Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

One question continues to haunt mankind from generation to generation, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This question can be better answered by examining the question, “Why do bad things happen?” Why are people subjected to sickness, disease, accidents, and death? Let me share one answer, two results, and three redemptive aspects for this question.

The ultimate answer to the question, “Why do bad things happen?”, is that we live as fallen human beings in a fallen world. In the beginning God created the world as a perfect environment and placed in it a perfect person, Adam. From Adam, He created a perfect woman, Eve. Together they were a perfect couple living in paradise. There was one stipulation: Do not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Perfection, peace, purpose and only one rule to obey. Then along came the evil one, Satan, and he tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree. By their own choice they ate of the fruit and the consequences of that first sin, the Fall, is still seen and felt in every life.

Two things resulted from that one event. First, sin entered the perfect creation and from that original sin each person inherited a sin nature. The Bible says this clearly, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” Each person willfully chooses to sin, and that sin has consequences in our lives. Many of the bad things which we experience are the consequences of our sin or the sin of others. Sin has consequences. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” The old adage is true, “You reap what you sow, you reap later than you sow, and you reap more than you sow.”

The second result of the Fall of man was the destruction of the natural world. Global warming may be debatable, but the affects of man’s sin upon this world are undeniable. Adam and Eve were driven from the perfect Garden of Eden, and the ground was cursed because of their sin. Later, during the time of Noah, the sinfulness of the people brought about the complete destruction of the natural world as God originally created it by the great, world-wide flood. It’s not carbon emissions that are destroying this planet, but the sinfulness of mankind before a holy God. The scriptures say that creation is groaning under the weight of man’s sin and the consequences of those sins. This destruction brings about disease and allows it to run rampant. In reality, this world is running toward certain destruction, set in motion by sin.

There are three redemptive aspects for us to consider as we answer the question, “Why do bad things happen?” First, bad things in our lives can be used for the glory of God. When asked who had sinned in the life of a blind man, Jesus said the blindness was “that the works of God should be revealed in him (John 9:1-7).” Jesus then healed the blind man. Some bad things are opportunities through which God receives glory. For the Christian, to glorify God is the highest goal of life.

The second redemptive aspect is that through pain, suffering, disease, and even death we are called to look beyond ourselves, recognize our sinfulness, and turn to Jesus Christ in repentance. Luke 13:1-5 gives an account of the disciples asking Jesus about innocent people who had been killed. Jesus does not answer their “why” question but says, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” It is certain in this life that every single person will die and stand before a holy God to answer for their sins. Bad things remind us of our mortality, call us to repent, turn from our sins, and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Finally, bad things can be redemptive in the life of a Christian as a doorway of deliverance from this life of pain, sorrow, suffering, and sin. The assurance of eternal life through our faith in Jesus gives hope even in the midst of despair. The apostle Paul expresses his own hope in Philippians 1:21 as he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In the midst of bad things, we must realize that life is to be lived for Christ, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health. We do not follow Jesus just as long as He makes us “healthy, wealthy, and wise.” We follow Jesus Christ because He is our Lord and Savior. In fact, in the bad times we need Him the most. The great news is that through Jesus, we can have the hope and assurance that when “this earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).”

“Why do bad things happen to good people?” Bad things happen to all people because of human sinfulness and this fallen world. The real question for us to consider then becomes, “What response will we make to Jesus Christ in the face of pain, suffering, and the bad things which happen in this world?”