WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE
This is an oft asked question as people wonder how a good and loving God can allow horrible things to happen on earth, and especially to His people. First of all we need to understand what Jesus declared as recorded in the Holy Bible:
John 16:33 – …... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (Jesus knows, He’s been here and experienced it.)
Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
So, again, why does God allow such things to go on? To understand why, we need to go back to the beginning, when God first formed mankind and gave him dominion over all the earth:
Genesis 1:26 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
We need to recognize that God put man in charge and control over what occurs on earth.
Psalm 115:16 – The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Since mankind, made in the image and likeness of God, was in charge of the earth, Satan was jealous of man’s position and lusted to have that power. So Satan dreamed up a plan to gain control over the earth from mankind. His plan was to seduce the woman through his trickery and deceit:
Genesis 3:1-6 – Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Christians fail to recognize that it was the woman that sinned by yielding to lust and not Adam.
1 Timothy 2:13-14 – For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
By the way, Mrs. Adam (Eve), was also referred to by God as Adam:
Genesis 5:2 – male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Please understand what Adam was like before the fall, he had all the character and nature of God, His likeness and image, which included the God kind of love for his wife. We all know what Adam was like afterwards, (just as vulnerable as we are); he even blamed his wife. But, Adam committed and act of love toward his wife; he was not enticed through lust as Eve was, and thus he did not commit a rebellious act of sin against God. He knew God had a plan of redemption reserved for just such an instance because it was established BEFORE the foundation of the world; and Adam had that kind of knowledge.
1 Peter 1:19-20 – the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
Thus Adam’s act was likened to what Jesus did for all mankind when He took our sin upon himself. Adam offered up himself for his wife so God could initiate His plan of redemption through blood atonement.
Romans 5:14 – Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Instead of going back to God and asking for another wife, Adam took responsibility for her act, and in so doing allowed God to make the first blood atonement when He prepared animal (likely lamb) skins to cover their nakedness.
Genesis 3:21 – Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
By mankind submitting to the ploy of Satan, the devil now gained dominion over all the world. The devil even boasted about this when he tempted Jesus.
Luke 4:5-6 – And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Since that time in the garden, Satan has been the one with dominion over the world (mankind), and thus He is the cause of bad things happening to good (and all) people. Therefore stop blaming God and put the blame where it belongs. IT’S THE DEVIL WHO IS RESPONSIBLE because he is the god of this world. (This is the whole reason why Jesus had to become a man and offer himself and be the blood sacrifice for all mankind to defeat the works of the devil).
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We also need to recognize that Jesus defeated Satan on the cross when He was crucified and rose again the third day; but, even though Satan was defeated in his authority over mankind, he wasn’t eliminated and is still allowed to inflict his treacherous acts against mankind. Satan’s elimination is yet future.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
This brings us to the reason we are instructed to pray to God and present our petitions, requests, and also our praise and thanksgiving to Him. Prayer is to ask God to intervene in our affairs. Since God gave the earth over to man, and man gave his earthly dominion over to Satan, we must now implore God to intervene in our affairs to overcome what the devil is trying to accomplish in our lives, the lives of our families, our neighbors, others and even in our governments.
Remember how the devil bragged to Jesus that the kingdoms (governments) of the world were given over to him. Well we have the ability to call upon the Lord to over-rule the devil in the name of Jesus. The problem is that most Christians fail to do this. It is high time that believers begin to use the authority that Jesus gave us in His name and the use of His promises in His Word.
John 14:13-14 – And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (This has to do with those things that are promised in His Word.)
John 16:23-24 – And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (This has to do with those things not specifically promised in His Word.)
Mark 16:17-18 – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (An example of things promised in His Word.)
Contrary to the thinking of some Christians, Satan does not possess omnipotent power. He has been defeated by Jesus and stripped of all authority. Nor is Satan omniscient, meaning that he cannot read minds. And he is not omnipresent—he cannot be everywhere at one time. He is limited to being in one place at any time. But Satan does have principalities and powers stationed throughout the earth along with a host of demons who do his beckoning and who feed him intelligence at his beck and call. They hear you when you pray, and they see your obedience to God. And that is what stirs up Satan’s wrath against you!
It’s time for Christians to stop being victims of the enemy and fight back as we are instructed, using the weapons given us that are His Word and His name.
Ephesians 4:10-18 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Notice that your overcoming victory begins in your thought life; so think as a child of God, as an overcomer, not as a helpless victim. Christians, we are in a war and the enemy is a liar and the master conspirator, the devil, called Satan.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
You are to fight the fight of FAITH and not give in or give up on anything that Jesus has purchased for you, and that God has offered to you! Thus it is imperative that you must know what God says in His Word for you! Then Pray and act on His promises and provisions for you!
