God allows tests in our lives and rarely announces them ahead of time. God had to redirect him, so he sent him on a little submarine cruise. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.. Rather, Satan questioned Jehovah's right to rule. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.. However it is important to learn from Jeremiah 29:11 that God does not purpose in His mind to harm you. You are like a diamond on the rough. Why Evil Exists You need to become a Christian. An important statement of the problem of evil, attributed to Epicurus, was cited by the Scottish philosopher David Hume in his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779): "Is [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? Suddenly, out of nowhere, a white goat came charging by them and jumped right down into the hole after the railroad tie. Look at Gods promise in Isaiah 49:23, Those who hope in me will not be disappointed (NIV). When God created mankind, He intended for us to live in perfect harmony with Him, without pain, suffering or evil. The epistemic question posed by evil is whether the world contains undesirable states of affairs that provide the basis for an argument that makes it unreasonable to believe in the existence of God. Rebuilding Church Community: Whats Actually Working? Regardless of what level of faith you have, your faith will be tested.. The painful experience caused me to change my ways. (James 1:22). The "problem of evil" is a philosophical question regarding how the following three ideas can coexist: God is almighty, God is perfectly good, and evil exists. Learning to walk under the weight of ministry's many hats. The people test asks the question, How will you handle disappointment? God allows people to be people. Weak faith believes there is only one true inspired English translation from God. Believe me, I understand every one of those wrong responses. Moms warnings just werent enough, though they should have been. Problems promote spiritual maturity. Who knows, it might even take a jackhammer with some of us! Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Do Aliens Exist? Making and growing disciples involves taking peoples spiritual temperature, helping them confront and address sin, guiding them to develop a love for Scripture, and much more. God Wants to Teach You About Himself "We're deeply grateful to AMC, Cinemark, Regal, and all our . We just refuse to learn it any other way. Two weeks later all the top management of that company were on the front page of the national newspapers and were sent to prison. They were letting their fear control them. Let me give you an analogy. It's called theodicy. Look closely at Jeremiah 17:7 which says, But blessed are those who trust in theLord and have made theLordtheir hope and confidence (NLT). All Rights Reserved. Though God hasnt revealed everything there may be to know on the subject of problems, He does have reasons for allowing troubles to come into our lives. The problem of evil is the most famous argument against the existence of an all-powerful and loving god. GJELTEN: It's such an old problem that theologians actually have a term for efforts to explain why God and evil can both exist. He would be put in charge of gathering grain for a coming famine that would force his brothers to bring their whole family to Egypt so they could survive. Solicitation Disclosure Statement Jesus told the soldier that He would come with him to his house to heal the servant. Competitions that allow it will increase the risk to athletes' health, render competition even more unfair and threaten to . Jesus told his followers, Go and make disciples of all nations. Pastors know well that no two people under their care are in the same place spiritually. (Acts 17:10-12). They hid their faces from him as if he were a leper. It was popularized by David Hume . 1 Peter 4:12-13 Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. You certainly made it clear! I could barely see the white stripe on the edge of the road. 20:30 (GN) 2. It might be chronic. Let the words of 1 Corinthians 2:9 soak into your soul: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.". The first test is the pressure test. Is Atheism More Rational Than Belief in God? Any close friend can sit beside you and comfort you and empathize with you. God has one purpose in your life - He wants you to be like Christ. When bad things happen in the world, God is often blamed. 2For instance, one person believes its all right to eat anything. Sometimes lifes challenges just seem impossible to overcome: Financial challenges are ever at your doorstep; just when you think youre about to have a breakthrough then something goes wrong; you have to contend with jealous workmates at your job; its taking forever to buy that car; you have family issues and you just dont seem to appear to be winning in all these areas. Weak faith struggles with believing the benefits we have in Christ. Great faith is marked by great expectations. If you've put your trust in him, then he is in you. This ministry also seeks to provide answers to curious questions and alternative topics from a Biblical worldview. Some who lose a child to a drunk driver turn inward in chronic rage and never-ending despair; another turns outward to help others by founding Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. David wrote in Psalm 119:67: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy word. (NAS) Later in that same Psalm, in verse 71, he wrote, It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes.