Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People??
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We all recognize that there is suffering in the world. That bad things happen to people. Jesus today answers that question.
Two Views of Suffering
They Got what they deserved.
Why did that happen to them?
They Got What They Deserved
They Got What They Deserved
Sometimes God Punishes Immediately
Sometimes God Punishes Immediately
We look at grievous sin in others, and when they fall our thought might be, “they got what they had coming to them.”
Suffering Isn’t Always Punishment
Suffering Isn’t Always Punishment
There is a belief that disaster results from extraordinary wickedness.
This thought is prevalent in New Age with the idea of Karma.
This is why Job’s friends are tormenting Him.
Job 4:7-9, Psalm 73:2-14, John 9:1-2, Acts 28:3-4
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
This simply isn’t the case though. Sometimes what we get is punishment for what we have sown. Sometimes it is a trial that we are enduring.
Look At Your Own Life
Look At Your Own Life
It is only by the grace of God that you aren’t going through trials as well.
Think of the words of Jesus, “unless you repent.”
Why are you focusing on the speck in their eye and ignoring the log in your own?
How Could This Happen?
How Could This Happen?
My grandpa was such a good man, why did he have to die early?
Why does my wife have cancer?
Why does my child have this disease?
Jesus doesn’t make excuses
Jesus doesn’t make excuses
Excuses we make:
Well God is sovereign, but he just wasn’t paying attention then.
We live in a fallen world with fallen people, he’s given us freewill and God doesn’t have the strength to override our freewill.
Unless You Repent
Unless You Repent
Good according to who’s standard?
You too are deserving death, but God hasn’t destroyed you.
Jonathan Edwards
"There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."
“...If God should withdraw his hand, by which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them; and if God should permit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.”
Jonathan is right. It is only by the good pleasure of God that we are allowed to continue living.
Psalm 7:11
11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
God everyday feels anger against sin. He despises sin detests sin. Yet we continue in it.
God has called every human being to perfection. The punishment for failing at this is death, yet we continue to sin and are astonished and offended when God allows suffering.
Good health, wonderful children, a loving spouse, a house, a car. These are all blessings. We have all of these things because of the grace of God, and the mercy of God.
Yet we come to the point where we believe we are deserving of this grace of God.
Deserving something comes when we have worked for it. The place that it talks about getting justice for what we have earned.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is all that our efforts, our works have earned us, death.
When Job lost everything. He asked God why.
Job 31:6
6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)
Job wants to be judged, weighed by God. Why do I have to suffer in this way.
Job 38:1-7
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Can you determine how God works. Why He does these specific things? What makes you think that you can question His will?
We need to realize how magnificent our God is, and how undeserving we are.
We need to develop an attitude of gratitude. One that is grateful for every blessing that God has given us.
Even though we might be hurt by outcomes or even angry for a time. Realize how many blessings God has given us.
Big Idea
Big Idea
God created this world very good. Then sin destroyed it and now we are all guilty of sinning before a holy and a righteous God.
Because of our sin, we are all deserving the wrath of God, but He shows us mercy and grace.
We go through trials and suffering and yes sometimes die young. We still receive more than we deserve. We need to thank God and praise Him for what He has done. We are no in a place to question his will.
Repent now, don’t wait
God’s Patience Has A Limit
God’s Patience Has A Limit
The tree was planted, the man waited three years patiently and was ready to get rid of the tree.
John the Baptist preached this before the messiah came.
Matthew 3:8
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
John was saying that you follow God, your life should reflect it. Your life should be one that demonstrates repentance.
Luke 6:43-45
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,
44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If we follow God, our lives will show the fruit.
That fruit takes time to grow. But it should be showing.
The man waited for three years, and was ready to get rid of the tree.
Look at your life. If it isn’t showing the fruit of the spirit. Are you saved? Do you actually know Jesus, or are you a bad tree headed for the fire.
God desires for us to be living a life of repentance and gratitude.