If God is Sovereign...

We have been making our way through the Book of Daniel. Last week we finished Chapter 8 and instead of starting Chapter 9 today, I decided that it may be a good spot to interject a sermon that goes along with our theme and hopefully answers a question that I have heard many times and have also pondered myself a time or two.

"If God is Sovereign, If He is in control, and He is; and if God is all powerful, and He is; then....

Why do bad things happen to good people?

We all experience things in life that we’d rather not experience. We all know of good people who suffer tragedies.Why is that? Why does a good, loving God, who is in control of everything allow these things to happen?

We have touched on this question a little bit through our study of Daniel and we will look back at some examples from the previous chapters along with other examples in Scripture, in order to get an accurate answer to this question.

Full disclosure, and this may come as a shock to some… but, I do not know the full mind of God, I cannot share all of His reasons, but this morning I would like to share with you, some reasons from God’s Word, why bad things happen to good people.

Before we get into these reasons, let me says this… when I use the phrase “good people” today, I am referring to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior…

and I say that because… Romans 3:10 says

Romans 3:10 NKJV

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

and v.12 says...

Romans 3:12 (NKJV)

12 … There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Which lets us know... that apart from Christ... we are absolutely... nothing… the only thing that is good in us, is Christ…

So the better way to word this question is… If God is Sovereign, then…

Why do bad things happen to His Followers?

And to find the first reason… the first part of our answer… we need to go back to the very beginning…

Meat:

Please turn in your Bibles to Genesis 3…

We are going to be looking at several different passages, so you may remain seated for today…

But here in Gen. 3… we have the beginning of all of our problems… (Read vv. 1-19)

So first and foremost, the reason bad things happen to good people, to followers of Christ… is because…

1. The World has Fallen into Sin

We live in a fallen world… In the first 2 chapters of Scripture, we see the ideal setting of the Garden of Eden, where humanity experienced a state of perfect harmony, that had absolutely no suffering, no anguish, no death.

However, following Adam and Eve's disobedience, the consequences of their actions led to a profound shift, introducing suffering and mortality to the entire world… the entirety of the world became subject to a curse.

The loneliness, the sickness, the pain and disease we endure today, the 100% guarantee that some day your body will quit functioning, are all results of man’s sin.

People ask, “How could a loving God let people get sick? How can He allow cancer, and strokes, and Alzheimer’s?”

Listen, if you buy a brand new car, and go out and rear end someone and wreck it. You don’t blame it on the manufacturer… even if it is one of those “self driving” cars. You still have a responsibility to make sure that car is doing what it is supposed to… and if you rear end someone, then the car is broken as the result of your actions.

The sickness, and disease we endure today, the hurricanes and tornadoes, the droughts and floods, the struggle at work and pain in childbirth all came as a result of man’s sin… The world is not like God created it… It was broken when man gave into temptation and committed the first sin.

And since then, whether you are a follower of God or not, bad things have been happening to people… They happen because the world has fallen into sin.

You may even experience bad things happening and its because of…

2. Another Person’s Sin

From our study through Daniel we have seen it happen a couple of times…

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (what were their Hebrew names?… Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah)… They were thrown into the fiery furnace because of N’s sinful pride...

Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s den because of the sinful lies of the other advisors to the King… and the King’s sinful pride…

All four of them (Daniel and his companions) were doing exactly what God wanted them to do and yet they suffered because of another person’s sin… In each of these cases, God chose to miraculously save them… however, that is not always the case…

Look at 2 Samuel 11… This is record of David’s sin with Bathsheba. He should’ve been out on the battle field with his army, but decided to remain within the safety and comfort of the Palace… see’s this beautiful woman bathing, was told she was married to one of his soldiers (Uriah), but he still slept with her anyways, which resulted in a pregnancy.

(Read vv. 6-17)

When David found out about the pregnancy, He tried to cover his tracks by having his faithful soldier Uriah come back from the battlefield.

David greeted him warmly and then arranged for Uriah to return home to his wife, with the expectation that Uriah would engage in marital relations, believing that upon his return from battle later in the year, there would be a joyful surprise of a child… and no one would know the difference…

But there was one problem… David didn’t take into account Uriah’s commitment and his loyalty to God and to his fellow soldiers.

Uriah didn’t go and sleep at home. He would not enjoy the pleasure of a roof over his head and his wife’s company when his fellow soldiers were still on the battlefield and while the Ark of the Covenant was there as well.

And yet, because of David’s sin…

Uriah Lost his life

Bathsheba lost her husband

Bathsheba lost her baby that she carried in her womb for 9 months

A baby that never did anything to anyone lost it’s life.

The unfortunate reality is bad things often happen to good people because of the sins of others…

There are families who go without food, because their fathers are addicted to gambling, drugs, or alcohol.

There are innocent people who are killed on our highways on a regular basis because others were driving drunk.

I will try not to embarrass Randy to much, but he could’ve lost his life and almost lost his leg because someone else decided to drive while under the influence of drugs (quick update… his procedure to have some screws removed from his leg went very well and the severe pain that he was having... has left)

Just a few month ago, many innocent Israeli’s were brutally murdered, because of the sinful hatred that the terrorist organization, Hamas, has towards the Jewish people.

Bad things happen because of another person’s sin…

We can flip that around and point out that there are times that bad things happen because of…

3. Our Own Sin

David had to live with the fact that because of his sin, an innocent child would lose it’s life.

N was given the mind of an animal for 7 years because of his sinful pride…

When Gabriel tells Zechariah that his wife will bear a son in her old age, Zechariah does not believe it. Zechariah asks how he can be sure that such an outlandish promise will come to pass.