(NAS) David saw that problems were just what he needed! He was resold in Egypt to an owner whose wife tried to seduce him. . Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. A second level of faith is called little faith. Genesis 1:31 says: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.". OK, so God is an all-powerful, omniscient being who created everything, and made man in his image. Understanding why He allows evil and suffering isn't easy. Subscribe to receive weekly updates about fresh articles, videos, and resources. If you all you see in your life is trash, garbage, troubles, trials, and problems you are going to struggle throughout life. But when I look at the totality of the year, when I put everything in context, it's been a great year. God promises a time when there will be no more crying, no more tears, no more pain and suffering, when we will be reunited with God in perfect harmony, forever. 1. 2. Verse 7 says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. God is perfectly powerful and good. Listen to methat is not to deny the reality of your pain in this life. Weak faith is a strong faith in the wrong things. For example One day a Roman soldier came up to Jesus and told Him about one of his servants who was lying in bed, paralyzed, and in terrible pain. That goat jumped right down the hole! As they stood there wondering what was going on, a farmer approached. The priorities test asks the question, How will you handle whats really important? Is God really first in your life or not? Effectively the Lord is saying, "You say you know this material. Time magazine puts your photo on its cover as "The Person of the Year." (1, Life Lessons From The Story of The Rich Man & Lazarus. Billy Graham: Why Does God Allow Suffering? and no doubt he did. When Jesus willingly died on the cross, He filled the gap so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have full access to God again. 3Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who dont. God may want to teach you something in the problem you are facing or may soon be facing. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. When you are in trouble, when the pressure is on, God says to you call on me and let me intervene and invite me into your trouble. (5) Suffering is a Process. Can you believe that, said one of them. (NAS), Listen to these verses in one of the more contemporary versions: Friends, when life gets really difficult, dont jump to the conclusion that God isnt on the job. In a day when there are those preaching a misleading message that says, Become a Christian and God will take away all your troubles, this isnt a popular word to speak, but it is true, nonetheless. Time and time again God tested them to see if they were ready to go into the promised land. God is good because He says He is! Words can't describe the joy and the delight and the fulfillment! Addressing Depression and Suicide in Your Church. Now whats fair? By God loves His creation and you are created in His image. God is not merely interested in giving you the things that you want in life but God is more interested in you having a genuine and growing relationship with Him. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. >>Read more in this Decision magazine article A Good God in an Evil World. What Does it Mean to be a Berean? But before you take off and leave God, consider the alternative. one my theology teacher gave me, that has helped me throughout my life. Why now?". God would stop a lazy construction worker from doing a substandard job on a house that would later cause grief to the homeowners. It was getting pretty close to quitting time and they were thinking about calling it a day. I do discipline my kids because I love them and want the best for them because theyre mine. You see, beyond the problems of this life, there is one big problem looming in all of our futures. Then they went home and told their dad that a wild animal had devoured him. God is more interested in you developing your character and becoming mature so that in Christ, you can cope with anything that life may throw at you. His dad favored him somewhat and that made them hate him even more. To this day I have never forgotten the spanking she gave me or the lesson I learned. In John 16:33 he said, "You will have suffering in this world." What is the Illuminati and Do They Exist? They looked around until they found a rock about the size of a bowling ball, which they tossed in the hole. There are too many loose ends with the plot. God is using that trial to prove your faith and to improve your faith at the same time. Therefore when we live a sinful life, we then separate ourselves from God and because of sin our perspective and our approach to lifes problems become ungodly. No one can deny it. Is God One Person Instead of Three Persons? God uses problems to DIRECT you - Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. You will have suffering in this world. Lets get a pebble and toss it in to see how long it takes to hit bottom. One of them found a pebble and tossed it in. Of course not. As someone has said, If we dont change when we see the light, we change when we feel the heat.. Suffering is a product of the fall, a consequence of human sin against God (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21). From those three verses we see three important reasons why God allows troubles and how He uses these trials in your life. Weak faith believes that if he doesnt read a chapter in the Bible a day he has sinned against God. That was due east of where he was. What happens if you trust in the Lord? It's also old. And many people are asking the question, "Why? A third test is the persistence test. Faithlife Sermons and Faithlife Media are now Logos Sermons. Your commitment, determination, and persistence will be tested. Problems bring great opportunities. The so-called "problem of evil" is an argument against the existence of God that reasons along these lines: A perfectly powerful being can prevent any evil. Saul of Tarsus was a Jew who hated Christians. