There is a story that goes something like this: One day a man gave his son a
horse. The man’s neighbors said, “That’s sure good news about your son getting his own
horse.” The man answered, “Good news? Bad news? Who knows?” The next day when
his son was out riding, the horse threw him and broke his leg. The neighbors said:
“That’s sure bad news about your son’s broken leg.” “Good news? Bad news? Who
knows?” he replied. A few days later war broke out and all of the healthy young men
went off to war. The neighbors said: “That’s sure good news that your son didn’t have to
go to war.” Good news? Bad news? Who knows?
“Does GOD let bad things happen to good people?”
Who are the “good people”? The concept of “good people” comes straight from
the false teachings of secular humanism, which believes that all people are basically
good. However, as GOD teaches us in His Word, this simply isn’t true. “There is no one
righteous, not even one…there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:
10, 12). JESUS, GOD’S SON said: “No one is good– except GOD alone” (Mark
10:18). If we were like GOD and could read everyone’s mind and know what everyone
says and does in their private lives, we would understand the truth that, “there is no
difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD” (Romans 3:23). If
we think that we are good, without sin, “we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
(1 John 1:8).
What are “bad things”? Is suffering bad? Is death bad? The LORD wept over
suffering and death in our world (Genesis 6:6; Luke 19:41; John 11:35). Nevertheless,
He has revealed that all of us, without exception, will suffer and die. “The wage of sin is
death” (Romans 6:23). The currency for all sin is death. However, for everyone who
turns to GOD for His mercy, help, and forgiveness, often in times of suffering, struggles,
even death, GOD promises “that everything will work out for the good for those who
love Him” (Romans 8:28, Luke 23:39-43). For the individual who trusts in JESUS
CHRIST to save them, the sting of death is only at the border crossing to the experience
of eternal life in the glorious presence of GOD, our Creator and Savior.
There really is only one perfect example in all of history of something bad
happening to someone good. His name is JESUS CHRIST! GOD turned His SON’S
suffering and death at the hands of our degenerate human race into forgiveness, peace,
and eternal life for all who sincerely believe in Him. What an awesome GOD!
Amen, come LORD JESUS.