Why Does Bad Stuff Happen?

How do you make sense of the death and destruction we saw on Wednesday, April 27, 2011? As is my custom, I was reading Scripture and commentaries in a serial fashion, just as they were given by God’s Holy Spirit (the Scriptures, that is), on that day. Having previously read through Job, I am currently reading Dr. Henry Morris’s great commentary on that book. On April 27, this is what I was reading:

From Dr. Henry Morris – “Then the blow fell. In just one day, Job had all his wealth destroyed, all his servants slain, and his ten children killed in a sudden tornado. Job received the tragic news from different sources within a few minutes of each other (Job 1:13 – 19). . . Not all such phenomena are directly caused by Satan. The natural processes of the world entail occasional storms and holy angels and God himself can control any of the processes that the fallen angels can. We see here, however, that on some occasions these phenomena can have a Satanic cause, if God allows. The same applies to our own reasoning and decision-making processes, so we need to consider all these possibilities prayerfully when difficult circumstances arise in our own lives.” – The Remarkable Record of Job, pp. 59, 60

Right now we don’t know why, but we do know that God is in control, and He does care. That is the message we need to give people, not some “God loves you” sentimentality. Sentiment doesn’t save and it doesn’t do anything practical. So, as we continue to minister by giving money, blood, water, food, or whatever, let’s be prepared to answer questions in an honest, Scriptural fashion, telling people Who God is, who we are, and what Jesus did.

I remain yours, in the Name of Jesus,

Mr. Phil