26. Why do “bad” things happen?
Key Verses / Passages
For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause…” Job 5:6-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8
Causality refers to the relationship between events where one event, termed the "cause," leads to another event, known as the "effect." Definition
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Discussion
In 1965 a folk rock group, The Byrds, created a furore on the pop-scene with a song “Turn! Turn! Turn!”. The song had been written by Pete Seeger in 1959. Topping the US and Canadian charts in 1965 the song consists of the first eight verses of chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes. Amazing!!! A bible passage made the top ten in multiple countries.
Seeger meant the song as a plea for peace in the US-Vietnam war, calling for war time to be over. The concepts expressed reflect the same wisdom gleaned thousands of years earlier that stuff happens at the appropriate time - we are born, we grow up, we make decisions and suffer the consequences, we get sick, we have emotions, both good and bad, we grow old and we die.
The Bible frequently addresses the principles that human choices have natural, inevitable, consequences - both positive and negative - through the actions and inactions of the person(s) making those choices and those around them being affected.
Bad stuff happens because we make choices. Our Father God is not a wizard with a magic wand to make everything bad disappear. Nope, He gave us this beautiful world on which to be fruitful, have families, subdue the earth with dominion over all the living creatures. What a gift! But the first couple made a selfish choice and led humanity into a serious consequence: separation from God. This is expressed in the statement that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23); or put another way “fool around and find out!” Whatever we do - every choice - has a consequence. Some may only be within our life, our family, our city or our country - depends at what level the decision is made. Violent actions lead to violent repercussions. Wars come from men being stupid, greedy and selfish. The sad consequences of such evil are that people die.
But what about earthquakes, bushfires, volcanoes, tornados, mudslides, etc. We didn’t cause them, did we? We don’t make decisions that make that happen, do we?
Well, no and yes. Volcanoes are the result of the planet’s surface being somewhat malleable, causing the hot stuff under the crust to build up pressure and blow open the weak points. We don’t choose where those are, but we do choose to build villages and towns nearby… Earthquakes happen on fault lines where the plates of the earth move over one another. Pressure builds and then sudden release of energy causes a fracture in the rock. We could choose to build houses elsewhere…
Jesus said - you will hear rumours of wars and earthquakes (Matt24;6-8, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:9-11) citing increased global conflicts, geopolitical instability and natural disasters being the “beginning of birth pains” or “sorrows” indicating the approaching end-times; urging his followers to remain watchful, be prepared and not panic.
Bad stuff, consequences of choices, happens - but Jesus’ love for you remains and allows that for those who love God (Jesus) all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
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Reflection / Questions
• Look back, reflect on your life and look for the path that led you to have an encounter with Jesus and then a decision to follow Him. Take some time and even map it out year by year or event by event.
• Can you trace your connection and has it turned out alright?
• Jesus never promised you a lifetime of happiness - rather he promises trials, troubles, tribulations and successes. Know that He is in charge.
• This is a hard subject and may take some time, so talk it through with your mentor.
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Prayer
Oh Lord Jesus, you are wonderful, but so many things go wrong and bad. I make mistakes and end up doing and saying the wrong things… please guard my mind, my mouth, my heart. Please help me be the person you made me to be. Thank you that you’re in control and I will be able to endure all the bad and celebrate all the good. Help me to praise you for every circumstance I’m in. Thank you.