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. What does it mean to Walk in the Spirit? The same is true in understanding why there is tragedy and suffering in our lives. We saw the steeple of a church and the cross of Christ. Thats what God, through James, is trying to teach us. 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.". Youll probably learn some things from this message. God uses them to develop your faith, to develop your trust in Him. Get the best from CT Pastors editors, delivered straight to your inbox. The Bible says in Hebrews 2:10 that the Author of our Salvation (Jesus) was perfected through sufferings. Because if you look carefully at things like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or even viruses, many of these natural occurrences and even hazards are to some extent necessary for the wellbeing of life on earth. The problem of evil is the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient God. He was broken, like bread, for us. Not only was his direction due north, he was also headed in the opposite direction of Gods will. Why? God is a good Father, and when one of His children goes astray, He may use suffering to bring him or her back. Its this disobedience that caused sin and death to enter the world, and mankind to be separated from God. Did that doll love my daughter? Why does God allow problems and how does God use trials and troubles in your life? Jesus is there in the lowest places of our lives. You might think, that was a bad day, no denying it. Should a Christian Date or Marry a Non-Christian? "Why? How Should A Christian Respond to Suffering? the only answer I can honestly give consists of four words: "I do not know. All of us have problems and some of them can seem pretty hopeless and overwhelming when were in the midst of them. He may want to expose a weakness or a blind spot or show a character defect in you. a response to "why does God allow suffering". That problem you are facing is an opportunity to demonstrate how genuine your faith is, while God is making your faith even stronger. Of course, I'm referring to the classical problem of the existence of evil. God has the last word! You might notice in that verse that it doesnt say if you encounter trials, it says when. Compare 1 Peter 1:6-7 where the same Greek words are used along with the verb dokimazo which means, "put to the test," "prove by testing as with gold.". Secondly, to be tested is to be improved. As a wise man once said to me, "God's ultimate answer to suffering isn't an explanation; it's the incarnation." Sometimes God has to light a fire under us and things become uncomfortable. Suffering is never good, never necessary, however the argument of "why does God allow people to suffer if he is all good" really falls flat when you think about it. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What Does The Bible Say About Dating & Courtship? God has allowed men to rule for long enough to demonstrate that they cannot resolve mankind's problems. Yes, God allows evil. For example, it provides the central theme of the Book of Job in the . Little faith struggles with trusting God with the normal things in life, like storms we all go through them. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah's power. Were stubborn. There was a man named Craig Randall, who drove a garbage truck in Peabody, Massachusetts. Just because he hasn't done it yet doesn't mean he won't do it. And the 21st Century didn't start any better. 5. Also included in this category are overviews of several important assumptions . Because he has conquered the world! This aspect of suffering should drive us to long for a better . Maybe you've never asked why our world is infected with pain and suffering, but my guess is you will when they strike you or a loved one with full force. You have your first child and he's healthy and strong. It says the day will come when sickness and pain will be eradicated and people will be held accountable for the evil they've committed. People who have overcome abuse, a tragedy or any type of problems are more effectively able to comfort, empathize and counsel a person who is going through similar circumstances. And God doesn't make this promise to everyone. You'd probably say, "It was great; it was wonderful!" What makes us think that were any different? You get promoted at work to your dream job. The Pandemic Destroyed My CertaintyOr Was It God? In the philosophy of religion, a theodicy, ( / idsi /) meaning 'vindication of God' in Greek, is an argument that attempts to resolve the problem of evil that arises when omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and omniscience are all simultaneously ascribed to God. Surely He has! Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" ( John 16:33 ). A friend betrayed you. When considering why God allows evil, its important to remember what seems unfair to us is not unfair by Gods standard. For example, do you follow God just for what He can give you, or do you follow God simply because He is your loving Creator? He apparently had fog lamps in front, because he was traveling at a confident and deliberate pace, and I knew if we could just follow those taillights, we'd be headed in the right direction. Did someone betray you? But we can find hope in God's promise that one day, evil will end. Is it Possible to Sell Your Soul to the Devil? When they do it, their motives may be evil. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies goldthough your faith is far more precious than mere gold. However, if within the trash of life you see the blessings of God, the provisions of God, those little stickers from God that demonstrate His grace and love and protection and guidance in your life, you will discover that within the garbage around you God has blessing waiting for you. God promises evil will not go unpunished, and He does not overlook sin. You only read half the book!". Is that fair? He was despised and rejected of men. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. Charles Spurgeon looked back upon dark hours in his own life and said: I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lords workshop. Are you despised? You need the forgiveness offered through Christ if you hope to make it through. It literally burns off the impurities. That day will come, but not yet. How could God allow that? It is the bratty, stubborn, selfish, inattentive child who gets the most spankings. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. What Does it Mean to Take Up Your Cross? And that has resulted in the introduction of evil into the world. Billy Graham explains in this 1-minute clip. Many use it as a way to remove God from reality. At first. Jesus said to them, Why are you afraid? How Should Christians Respond to Pride Month? Now let me give you the entire verse: "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. Remember these words were written by the apostle Paul, who suffered through beatings and stonings and shipwrecks and imprisonments and rejection and hunger and thirst and homelessnessfar more pain that most of us will ever have to endure. Christian Growth / Spiritual Realm & Warfare. He was a Christian, so he told them he couldnt do it. 1:6-7: In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (NAS) God uses problems to test us. Are you trusting God, that He knows best, or are you chafing and complaining and doubting and fearing? Give all your concerns to God, and let Him guide you. The best known presentation of the problem is attributed to the Greek philosopher Epicurus. From his perspective, it must have looked pretty bleak. Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Worship Can Sound Like Silence and Feel Like Rest, In Our Pandemic-Scarred Churches, God Is Making All Things New. Practical Principles. This Roman soldier demonstrated a whole new level of faith that Jesus hadnt seen yet in anyone in Israel. The scariest problem in the Bible is the one spoken of in Matthew 25:46: And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (NAS) Today is the day of salvation! But God intends and allows it for good! He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.". Who You Are In Christ Useful Bible Verses. Billy Graham often said he didn't have all the answers for human suffering but that the Bible offers hope in the midst of it. God is not to be blamed for your problems, especially when the cause of your problems is a sinful choice or life. Justice will be served in a perfect way. What is Sleep Paralysis? (James 4:4). A person just might say, after hearing a message like this, Well. Why Did God Kill Innocent People in the Old Testament? Contact Us. The second point of light: Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good. Weak faith believes it dishonors God to dress casual for church. If you are one of His, he does that whether you understand it or not. But we do know this: They will come and God does have a purpose in them. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most. Why is that statement so common to all our experiences? God allows trials in our lives so we will grow up spiritually. If you are facing problems and challenges in your life, God may allow them for the following reasons: 1. With that said, lets look at James 1:2-4, Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. Kristen Waggoner, who argued on behalf of Smith, cheered the decision . On one side is God and on the other is mankind. Though sin puts a barrier between us and God, He provided a solution: His Son, Jesus Christ. God is not sadistic. They listened as it crashed down, hitting first one side and then the other, but they never heard it hit bottom. Why Does God Allow Evil? What Does the Bible Say About Self-Control? And I'm so grateful that so many churches and ministries of this community are helping them experience that. Stories Billy Graham: Why Does God Allow Suffering? Sickness can also be the result of a demonic attack. When he refused on the grounds that she was married, she accused him of rape. I have conquered the world.". From the depths of a Nazi death camp, Corrie ten Boom wrote these words: "No matter how deep our darkness, he is deeper still." With mass shootings and natural disasters filling the headlines, it's normal to wonder why a sovereign God allows suffering. Someone has said, People are a lot like tea bags, you dont know whats in them until you drop them in hot water. In Deuteronomy 8:2, God told Israel, And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (NAS) The key