If God loves us, why does He allow bad things to happen? This may be the question going through many of our minds today. Watching the news today, it was reported that many many people have died from this pandemic sweeping not only our country, but the world. 99, 300 people in our country alone have succumbed to the virus and have died. It is predicted that these next few months, June through August as many states begin their soft openings after being on lockdown could be the worst we’ve seen. The numbers of deaths could reach over a million American lives lost and we are fast approaching that threshold.
But where is God while all of this is happening, and why won’t He put a stop to this deadly virus? This perspective may lead some to believe that He just doesn’t care, but that notion couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Bible tells us in John 3:16 (KJV), “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, then that belief alone should guide you to answer these questions with a strong, “Yes!” Even when it doesn’t feel or look like it at the time.
If you have it set in your mind that He does love us, it still doesn’t answer the lingering question of, “ If this is true, why is all this happening?” Or, “ Why is He allowing so much pain and suffering right now?” So, let’s examine it a little closer.
How many of us would give up our only child for a dying world? I find it very difficult to say to myself that I would honestly allow one of my children to die for the sins of another. Even if I knew them well. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV), “ Before I formed you in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” God knew us before we were even born. He knew every wrong thing we would ever do in our life, yet He still allowed His only Son to be “wounded for our transgressions, (He was) bruised for our iniquities”, Isaiah 53:5a(KJV). Why? Because He loves us that much that He doesn’t want to see us perish and be sentenced to an eternal damnation.
So where some of us might get confused is the part where He allows some of us to die a natural death. But, none of us are immortal, we will all die some day. The part in the scripture that states, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish”, doesn’t mean that we won’t die. We will all die according to His word, “ from dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” Genesis 3:19b (KJV). It’s not a matter of ‘If’, but ‘when’. In the rest of that verse, He is talking about where we will spend eternity. Our fleshly bodies will deteriorate and return to dust, but our spirits will live on in eternity. His preference is for our spirits to dwell with Him enjoying everlasting life.
His primary agenda was to restore His creation back to Him when Jesus died on the cross. And He (Jesus), didn’t have His life taken from Him, He willingly and freely gave it up. Jesus said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself “,John 10:18a (KJV). It was all to serve God’s purposes and God’s goals. To serve a bigger purpose.
With that in mind, do you think if God did not spare His only Son to serve a bigger purpose, that we will be spared hurt and anguish in this life? No. Unfortunately, even we won’t be spared of these things.
So back to the question of why would God allow these things to happen? There is a bigger purpose. I believe that God already sacrificed His Son for this world once, and He will not let that sacrifice go to waste. To allow this world to remain in the state that it is in, without providing those of us He called a way of escape or redemption would equate to Jesus dying on the cross for nothing.
God could have certainly left us to our own devices when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, but He didn’t. If throughout the years God has shown compassion to those who have walked with Him and they have seen firsthand what He can do, yet they turned their backs on Him time and time again………. Won’t He do it for us too? The Bible tells us that “God is not a respecter of persons”, He doesn’t play favorites. If He did it for them, He’ll do it for us too.
None of this comes without some condition. We can’t expect to continue to do what we want and expect no consequence. Like any parent, you teach your children the way to go in life, but when they go astray there are times that require chastisement and discipline. “For whom the Lord Loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth,” Hebrews 12:6 KJV. It goes on to say that when He does this He is treating us as children, HIS children. That says a lot about God’s feelings toward us. And if He is like any parent, which I am sure He is because we were created in His image; He doesn’t enjoy doling out the discipline. Sometimes it’s just something that needs to be done for the overall well-being of your child. He allows us to experience unpleasantries in life because it causes us to grow and become mature in Him.
God does many things on a daily basis to show His love for us. We have to be in tune with Him to see it, respect it, receive it, and honor it by living a life that is pleasing to Him. Remembering what Christ did on the cross for us is a good starting point. It will cause you to be grateful and make you want to reciprocate the love given so selflessly back to God the Father. It will cause you to be humble and want to tell others and show others that same type of love. Isn’t that the desire of any parent? For their children to to honor, respect, and appreciate all that their parents have done? For their children to show love to their brothers and sisters?
Instead of focusing on all the bad that is going on around us at this time or anytime, can we focus on the things that we are grateful for? When we do, it gives us a sense of hope instead of despair. It opens the possibility that because of God’s love, there is hope for tomorrow. Simply put, God DOES love us, and when we keep our minds and hearts turned towards Him, it is revealed to us more and more each day.
God Bless,
Nikki