I can't speak for God. I don't have the knowledge or the capacity to do such a thing. I can't see what He sees or hear what He hears - and I certainly do not even know NEARLY as much as He knows. But, I'm going to try and just discuss this topic today.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
This is not going to be a "You sinned and were punished" blog. While I do believe "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), I do not believe because Sally said a swear word in school that she is destined for horrible things to happen. But I do believe that our reoccurring enjoyment of things that displease God cause waves throughout our society like the moon pulls the ocean tides. It's cause and effect. Direct or indirect - it happens.
Also, I'm not one to agree with telling someone the, "It was God's will" theory when comforting someone. Why? Because it doesn't make any of us feel better, and while God certainly knew this horrible day would come for this person, it certainly doesn't help in answering the question of "why". I find the statement, "It was God's will" creates more anger and resentment in the questioning hearts of grievers than healing. You will never hear me tell someone these words while they grieve.
So, why would God take my friend who went to church every Sunday? Why would God have this child hurt in such a horrendous way? Why did Got not intervene when my family member died in this car accident? Why?!
I don't think it was God's will to have a child suffer, or your friend to be hurt, or death to come to a family member. I don't believe that for a second. Why not? Well, because my God is amazing... and powerful... and GOOD. He's the very definition of LOVE. In fact, you can even replace the word "love" in this passage, with GOD. Seriously.. try it:
1 Corinthians 13:4-13 New International Version (NIV) says: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
He is love because he was willing to sacrifice his own self - his own son (Jesus) - his being - for me. And for that child, and your friend, and your family member, and yes, for you.Now I'm not a parent, but I certainly have learned a lot about them from being around them enough to know that there is some special kind of bond - some special kind of love that a parent has for a child that no one can touch. And to just allow something horrible as not only seeing strangers ridicule, but also spit, beat, harass, abuse, and eventually kill your child... well I think you'd want to die yourself. And that's what God did.. for me and the child, and friend, and family member, and for you. But He didn't do all that so that all these horrific things can happen to US. He did it so that we can live WITHOUT pain and suffering. Now THAT is LOVE.
But... suffering and pain still happens.
First, let me put it this way. I do not believe that God created evil, or harm, or suffering. Why? Because He is perfect. I am also confident that this is currently Satan's world...A world of lies, tears, pain, rape, murder, disrespect, etc. And it's also very contagious.
In a world of darkness, Satan sees opportunity. Opportunity to bring you to your knees - not to pray to God, but to curse God. The father of lies wants you weak, because at our weakest hour, he can entice us. He can provide us with generous offerings of things that sound... well.. fantastic really. When you are the weakest.. girls.. you know what I'm talking about.. when a guy breaks up with you.. you totally want Ben & Jerry's or chocolate or retail therapy.. am I right?! But seriously, it's easy to fall victim of those delicious, but not so good for you, tasty treats when no one is looking because it tastes sooo good.
So we choose to consume. It was our choice.
I'm going back to the parent example second, I think we can look at it in the realm of choice as well. Sometimes when kids get hurt, you knew ahead of time it was a possibility, but you're hopeful that the child will not run when they need to walk; will not talk to strangers, will not hit the new kid in school, and so forth. So as a parent, you can often foresee things coming, but you can't prevent your child from living life! You can't make every decision for your child, either. In the same respect, God may be able to foresee when we do wrong, or something wrong or bad is going to happen, but He can't prevent us from living our life, or making the choices we make. That's again - part of loving us. He lets us spread our wings, make our own choices, and if you want my opinion, God is not a helicopter parent.. for which I am thankful for. We learn from our mistakes. We clean up our own messes. We fall. We get hurt and stand back up, but sometimes when we fall, we don't get back up.
I think there are times that all of us find it so much easier to curse God for bad things that happen than to realize that while we are not separated from God here on Earth, we are not home either. This is not our home. This is just a temporary spot for the time being - and it's unfamiliar to us because we are just passing by.
Have you ever gone through a rough spot in a city by accidentally taking the wrong turn? You have no idea what to expect because you're not familiar with the area. It's possible you could get shot. It's possible you could get hi-jacked. It's possible you can drive through with no problems whatsoever. I kind of think that's how this world is. I think we're just driving by this unfamiliar area on our way to a destination.
As a Christian, the best thing I can do in times of distress, sorrow, sadness, or even anger - is, instead of becoming weak and open to the fruits laid in front of me by Satan, is to concentrate harder on what God is trying to say to me. I think it's important to lean on Him for comfort and strength. We are all going to suffer - and we're all going to see our loved ones die. And we're all going to die. That's life.
On this journey, at least.
So for the ones that beat me there, I can't imagine how awesome it was to hear our Father tell us in his own voice, "welcome home". I'll see you when I get there. From the sounds of it, we'll have eternity to catch up.
In loving memory of all my friends and loved ones who have passed on from this life and gained their wings. RIP
