Introduction: The "why"
question is not a new one; it goes back thousands of years. It was asked in the
Old Testament by Job and the writers of the Psalms, and it was especially
relevant during the 20th Century, where we witnessed two World Wars, the
Holocaust, genocides in the Soviet Union and China, devastating famines in
Africa, the killing fields of Cambodia, the emergence of AIDS, the genocide in
Rwanda and the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo. And the 21st Century didn't start
any better. There was 9/11 and now the Syrian slaughters, and on and on. Why do all of these horrific things happen
if there's a loving and powerful God? Why
do bad things happen to good people?
God is not the creator of evil and suffering.
This answers the question you hear so often: "Why
didn't God merely create a world where tragedy and suffering didn't
exist?" The answer is: He did! Genesis 1:31 says: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
God can use suffering to
accomplish good.
In Romans 8:28 the Bible promises, "And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose."
I.
God is with us, Today!
A. It is ok to grieve the loss of a friend and a loved
one!
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be
comforted.” Matthew 5:4
B. God is a god of comfort and reaches out to
those who are hurting.
“The Lord is near to those who are
broken-hearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm
34:18
C.
God expects us
to approach him in times of pain.
“Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passes
all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7
II.
God wants us to face the
obstacles of life victoriously!
A.
God made us in
His image.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and
love and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7
B.
God has made us
victorius!
Behold! I tell you a
mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the
imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on
immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is
swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
