The God, The Bad And The Ugly

~The man with no name~

16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
2 Peter 1: 16 - 18 NKJV

It's a question I have heard more than a few times from those who have questioned why I believe as I do.  How is it that I can follow a God who simply allows bad things to happen to good people?  Now, before I get into the obvious question of those consequences for our own actions, I will suggest that with our heavenly Father nothing happens without a reason.  Be it good or bad, if there is one thing that certain, it is that the very same God who we praised for blessing us yesterday is the same God whom we are upset with today for allowing bad situations in our lives.  It is the apostle James who urged us to "count it all joy" when we fall into various trials." Why?  Because that testing of our own faith in the end produces steadfastness and patience, two of the qualities many have admired in the man Jesus.  Do we dare say that God allowed bad things to happen in the life of His Son?  What would the outcome have been if indeed Christ had not suffered on that cross for each of us?  As was the case with the life plan of Jesus, so it is with us.  We know that our heavenly Father does not desire bad things for us.  For Jesus did not give Himself for just a lucky few, but that through our Lords love that ALL the world might be saved through Him {John 3: 16-17}.  Still, we all too often get tripped up by the belief that we who trust in Christ Jesus will have a guaranteed lifetime of righteous good times and celebrations free of lifes trials.  In fact, Christ tells us in Matthew 10 to beware of lifes persecutions.  Does this seemingly show that God has shown His own favoritism?  Not at all, for we are also told that Christ Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, He NEVER changes {Hebrews 13:8}.  Indeed, rough times have befallen christians and non christians alike.  However, it is my belief that we want things in black and white, with the righteous being blessed and the wicked cursed.  There is no such thing with God, for we ALL are His children and His very creation.

1Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9: 1 - 5 NKJV

I would indeed make the argument that were God to only bless the righteous and curse the wicked that I've somehow been short changed in my own life.  Where would that whole idea of personal responsibility be if only the righteous were to receive our Lords blessings?  We are told that our heavenly Father causes the sun to rise on the just as well as the unjust {Matthew 5:45}.  Be it good or bad, it all comes from the same place.  Does this mean that God somehow loves those He doesn't bless less than others?  Absolutely not, for God is indeed Love, which is what He shows all of His children {1 John 4:8}.  In my heart I know that I am loved by God, despite events occuring in my life which have not been good at all.  My own mother loved Jesus dearly, yet she spent her final years in pain in a nursing home.  Did God somehow love her less?  NO!  The simple fact we need to wrap our human understanding around is that there are times when our heavenly Father does things we may not at the time understand fully.  We can rest assured that whatever God is doing, there is always a righteous reason for what He does.  If there is one motivation for what our heavenly Father does, it is in His unending love for us.

 17“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18“You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19“But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20“for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 10: 17 - 20 NKJV

~Scott~