Zechariah was a Priest… one who should be telling people that God could do anything… one who would know very well that God caused Sarah to conceive in her old age… and it is due to his sin of unbelief that Gabriel tells Zechariah that he will be mute until the message comes to pass.

There are some who would say that this is the only reason for bad things to happen to you… the fact that you have sinned…

This is the main teaching of the “Health, wealth, and wisdom” clan… If you’re living for Jesus, things are going to go your way, but if you have sin in your life or if your faith isn’t strong enough… bad things are going to happen to you.

Yes, sometimes that is the case, but not always. There are plenty of other possible reasons why bad things happen...

Such as, there are times that bad things happen…

4. To Prepare Us

Look back at 1 Samuel 17…

Again, we will use David as an example. This time in his younger years. When he was just a teenager, he was sent to the battlefield to check in on his brothers. It was at that time that he first saw and heard Goliath.

Every day Goliath would stand in front of the Israelites, challenge them to a fight and insult their God… Everyday, the soldiers there would tremble in fear. That is, until David came and said he would fight the giant.

When King Saul heard about the David’s offer, he called David in and told him he was too young and inexperienced to fight that giant.

Let’s look at David’s response… (Read vv.34-37)

David told him, “I have already fought a lion and a bear. God protected me then and He will protect me now.”

I am certain that there were times, while tending to the sheep, young David pondered as to why God didn't shield him and the flock from the assaults of those wild animals… I imagine he had trouble understanding why God allowed those problems to keep coming his way.

When in reality, God was preparing him for an even bigger challenge later on… The Lion and the bear were only part of God’s boot camp, designed to prepare David to face the challenge of Goliath.

The same is true for any follower of God… He may allow us to go through different trials and challenges, so that we will be better prepared to face some other, bigger challenges later on in life…

Moving on… Here’s a reason that is very easy to overlook and very difficult to admit or understand…

There are times when bad things happen to followers of God…

5. To Bring Glory to God

Back to our examples from Daniel…

After the guys came out of the furnace, what happened???

Daniel 3:28–29 NASB95

28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”

God was glorified…

How about when N was brought back from his insanity?

Daniel 4:34 NASB95

34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

God was glorified…

What about when Daniel was removed from the Lion’s den… King Darius wrote…

Daniel 6:26–27 NASB95

26 “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. 27 “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

God was glorified…

Very quickly… look at John 9…

This is the account of the man who was born blind…

John 9:1–2 “1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?””

See, even back then they figured the only reason for suffering was because of sin… but look at what Jesus says…

John 9:3 “3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

This man was born blind so that God could be glorified through his healing.

A tragic accident happened that left Joni Eareckson Tada as a quadriplegic… And after dealing with depression and anger about her disabilities, she came to the realization of this very point,… that there are times when bad things happen to bring glory to God…

and with that realization she has written many books, recorded several musical albums, starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, and even hosts a christian radio program…

through all of which she shares her testimony with the world which includes the Gospel of Christ… an opportunity that she may have never had, if that unfortunate accident never happened.

God is glorified…

It is easy to talk about how great God is, when life is going smooth… it is easy to sing praises to Him when life is easy…

But we need to realize that even in during the struggles, even during the times of pain, even during the times of uncertainty… God can be glorified.

Lastly this morning… and possibly the most important…

Bad things happen to followers of God as a…

6. Reminder that we are not home yet!

The late Albert Brumley is the song writer who gave us hymns such as “I’ll Fly Away” and “I’ll Meet You in the Morning”. He also wrote the song that says…

“This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

Many people seek to blame God for the problems that they have… but in reality, He told us they would happen… Jesus said in…

John 16:33 (NASB95)

33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

The emphasis is on those two words… “This World”…

Sometimes, we get so caught up in building stuff, looking after our families, and grinding away at work that we forget: this place isn't really where we belong.

Jesus is actually getting a spot ready for us… a spot that will truly be... home sweet home.

Where we're headed, there's no pain, no suffering, no goodbyes, and definitely no tears.

We can’t even begin to picture it: streets paved with gold, gates sparkling with precious jewels, happiness and peace all around.

Church, we're not home yet. This place we're in now doesn't even come close to what God's got in store for us.

There is a better place waiting for us, but in this world, bad things will happen to good people… “...In this world you will have tribulation,… ”

Closing:

How do we respond bad things happen to us…?

We need to trust that God is in control.

Don’t give up on Him. Trust Him to get you through.

We need to Tackle the trial with prayer

Don’t be afraid to let God know what you’re going through. Ask Him for strength and guidance.

We need to Examine ourselves.

See if maybe there is something in your life causing the trouble. Repent and Confess any sin to God. See if there’s any pride or jealousy in your life.

and lastly...

We need to Look to the promise of heaven.

Remember that God has promised an eternity with Him in heaven for all who put their trust in God and are faithful to Him. You may be going through a rough time right now, but heaven’s coming.

Remember, that people are watching you, especially when you’re going through a rough time. And you represent Christ.

Satan loves it when someone who claims to be a Christian experiences some kind of problem and all of a sudden they start swearing, complaining and bad-mouthing people.

Folks, as followers of Christ, we are to imitate Him through the good times and the bad. Let’s make sure we are representing Him well. How you respond can have a dramatic effect on others.

As believers we’re part of the Body of Christ. We’re all in this thing together. Let’s support each other… and love each other… and build each other up.

Prayer:

Benediction: Hebrews 13:14-15, 20-21… NASB

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