Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Why we suffer: Finally answered

God is patient. Not wanting anyone to perish. (II Peter 3:9)

That is the fact. He wants everyone to be saved.

Since everyone is different and the circumstances are different that would lead some people to come to God, then certain things, even negative, may need to happen for some to ultimately turn to Christ.

For instance, a death in the family due to an unhealed cancer. If the individual who has cancer is unsaved, it may bring the person who has cancer to repentance. If he is saved, then it may draw someone closer to God through missing the loved one or how that person handled himself during his suffering. So the death of a Child of God could lead to another being saved. And perhaps only that death could bring that one person to Christ. If it was the only thing that could've turned that person, then it was worth it.

This is why the good may die sometimes. To help bring that one person, who would have otherwise not turned to Christ, turn to Christ.

Remember. When a saved individual dies, he is with Christ in Heaven. If this is so, then why are we sometimes angered that Christians die? God is taking home his child. We should rejoice!!

Now as for the bad dieing. God doesn't strike someone dead just to please his fancy. That person would have been given several chances to be saved. If that person is so set against God, then before he can cause another one to remain unsaved, he is taken. Thus using a death of an unsaved to save another.

God is Omniscient. This means he knows all. He knows on the last day who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell. So if someone he knows today is ultimately going to hell, and he can use that death to bring someone else to Him, then couldn't that death be justified because that non-christian could deceive or drag down those who have been on the fence spiritually?


We wonder why mass destruction happens? This can be a little more complicated, but the same philosophy applies. Take an earthquake that takes tens of thousands. Or a tornado that wipes a whole town off the map. Or even 9-11 for that matter. Why do these things happen? Why do good people suffer? We dont ever ask why bad people suffer, just the good. Natural disasters do not discriminate. They happen when they happen. The good and bad suffer and die.

God is Omnipotent, this means he is all powerful. He has the power to stop an earthquake. He has the strength to thwart a tornado. He had the power to flick those planes away from those buildings with a finger. But he doesnt, he didnt.

Using natural disasters effect a great number of people. Its putting the personal level on an exponential level. Instead of one or two coming to repentance through a close friend or relative, its saving people on a mass scale effecting hundreds if not thousands of non believers.

The Father would leave the 99 to save the one. ( taken from Matthew 18:12)

This verse in itself explains why the good suffer. The Father does not want anyone to be lost. The 99 are safe. The one is lost. If something happened to one, or all, of the 99, they are saved, so their home will be in Heaven. The one lost is the Lords main concern.

Everyones days are numbered. From your birth day, your death day was set. How and where you are going to pass is set. How we use that life totally depends on how we choose to live it. Accept Jesus, or reject Jesus.

God is patient. Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Inspired while reading Ps 114-117