words there are testing you. It takes about two weeks to march from Egypt to Israel, yet it took Israel forty years to make that trip. The megachurch, known for its popular Elevation Music, has voluntarily withdrawn two weeks after the recent Southern Baptist annual meeting. Our text said, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing God sometimes uses problems to inspect us. But He is still loving, merciful and compassionate. To make things worse, he thought it was Gods will. Someone says, What is Gods purpose? In this message, I want to share with you five ways that God uses problems in our lives for good. I quit! Or, perhaps a non-Christian might say, I dont want any part of that! Yes, you can surely do it that way. Permissions And Jesus said they are coming. God allowed the problems in his life to occur in order to prove Satan wrong. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (NLT). He loved and he was rejected. In your problem, whatever it is, never forget that He corrects you because He loves you. (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is called judgement. Isaiah 59:2 NKJV), 2. Even Billy Graham couldn't fully explain it. You have so little faith!Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26, NLT). Is he both able and willing? In the fire, you will be challenged to trust God in some areas and you will be stretched by God in other areas. The Living Bible paraphrases that verse I just read in Psalm 119:71 this way: The punishment you gave me was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. And notice that the verse doesn't say we all will see immediately or even in this life how God has caused good to emerge from a bad circumstance. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. How do you handle whats really important? It has not been proofed for spelling or grammatical errors. And those who dont eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them (NLT). Do you cry out that you can't take any more? The Lords Supper Is a Multiethnic Love Feast, Nondenominational Churches Are Growing and Multiplying in DC. Instead of doing what he was told, Jonah boarded a ship headed for Tarshish, which was due west. That is what Peter was referring to when he wrote, in I Pet. Inspired Walk is dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and providing a Biblical defense for the Christian faith. Cults, Sects & Movements / New Age Beliefs. Finally, the fifth point of light: We decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage. These people were so concerned about these material things that they would save as much as they could in barns and worry over losing it or not having it. So why does God allow problems in your life? I wanted to head for that bank. Many of you are parents. This is why we have evil today. (Prov. I wrote my first novel last year. Should Christians Compromise With The World? Erwin Lutzer, the longtime pastor of. ", And he will. I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this! and he does it. 10Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him,Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith (CSB). Weak faith has a hard time believing the freedom we have in Christ. What is Antinomianism and Why is it Dangerous. The fourth point of light: Our suffering will pale in comparison to the good things God has in store for his followers. The Bible describes several instances when physical suffering was caused by Satan and his demons ( Matthew 17:14-18; Luke 13:10-16 ). You can look forward to eternal life with Him in heaven. He cant say, like a Christian can, God is using this problem to give me direction or God is testing me right now to see if Im ready for something bigger and better, or God saw that I, as one of His children, needed a little discipline, so that is what Hes doing. The unbeliever cannot say, like the believer can, God is protecting me from something down the road that I cant see right now. He cannot say, like the Christian, God is making me grow in my character for life now and life to come. No, the unbeliever can say nothing of the sort. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a broken world. James tells you straight up your faith will be tested every time you go through problems and troubles. After driving through the confusion of the fog for so long, that image struck me with poignancy I'll never forget. Wow, if I had fallen into that I would never have gotten out! the first hunter said. But to give us the ability to love, God had to give us free will to decide whether to love or not to love. Of course, Gods purpose is always greater than our problems, no matter what were going through. He considered it his number one mission in life to crush Christianity. Your stock portfolio took a nosedive. So in order for us to experience love, God bestowed on us free will. The first level is called weak faith. Now, the rocks testify to its historic significance. Because they believed something so strongly for so long, its hard for them to believe the truth. The word tested (dokimion) has the basic idea of testing something in order to prove its genuineness. The persistence test asks the question, How will you handle your commitments? Life is about making commitments. Romans 5:3-4 says, And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope (NAS) Ken Taylor in the Living Bible, paraphrases that this way: We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for usthey help us learn to be patient.
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