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| AP Photo/Jessica Hill |
Sadly, countless other photos could convey the heart-wrenching emotions of the infinite number of senseless acts which call each of us to ask, "Why?"
Every thoughtful person must come to grips with the existence of evil in this world. Wicked actions and tragic events fill our newspapers as a reflection of how they fill our very lives.
In addition to the Sandy Hook murder of 26 children and adults, CBS News listed these other tragic events from 2012: Superstorm Sandy, the Aurora Colorado Theater shootings, the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman shooting in Florida, and the fatal stabbing of two New York children by their nanny.
Have we already forgotten events like the 2010 earthquake which resulted in the deaths of more than 316,000 people in Haiti? Astronomical! Horrific! Almost unthinkable, unfathomable!
As Bible-believing Christians, we stand and boldly proclaim that there is a God and that He has clearly revealed Himself as a God who loves the world. So then, the world turns to us and demands answers about tragic events and evil. “How could a good and loving God allow these things to happen?” they ask.
Dear friends, God’s Word speaks about evil & tragedy. I want you to consider five truths over the course of the next few blog posts. If you stick with me, I think that you'll be better equipped to give some answers to those questioning God's goodness in the face of tragedy. (Neither you or I should claim to have all of the answers. Sometimes, the senseless is just that!)
First, Consider People's Response...
The Atheist's response in solving the problem of evil and tragedy is really no problem at all. They think that they have it all figured out: life is a cosmic accident, a game of chance, a survival of the fittest, with no greater purpose or meaning. We are all just genetic mutations. There you have it.
David describes them this way in Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." The response of the Atheist will always be a foolish response.
The Religious Person's response will typically follow along several possible lines of thought. Some religious people will tell you that evil, pain, suffering, and even death are merely illusions. However, ask anyone of the family members who've experienced tragedy at the hands of another, how illusionary their pain is and I'm quite confident that they will tell you ridiculousness of this philosophy.
Yet other religious people will tell you that evil is a part of life that is left behind in greater quantities in an never ending cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Or, perhaps they will gently explain to you that God is merely doing the best He can under the circumstances. He lacks the power, they say, to really do anything about evil people doing evil deeds.
In all of this man-made religious thought, comes the clear words of King Solomon in Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” There's no life-giving, life-affirming truth in those religious answers!
Then consider the response of the Immature Christian to the problem of evil and tragedy. This could be someone who is newly saved, a babe in Christ, who has not yet had time to mature and come to a greater understanding of God's Word; or this could be someone who has been saved for years, perhaps decades, but they have never truly grown "in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18
I have found that many immature Believers explain all suffering by blaming it on sin. God is going to "get us" for the sinful things that we have done. That car accident you were in, the storm that took your house, or the calamity you've experienced must be a result of some sinful thing that you have thought or done.
Don't get me wrong, sin can directly cause tragedy and death. Millions can testify that they did indeed “reap what they sowed.” However, your personal sin is not the cause of ALL of those difficult, crisis times in your life.
Just ask Job -- but be sure not to ask his friends! They got it wrong!
TO BE CONTINUED...
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You may want to read an excellent post by Dr. Albert Mohler. Some of these thoughts were gleaned after reading his post. Of course, I do not sanction everything said or done by Dr. Mohler.
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