Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

Why Does Bad Things Happen to Good People - Do Not Blame God!

First lets look at a familiar scripture that probably many of you have heard used in reference to the promise from God of "an abundant life." This was a statement made by Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth and in one short statement, he summed up everything he would accomplish for us in his death and resurrection. A life with abundance, all of our needs met, and Life (eternal life) through the new birth that would be available after his resurrection.
“John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Look at the aspects of the first part of this verse. "The thief commeth not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy...". Here Jesus stated the primary purpose and methods the Devil uses to attack and destroy people. The Devil's objective is to steal whatever he can from you, to kill you or those you care about, and to destroy whatever he can in order to further his objectives. The Devil knows that he days are numbered and his primary objective is to keep as many people as he can from obtaining salvation. He has tried to destroy the Word of God, he has tried to destroy God's chosen people (Israel), he has tried to destroy the church, and he tries to destroy anyone who is speaking the truth of God's Word to reconcile God's people and the world to God. He attacks any threat to his goal, which is to get people to turn away form worshiping God to worshiping him (directly or indirectly). You might have suffered the loss of a son or daughter, father or mother, grand father or grand mother, brother or sister, wife or husband, or dear friend. You might have lost your home, lost your health, had your possessions stolen, had your car totaled out in a wreck, lost your job, had everything you possessed in the world taken from you, lost a wife or husband through divorce, lost a girlfriend or boy friend, or whatever could be stolen from you that would cause deep hurt. For many the first thought would be "why could God let this happen?" Then as grief sets in, God gets the blame.

God does not have the same purpose as the Devil. The things mentioned above fall into the category of darkness and evil, manifested in our lives. These attacks are directed at us through people the Devil influences to attack us and the Devils evil spirits (the fallen angels). Only until we gain an understanding of God, in light of what he really is according to His Word, do we see the reality of the source of all our problems. Lets see what the scriptures show us about God:

There is No Darkness in God.
“1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

God Does Not Lie.
“Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

God's Word is truth.
“James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
“John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

God does not change and whatever God does and promises is permanent. All of the promises available in the Old Testament are available today.
“Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
“Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”

God is full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering (patient with us), and overflowing with mercy and truth.
“Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
God does wondrous things not horrible things.”
“Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.”

God does Not tempt anyone period, neither can he be tempted with or by evil. Of importance to note, it is God who provides us with a way to escape temptation.
“1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
“James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

God has no pleasure in wickedness.
“Psalms 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”

God will make all things that happen to work to produce good for us. He will take the evil the devil has hit us with and produce blessings for us.
“Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

God will deliver you from every evil work of man or the Devil.
“2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God will only give you good things in life, if your getting bad and evil things they are not from God.
“Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

These scriptures provide a good understanding of God. God does not lie, there is no darkness in God, God's Word is truth, and God does not change. If He says something it sticks, God is full of compassion - patience - mercy - and grace, He does wondrous things, He won't tempt you or let you be tempted beyond what you can take, God has no pleasure in wickedness. God will only give you good things and He will deliver you from the evil works of men. We have a wonderful and loving Father and He will take good care of us. It's the devil who's out to make you fall and suffer losses. For a certainty, nothing bad that happens in your life has God as the instigator.

Now lets take a look at the Devil / Satan. Satan is the leader of the fallen angels, and like them he becomes fully exposed in the New Testament. His name means "adversary" (the opponent of God and his people). The Old Testament describes him as such.
“1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.”
“Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”
“Zechariah 3:1 1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”

The New Testament gives him more revealing names. The first is the Devil (diabolos in the Greek) which means "accuser" (accuser of God's people).
“Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

The second name that is applied to him is Apollyon, meaning destroyer.
“Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

The third name that is Devil is describe by is "tempter."
“Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
“1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

The fourth name used to describe the Devil is "wicked one."
“1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

The fifth name used to describe the Devil is "prince (ruler) of this world."
“John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
“John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
“John 16:10 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

The sixth descriptive name of the Devil is "god of this world."
“2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The description of the Devil as the god of this world indicates the Devil as heading up mankind's anti-God lifestyles.
“Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
“1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
“Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Jesus, during his ministry on earth, said that the Devil was always a murderer and the father of lies. As the father of lies, he is both the original liar and the supporter of all succeeding falsehoods and deceits.
“John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

The seventh and last descriptive name he is called is "the serpent." He is identified as the serpent who fooled Eve in Eden.
“Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
“Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

The image brought to mind, after a review of the scripture, is one full of malice, fury, and cruelty directed against God, against God's truth, against those who speak the truth of God's Word, and against all them who God loves. The Devil's deceptive and cunning abilities were described by Paul in the second letter to the Corinthians.
“2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

The Devil and his ministers become in appearance to be "angels of light," disguising evil as good. His destructive ferocious character is shown in the description of him as a roaring devouring lion.
“1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Just as the Devil was Christ's enemy, he now opposes the Christian. Always testing for weaknesses, misdirecting strengths, and undermining our faith, hope, and love.
“2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
“2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Wherefore? because I love you not?
God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
“Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The Devil's malice and cunning should be taken seriously, but we are not to fall into abject terror of him. The Devil is a defeated enemy. The Devil is stronger than human beings, but Christ has triumphed over him and Christians will triumph over him as well. We will triumph over him by resisting with the resources Christ Jesus supplies.
“Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
“James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Giving heed to the reality of the Devil's existence, taking his opposition seriously, being aware of his strategy, and counting on continual war on him is not a concept of two gods (one good and one evil) fighting it out. The Devil is a creature, superhuman but not divine. He has much knowledge and power but he is not all knowing or all powerful or present everywhere at the same time (omnipresent) like God. He is an already defeated rebel destined for the lake of fire.
“Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

As you can see from the Word of God, every bad thing that happens in your life and to the people around you has one ultimate source, the Devil. When evil happens to you or is starting to present itself in your life, turn to God and trust in Him and He will deliver you.
“1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”