Bad things, good people

Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17).

Have you ever asked yourself why God lets bad things happen to good people? If you have, I’d like you to consider this question—who, exactly, is good?

Humanists would have you believe that people are basically good; those who misbehave do so because they themselves have been mistreated or are the victim of harsh circumstances. But this is not what the Bible teaches; David wrote there is no doubt that I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Psalm 51:5). We enter life completely self-centered; children have to be taught to share and wait their turn, reminded to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

Yet despite every effort to shape us into loving, patient, generous people, we remain self-centered our whole lives through. The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single person! (Psalm 14:2-3) Even when we try to do good, our efforts are flawed and often backfire; Isaiah writes, all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

Are you ‘basically good’? How many lies have you told? How many tests have you cheated on? How many promises have you broken? How many times have you lost your temper for no good reason? How many times have you mouthed off to your parents? Jesus said, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-39). How well have you done keeping these commands?

‘Why does God let bad things happen to good people?’ That is the wrong question! No one is good—what we should ask is ‘why does God cause anything good to happen for bad people like us?’ The answer is simple: because of love. We deserve nothing from God except His punishment, yet He sent His Son to suffer hell on the cross in our place so we can be forgiven. Everything good in our lives is an undeserved gift, a blessing sent down from heaven to brighten our days on earth. Treasure each and every one of them.