Why do bad things happen to good people?
Earthquakes, famines and civilian death in war seem to be increasing each year. Before we would have to wait for the seven o’clock news, but now, social media, keeps us up to date as people record all the events on their mobile phones. As you scroll down through the comments section of those videos you find questions and statements like, “why would God allow this?” or “God help them, they are all so innocent,” and “how could God be good and allow this to happen?” Some may even see present evil as a justification for their atheism, but for obvious reason that wouldn’t make any sense. If there is evil, then there must be that which is good. If there is evil, then there must be a standard to dictate what is right and wrong. And if there is evil, where does it come from and where does our innate desire for justice come from?
What most people today fail to realise is the presence, effect and the consequences of sin. Sin is present in us from birth, and no one can claim any innocence. As soon as we are able, we lie, steal and hurt others. We are not ignorant of this and hopefully our conscience still convicts us of this. The effect of sin is death. Sin is destructive and kills everything in its path. God made man to live forever, but when they sinned in the garden, they were destined for death, and all creation was tarnished by sin. Sin is what separates us from God, because God is good and holy and light, and sin evil, dirty and dark.
To answer the question: why do bad things happen to good people would be hard because biblically there are no truly good people. How many lies have you told in your life? (Could you even count how many?) Have you stolen something, whether it is chewing gum, money or music online? Have you looked at a person with lust and thus committed adultery in your heart? Have you used God’s name in vain? These questions refer to just 4 of the 10 commandments, and if God was to judge you today by this standard you would be guilty. The bible says that everyone is guilty before the law and that there is no one that is good.
In the book of Mark, chapter 10, Jesus says that only God is good, and for that reason, He is going to make sure that justice is done on the day of judgement. He will rightly punish, murderers, thieves and rapists—and he will also punish liars, fornicators, drunkards, blasphemers, those who lust, commit adultery and so on...if God gave each of us justice right now, every one of us would end up in hell and we would deserve it. Every second we spend alive is only by the grace and mercy of God. Even the most terrible misery we could experience on this planet is merciful compared to what we deserve: eternal damnation. A better question would be, “Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?”
God’s law reveals our sin, and shows us our need of a grace, mercy and salvation because we see that we have no ability to save ourselves (Galatians 3:24-26). Sin has left us spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). The Bible tells us that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Despite our evil, wicked, sinful nature, God’s love is still available to us. God sent His only son, Jesus, to die and pay the penalty that we deserved. We must repent of our sin and trust in the goodness of Jesus (Mark 1:15). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). When Jesus died, he took upon himself the wrath and the hell of all those would believe. When He rose again, it certified that it was all paid for in full and that Jesus is God our Saviour. Those refuse to believe, refuse the Saviour and will spend an eternity paying for their owns sins for in hell. No one gets to heaven by good works; all must enter in by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
The truth of the matter is: a bad thing has only happened to a good person once—that was to Jesus Christ, and he volunteered!
