By Smart Osadebamwen.
Why would a God who is all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful allow bad things to happen to good people, especially those called his children (Christians)? People are constantly left to wonder why good people should even attract terrible news! In trying to answer this inquisitive question, the first question should be “who is a good person?”
The Bible makes clear that all humans have sinned and are void of perfection (“in sin did my mother conceive me” Psalm 51:5). By our human nature, we cannot refer to ourselves as good people. We all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Roman 3:23). The best of man and any human system, be it government, laws, advancement etc. is not perfect as the current events in the world have exposed. This gives us a clear picture that man at his best is not perfect, and no human effort can help in the attainment of total goodness or perfection.
Thankfully, perfection is not entirely out of man’s reach as the Creator made a provision for man to attain this through Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, we become reconciled to God, our bad and imperfect human nature is transformed. Only then can we become the good and perfect people God desires us to be. See “How to be saved“.
Do “bad things” happen to good and perfect people? Yes, as Christians, though called out, we still live in this sinful world and perform our daily activities in accordance with the established laws of nature. Hence, we will encounter what can be termed as challenges based on human understanding. In this, we must remember that ALL things work together for good to those that love God… Roman 8:28. Hence, what counts and makes believers unique in the face of such challenges are:
1. Understanding that challenges and temptations are nothing but testing phases of our Christian faith. God has assured us that HE will not allow temptations and challenges that are beyond our capacities to befall us. So as a believer who remain steadfast in our walk with the Lord, whenever challenges occur, we must remember that though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning Psalm 30:5b. Knowing that the Creator of the universe is with us through it gives us the inner strength and encouragement that the challenges are only moulding us into a better product in His hands.
2. As Christians, we “started the journey to end it well’”. The bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. An expected end which is a good, peaceful and happy one is what the Lord has promised us as His children. Thus, as believers who are called out according to His purpose, our salvation “is a starting well process”. When we abide in the faith “it is a doing well process” and upholding continuously “is finishing well”. Having this consciousness within us as Christians makes us overcomers towards challenges life may throw at us.
3. Having a perfect and good eternity. The perfect, spotless, blameless and good ending we all long for is Heaven. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people, and as Christians who constantly and consciously prepare for this happy ending (Heaven), temporary challenges are all nothing but tools for building us towards our ever-desired happy ending (Heaven).
So, when “bad things” happen to good people (who are saved in Christ already), we must remember that such challenges are working for our good and are for our moulding towards the better and higher dimension ahead of achievements and advancement. It is all part of God’s great and precious plan for us and when we are victorious like Abraham, Job, Joseph, among others, God can boldly say, yes, that’s my child!