“WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE”
By: Dr. Dennis Deese
Genesis 4:1-8
Bad things happening to God’s people is not anything new. To the contrary, they have been happening since the very beginning of man’s decision to sin. Next to being separated from God (Genesis 3:24), Adam and Eve, a dad and mother, experienced the agonizing and heart breaking pain of their son’s death. And to add to what would seem to be the most gut wrenching experience life has to offer, their son not only died, he was murdered. Could it be more painful? Could it get worse? It did. Their son not only died by murder but he was murdered by their other son!
In order to understand this perplexing and often questioned aspect of life, that is, why bad things happen to God’s people, you can only understand it from a spiritual perspective! An example of what I’m talking about is found in the event of the servant who ministered to Elisha:
2 Kings 6:15-17 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Job 14:1 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.
irrefutable
From the view point of the (the spiritual realm) truth of God’s holy and factual Word let’s examine our pains. There are two things that we must understand in order to survive.
I. THE ROOT CAUSES OF PAIN
A. The Natural Consequence of Sin
Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
Romans 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
B. The Determined Intention of Satan
Nearly two out of three adults—62%—agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.”
Among the more surprising findings, however, are that a majority of born again Christians deny Satan’s existence (52%); nearly three-quarters of Catholics say the devil is non-existent (72%); and women are more likely than men to reject Satan’s existence (64% vs. 59%). Barna Research Group, Ltd., Oxnard, CA
He has his own trinity—the devil, the beast, and the false prophet; his own church—the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9); his own ministers—ministers of Satan (II Cor. 11:15); his own gospel—another gospel (Gal. 1:6); his own theology—doctrines of devils (I Tim. 4:1); his own sacrifices—sacrifices offered to demons (I Cor. 10:21); his own table and cup (I Cor. 10:21-22).
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.
“STEAL” 2813 klepto {klep’-to} to commit a theft, take away by theft or stealth
“KILL” 2380 thuo {thoo’-o} 1) to sacrifice, immolate, to slay, kill & slaughter
“DESTROY” 622 apollumi {ap-ol’-loo-mee} AV - perish 33, destroy 26, lose 22, be lost 5, lost 4, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin, render useless
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
“VIGILANT” 1127 gregoreuo gray-gor-yoo’-o vvAV - watch 21, wake 1, be vigilant 1; 23 1) to watch 2) metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active 2a) to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one
John 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Satan promises the best, but pays with the worst; he promises honor and pays with disgrace; he promises pleasure and pays with pain; he promises profit and pays with loss; he promises life and pays with death. - Thomas Brooks
II. THE IMMUTABLE INVOLVEMENT OF GOD
A. The Providence of God
Psalms 121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
1. Love
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2. Grace
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
3. Mercy
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
B. The Promise of God (See II Corinthians 12:1-10)
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
C. The Purpose of God
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
When we were building this new worship center, its design was somewhat puzzling and difficult for most people to understand that hadn’t looked at and studied the plans. Often when God is at work, it can be difficult to understand the finished product. But in the end God always produces a beautiful masterpiece.
More Love to Thee, O Christ
Elizabeth Prentiss, the wife of a Presbyterian minister, spent most of her adult life as an invalid, seldom knowing a day without constant pain throughout her body. Yet she was described by her friends as a bright-eyed, cheery woman with a keen sense of humor.
Elizabeth was always strong in faith and encouraging to others, until tragedy struck the Prentiss family beyond what even she could bear. The loss of two of their children brought great sorrow to Elizabeth’s life. For weeks no one could console her. In her diary she wrote of “empty hands, a worn-out, exhausted body, and unutterable longings to flee from a world that has so many sharp experiences.”
During this period of grief, Elizabeth cried out to God, asking Him to minister to her broken spirit. It was at this time that Elizabeth’s story became a living testimony! For over 100 years the Body of Christ has been encouraged as they sing the words penned by Elizabeth Prentiss in her deepest sorrow:
Her living testimony is right in front of you. Take your Hymnal and turn to hymn 473.
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee; This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee…
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest; Now Thee alone I seek—Give what is best; This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee…
Let sorrow do its work, send grief and pain; Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain, When they can sing with me, More love, O Christ, to Thee…
Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise; This be the parting cry my heart shall raise; This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee.
