1. God is absolute sovereign over everything. He created everything; it
all belongs to Him. Nothing happens without His knowledge and consent.

by Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST


"Why does God permit bad things to happen to good people?"

Earthquake, Fire & Flood: Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

by Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST


"Why does God permit bad things to happen to good people?" This is one
of the big questions of all time. Here is the answer, only a partial
answer, as Holy Spirit has given me to understand.

First, recognize that God does not permit us to understand all things
at this time. Why not? I don't know. He just doesn't permit it. At the
present time, we see things only dimly, as through a glass.


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)


Nevertheless, there are certain things He does permit us to know,
including these:

1. God is absolute sovereign over everything. He created everything; it
all belongs to Him. Nothing happens without His knowledge and consent.


"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)


2. God has ordained the laws of Nature, including the laws of Physics,
such as The Law Of Gravity. He does not usually interfere with their
normal, mechanical, cause-and-effect operation. When He does interfere,
it is considered a miracle. So when the mechanic fails to fasten the
bolts, and the wing falls off the airplane, and it crashes, killing
your child, God didn't do it: the mechanic did. Yes, God could have
kept it from happening, but in order to do so, He would have had to
interrupt the normal operation of His creation. He doesn't do that very
often. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are the result
of the normal cause-and-effect workings of Nature. For instance, people
are designed to wear out and die. That's just the way it is. These
things happen to good people and bad people alike.


"for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
(Matthew 5:45b KJV)

3. For some reason, Satan and his demons have certain rights to exist
and to act. And they hate us. They will harm us as much as they can. As
Christians, we have some authority over them, but few of us know how to
use it. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are caused
directly by Satan and his demons. Acts 10:38 speaks of people being
"oppressed of the devil."


"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
(Acts 10:38 KJV)


4. Sometimes, God will warn us in dreams or by some other means, when
bad things are heading our way. If we cultivate a close relationship
with the Holy Spirit, we are more likely to be warned of impending
trouble so we can avoid it. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary
and baby Jesus into Egypt, to escape Herod who was trying to kill Jesus
(see Matthew 2:13).

5. No matter what happens, if we love Him, God will make EVERYTHING
work out for our own good, even if this idea seems preposterous at the
time.


"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."
(Romans 8:28 KJV)


6. The world is a very rough place. We can expect much pain and many
difficulties of all kinds. Why? We don't know. That's just the way it
is.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble." (Job 14:1 KJV)

7. The good news is that Heaven awaits us, and then all our troubles
will be gone.


"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4 KJV)



8. Until then, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Who will be
with us, helping us and loving us at all times.


"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
(John 14:16 KJV)

<><

If you, yourself, have had bad things happen to you, then this prayer
is for you.

"Comfort In Sorrow"

I pray the Lord will comfort you in sorrow,
When sadness fills your heart with dull despair.
When things you wanted most seem gone forever,
I pray His golden presence gives you peace.
When nothing in this world seems safe or certain,
I pray you have the Lord and He has you.

Amen.
<><

Blessings to you in the name of the One God, Who created all things.
May God help us all.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net


Source:
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-badthingstogoodpeople.html

http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org

Earthquake, Fire & Flood: Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

by Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST


"Why does God permit bad things to happen to good people?" This is one
of the big questions of all time. Here is the answer, only a partial
answer, as Holy Spirit has given me to understand.

First, recognize that God does not permit us to understand all things
at this time. Why not? I don't know. He just doesn't permit it. At the
present time, we see things only dimly, as through a glass.


"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)


Nevertheless, there are certain things He does permit us to know,
including these:

1. God is absolute sovereign over everything. He created everything; it
all belongs to Him. Nothing happens without His knowledge and consent.


"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)


2. God has ordained the laws of Nature, including the laws of Physics,
such as The Law Of Gravity. He does not usually interfere with their
normal, mechanical, cause-and-effect operation. When He does interfere,
it is considered a miracle. So when the mechanic fails to fasten the
bolts, and the wing falls off the airplane, and it crashes, killing
your child, God didn't do it: the mechanic did. Yes, God could have
kept it from happening, but in order to do so, He would have had to
interrupt the normal operation of His creation. He doesn't do that very
often. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are the result
of the normal cause-and-effect workings of Nature. For instance, people
are designed to wear out and die. That's just the way it is. These
things happen to good people and bad people alike.


"for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
(Matthew 5:45b KJV)

3. For some reason, Satan and his demons have certain rights to exist
and to act. And they hate us. They will harm us as much as they can. As
Christians, we have some authority over them, but few of us know how to
use it. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are caused
directly by Satan and his demons. Acts 10:38 speaks of people being
"oppressed of the devil."


"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
(Acts 10:38 KJV)


4. Sometimes, God will warn us in dreams or by some other means, when
bad things are heading our way. If we cultivate a close relationship
with the Holy Spirit, we are more likely to be warned of impending
trouble so we can avoid it. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary
and baby Jesus into Egypt, to escape Herod who was trying to kill Jesus
(see Matthew 2:13).

5. No matter what happens, if we love Him, God will make EVERYTHING
work out for our own good, even if this idea seems preposterous at the
time.


"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."
(Romans 8:28 KJV)


6. The world is a very rough place. We can expect much pain and many
difficulties of all kinds. Why? We don't know. That's just the way it
is.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble." (Job 14:1 KJV)

7. The good news is that Heaven awaits us, and then all our troubles
will be gone.


"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4 KJV)



8. Until then, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Who will be
with us, helping us and loving us at all times.


"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
(John 14:16 KJV)

<><

If you, yourself, have had bad things happen to you, then this prayer
is for you.

"Comfort In Sorrow"

I pray the Lord will comfort you in sorrow,
When sadness fills your heart with dull despair.
When things you wanted most seem gone forever,
I pray His golden presence gives you peace.
When nothing in this world seems safe or certain,
I pray you have the Lord and He has you.

Amen.
<><

Blessings to you in the name of the One God, Who created all things.
May God help us all.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net


Source:
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-badthingstogoodpeople.html

http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org