Reason 1

On Wednesday when I asked if anyone was interested in a "study" on the chapters in the book 21 Reasons Bad Things Happen to Good People by Dave Early I got a resounding, YES!  So, here we go.  I am going to try and commit to one chapter per week. 

This first week is, by far, the hardest.  Dave even warns that some people may not be ready for this chapter and that if you are searching for a feel good chapter to move on ...so I am issuing the same warning.  If you are having a tough day and are needing some comfort...STOP READING!  If you are ready to face truth and try to move forward, come with me. 

Chapter 1- The Reason No One Wants to Hear
There are 3 assumptions behind the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

1. The world is full of suffering and evil.
2. God created the world.
3. Therefore, God is to blame!

There are 5 Biblical responses to these assumptions:

1. God created the world good.  The world He created was Paradise-perfect and free from evil.
2. God created people with the ability to choose (Gen. 1:27).  God could have created us so that we couldn't sin, but then we would have been like puppets and we would not have given God pleasure.
3. People choose evil ( Gen. 2:16-17) (Gen 3:6).  This makes me think about a child.  You don't have to teach a child to be bad and to misbehave, they already know how to do this.  You do, however, have to teach a child to be good.
4. Their choice brought evil into the world (Rom. 5:12).  When we are tempted to blame God for all the evil in this world we need to stop ourselves and realize that it was humans who brought evil and sin into our world.
5. Their choice has had lasting consequences (Rom 8:20-22).  The world is no longer good.

In his book Give Me An Answer That Satisfies My Heart and Mind Cliff Knechthe says, "The bible teaches that there is not always a one-to-one correspondence between sin and suffering.  When we human beings told God to shove off, He partially honored our request.  Nature began to revolt.  The earth was cursed.  Genetic breakdown and disease began.  Pain and death became part of the human experience.  The good creation was mained.  We live in an unjust world.  We are born into a world made chaotic and unfair by a humanity in revolt against its Creator."

We are sinners by nature.  If it had been me in that garden with the fruit that had been forbidden to eat, would I?  Probably so!  I am not so good with boundaries and challenges like that.  Especially with a snake tempting me.  Yep, a sinner by nature.

At the end of the day instead of asking ourselves why bad things happen to good people, we should realize that we aren't so good.  The more appropriate question is why do so many good things happen to bad people?  We, being sinful creatures, have made a mess of things and we should look around and find the things to be thankful for.  The gifts God has given us that we don't deserve: a husband that loves me, family that supports me, a roof over my head, food on my table, and most importantly, the gift of salvation.  We I should be looking, not at the bitterness and sadness of this sinful world, but instead, to the promise of an eternity in paradise.

I told you that this first chapter wasn't easy!  But I promise you it gets easier, more encouraging and not so convicting.  If you stuck with it I am so proud of you!  Sometimes the truth ain't pretty, but sometimes it's exactly what we need to hear.  Praying for EACH of you today!