered into the world.
Looking at the totality of scripture it seems that we are the ones who were given dominion and when we sinned we transferred that dominion over to Satan. Satan hates mankind because God loves mankind.
We find in the story of Job that Satan uses disasters in an attempt to lead us away from God. We also find that God blesses those who remain faithful to him in spite of their circumstances.
The promises of God that we find in scripture aren’t the promises of a better life in the world. He doesn’t promise worldly success and riches. His word shows a promise of strength in the midst of adversity (1 Corinthians 10:13), a promise that we will never have to face trouble alone (Matthew 28:20), and a promise of peace in spite of circumstances (Philippians 4:4-7). These are just a few of the promises of God.
God chose at the beginning of time to allow free will. He had to in order for us to truly have a relationship with Him. Throughout scripture we see periodic intervention by God, but each time it seems to be focused on creating a better relationship with Him. God provided the ultimate intervention for mankind when he allowed his own Son to be murdered in our place.
Satan has power, but he is not in complete control! Sin, death, pain, troubles, and more entered in the world at the first bite of the forbidden fruit.
Know that bad things will continue to occur until Christ comes back for the final battle. Know that we are not promised a perfect life. Let’s face it, we won the genetic lottery being born in America; however, even America is proof that we can not build a perfect society.
Don’t seek peace among the treasures of this world. Seek God in good times and bad. Prepare for bad times and remain faithful to Him and you will reap the true promises of God!
I don’t pretend to understand it all, but I do know that there is a time for everything. I do know that Christ will return and there will eventually be a new heaven and a new earth. But until then be comforted with the words Jesus used in John 16:33 to comfort his own disciples before he was crucified, “I have told you these things so that in me (Jesus) you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling.
Regardless of how often they are occurring, there is one question that seems to get asked especially by those who were directly affected by the disaster. That question is “Why?” “Why did my house get hit and not my neighbors?” “If it is true that God spared them, why didn’t he spare me?”
Why do bad things happen? The simple answer is Satan. In scripture Satan is referred to as the prince of this world (John 12:31, John 14:30). He is also called the god of this age in 2 Corinthians 4:4. In Ephesians 6:12 we are told that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Look at those words: rulers, authorities and powers. Although God is in control it would seem that scripture indicates that Satan has power and authority here on earth, at least for now. So where did he get that power? Why would God create a world and then turn it over to Satan?
The answer is, “He didn’t!”
If we look back in Genesis 1:28-29 we see God’s blessing over Adam and Eve after he created them. He gave mankind dominion over the world. That dominion came with a warning not to eat of one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We all know the end of this story; they chose to eat and sin entered into the world.
Looking at the totality of scripture it seems that we are the ones who were given dominion and when we sinned we transferred that dominion over to Satan. Satan hates mankind because God loves mankind.
We find in the story of Job that Satan uses disasters in an attempt to lead us away from God. We also find that God blesses those who remain faithful to him in spite of their circumstances.
The promises of God that we find in scripture aren’t the promises of a better life in the world. He doesn’t promise worldly success and riches. His word shows a promise of strength in the midst of adversity (1 Corinthians 10:13), a promise that we will never have to face trouble alone (Matthew 28:20), and a promise of peace in spite of circumstances (Philippians 4:4-7). These are just a few of the promises of God.
God chose at the beginning of time to allow free will. He had to in order for us to truly have a relationship with Him. Throughout scripture we see periodic intervention by God, but each time it seems to be focused on creating a better relationship with Him. God provided the ultimate intervention for mankind when he allowed his own Son to be murdered in our place.
Satan has power, but he is not in complete control! Sin, death, pain, troubles, and more entered in the world at the first bite of the forbidden fruit.
Know that bad things will continue to occur until Christ comes back for the final battle. Know that we are not promised a perfect life. Let’s face it, we won the genetic lottery being born in America; however, even America is proof that we can not build a perfect society.
Don’t seek peace among the treasures of this world. Seek God in good times and bad. Prepare for bad times and remain faithful to Him and you will reap the true promises of God!
I don’t pretend to understand it all, but I do know that there is a time for everything. I do know that Christ will return and there will eventually be a new heaven and a new earth. But until then be comforted with the words Jesus used in John 16:33 to comfort his own disciples before he was crucified, “I have told you these things so that in me (Jesus) you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling.
posted by Johnny Walker at 5:11 AM
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