SOMETIMES, BAD PEOPLE, GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER SAME FATE -“BAD THINGS”. WHY?

We shall attempt to end this month with a topic that many Christians puzzle on. As I grow in Christian faith, I ponder daily on why bad things happen to good people. This has always ended in puzzle for ages. It keep surprising me and perhaps other people of faith, if God is so good why does He allow bad things to happen to people who don’t deserve it? When bad things happen to bad people, you think to yourself but they looked for and deserve it. Because, they reap what they sow. it’s Biblical, so it must come to pass.  But…when good people, who serve God faithfully and are always there for others suffer untold tragedy or tragedy strikes their families – you begin to wonder how to rationalize it. In this evil world, wicked, murderous people seem to get off scot-free and innocent people die. Daily occurrences necessitate the question: why? To be honest, I may not proffer an answer why bad things happen to good people. I believe no one could rightly do.. However we can learn a valuable lesson from the story of Job and other biblical characters who suffered greatly for following/walking with God.

Niques on Why do bad things happen to good people writes, “Job was a man from the early Old Testament times, who lived in the land of Uz. The Bible says that he was an upright man, a good man who feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). But just as God has a plan for your lives, the enemy also has a plan for your life. Satan doesn’t like to see people happy and content fearing the Lord. He doesn’t want to see us praising God and being prosperous, therefore he throws darts our way to get us to forsake God and doubt His love for us. Satan went to God and complained that Job’s life was too good. He argued that Job was serving God only because things were good and that Job will forsake God when bad times came. God granted Satan the permission to do what he wanted on the condition that Satan didn’t touch Job’s life. And so, Job lost everything: all his children, all his servants, all his livestock in one full scoop. Surely, something of that magnitude should’ve broken Job to the point of no return, yet Job worshipped God and never blamed God for what had happened. Instead, he proclaimed God’s faithfulness: Job 1:21. The most significant part of Job’s difficulty had to do with the devil making false accusations against Job. Job was tested for his faithfulness. I realize that even when God blessed Job, in the latter, with more than he had in the former – he still wasn’t aware why tragedy had struck him.“Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:9-10“; And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21; We live in a sinful world. The enemy is running rampant seeking whom he may devour, and even though it is not God’s original plan that we suffer, He allows tribulation, which helps us to grow and learn lessons (Romans 5:3-4). 

Job’s story teaches us to trust God even more in the face of trials. Just as God never left Job; He never forsakes His people. We ought to be obedient and thankful to God when the rain falls or when the sun shines. When there is pain and when there is happiness. We ought not to forget His promises to us. He will not allow anything to come upon you that you don’t have the will power to recover and had provided a way of escape. When bad things happen to you and you turn to your Heavenly Father for help, just as Job did, God will be there for you and through the trial, your character will be molded. The Gospel of Luke Jesus addresses the issue of the mistaken assumption that this tragic event fell upon these people because they were horrible sinners. In essence, Jesus’ answer was, “No, they are not any worse than you. People die. You are a sinner as well, and someday you will die too.” Death comes to everyone. Jesus had heard of some Galileans whom Pilate had murdered as they sacrificed at the Temple in Jerusalem. The common thinking among some in that day was that the tragedy was a judgment from God on the victims. Jesus responded by asking, ” ‘Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?’ he asked. ‘Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God’ ” (Luke 13:2–3 NLT). Because sin exists in the world, people die. Death will eventually happen to everyone. Good people die, and bad people die. Old people die, and young people die. Death is the great equalizer.(Psalm 49:5-12).

Dave Reid on When Bad Things Happen writes, “The Gospel of John chapter 9:1-4 reflects another misconception that Jesus attempts to correct. Jesus addresses that idea of ancient blind belief that a man suffers blindness because of sin(s) committed by his parents or ancestors. The concept from a misinterpretation of the Old Testament Law that stated the iniquity of the fathers would be visited upon the children “to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 20:5 & 34:7). That statement was not intended to mean that a child’s physical problem was the result of a specific sin committed by the parents or grandparents. No. In that statement, God’s intent was to teach us that the effects of sin ripple out to entire families. For example, a broken marriage often has far-reaching effects – even for generations. In the case of the blind man, Jesus specifically told his disciples that no one had sinned, and no one had made a bad or improper decision. God had allowed the man to be born blind so that His glory could be displayed in the miracle of healing. And Jesus did just that! Little wonder Apostle Paul in Romans 6:28-29 opines that both good and bad works for common good “As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” John 9:1-4;- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…..” Romans 8:28-29

Reid adds, “If ever there was a time when tragic circumstances seemed to be out of God’s control, that time was the final week of the earthly life of our Lord. Consider the unfair trial of the One who was completely innocent. Think of the physical abuse suffered by the Person who had harmed no one. Reflect on the cruel and “untimely” death of the One who was always involved in helping and healing. Was this situation beyond God’s control? No! God completely controlled all the events of that week. In fact, those events had been planned and ordained in eternity past, in the eternal councils of the Trinity. From our human point of view, the events in our lives may appear at times to be “random” and even “accidental.” From God’s point of view, however, the events of our lives are never out of His control, and they are never out of His plan for our lives.

In conclusion, Billy Graham, reacted to the question this way,. “I’ve been asked hundreds of times why God allows evil to take place, and I have to tell you honestly that I do not know the answer—not fully….But let me tell you three very important truths about evil that might help you. First, the Bible tells us that evil does not come from God, nor can we blame God for all the evils in the world. Evil comes instead from Satan, and it entered this world when Satan deceived Adam and Eve and caused them to turn against God. Both evil and Satan are real, and the two go hand-in-hand. Second, the Bible tells us that someday all evil will be banished. The vast spiritual conflict between Satan and God that has raged from the beginning of time will be over, and God will be triumphant. Someday all evil will be cast “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, KJV). Third, the Bible tells us that in the meantime, God can give us victory over evil. This doesn’t mean bad things will never happen to us—but even when they do, we can know God is with us, and He will give us strength to stand against them. Isn’t it better to face life’s problems with God rather than without Him? No, we may not understand everything that happens to us—but when we know Christ, we know we are on the winning side. Why not commit your life to Him today?