How many of you have heard or seen pictures about Syria’s War this week?
It is a very sad scene and shocking pictures that makes us cry and many are saying : Why is this happening?
Many people on social media are talking about this.
People have asked me: Why? Why so many innocent children , men , women are suffering and has been killed?
Today’s Word: Why God ? (The reason for suffering)
If God exists, why so much suffering!
If God loves us , if He loves the World why Has he allowed these things to happen and not put an end to this suffering!
Today we gonna answer these questions through the light of the Bible !
If you look to the Bible , since the beginning, since creation started, there has been suffering !
Why?
Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—”
Suffering started as a result of the sin of man!
Sadly, suffering has been a part of the world since creation as a consequence of sin , because men chose not to obey God.
- We have seen the suffering in world but we do not realise all the suffering in the Bible.
- Adam and Eve were the first couple created by God , God loved them, but they suffered because God gave them Free Will and they chose to sin against God
- The first son of Adam and Eve : Cain, he killed his own brother Abel (Gen 4:8)
- Ham abused his father – Noah, Gen 9:22
- Joseph (Jacobs’ son) was betrayed and sold by his own brothers,
- The prophet Isaiah was sawed (sóód) in two, cut in the middle, Hebrews 11:37
- Jesus the son of God was beaten , shamed and crucified,
- John the Baptist was a man of God and he was beheaded in a birthday party because an evil woman.
- all Jesus’ disciples (except John) were tortured to death!
- If you read the NT you will see that the life of Jesus’ disciples ended with so much suffering!
Suffering and pain is in the Bible since the beginning because men chose to live for their own sakes and not for God
The people in the world they chose not to follow God’s commandment.
People were free to choose what they wanted …… but also received the results of their choices !
The people are not suffering because of God !
When horrible things happen, people say: To comfort others they say : This was God’s will , this is God wanted !
No , ! God is not a murderer, that was not God’s will!
The same is happening today , many women , men and children has been killed in Syria , Nigeria and in many other countries because the human heart has been driven by the devil and not by God !
This world has been destroyed because of the greed of those who do not want to serve the Creator.
And God is not responsible for all these atrocities , pain and suffering!
John 10:10 says: “The devil comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
God wants you to have an abundant life! Life in its fullness !
But the enemy came to steal, kill and destroy people’s lives and this is not God’s will!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I believe that all of God’s plan for your life are good! Do you believe in that too? God has the best for us BUT Our lives are defined by our choices.
This world and its people are reaping what they have sowed or planted
God has nothing to do with our suffering !
How we as Christians can deal with suffering?
The Bible teaches us , we as Christians can use our Faith in times of suffering!
In other words , we can use our Faith To face the suffering !
Hebrews 11: 24-26 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the (Fliiiiting) fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
Moses used his Faith to open the Red Sea , he was used to take the Jewish people from Egypt , but here , the bible says by Faith he refused to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter !
What does Egypt mean in the Bible?
The World, the pleasures of the flesh , the pleasures of sin !
It’s our faith in God that allows us to obey Jesus and never turn back to the pleasures this world has to offer us !
When Moses left Egypt , he never went back to the Palace !
He didn’t go back to his old life – He was more pleased to suffer alongside his people , than to go back to his old life !
Why ? He had his eyes in God , because he was looking ahead to his reward , his recompense !
You should live for the eternity
Christian life is not only mountain tops and hallelujah , there are Valleys also !
That doesn’t sound so good !
Life can get tough , difficult , hard and you need to use your faith !
In this life of faith – you also have to believe in God through your suffering !
How do we justify a believer’s suffering ?
If God is a good God , why doesn’t everything workout ?
This is a matter of faith!
Why do believers get sick ? Why do believers get cancer ? Why do believers get involved in accidents ?
People who we love pass away !
Why children from great Christians parents get sick ?
Why does God allow these things, if he loves us ?
How many Christians grow bitter and resentful towards God !
Many Christians are saying: Why God ?
WHY HAS THIS COME TO MY LIFE ?
IF HE IS GOD HE COULD STOP IT !
FAITH IS TRUSTING HIM – REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES !
The answer is on the Bible ! We understand this by Faith !
We understand the believers suffer by Faith and through Faith !
Through trusting , through Believing
Maybe you can not accept , But God is Good !
He is God and there is no other ! He is supreme , he’s Superior , He’s the creator and you are the creature !
No matter , How much we love him, no matter , How much you serve Him ….. WE STRUGGLE …… WE STILL STRUGGLE WHEM THE ADVERSITY KNOCKS AT OUR DOOR !
Be prepared!
No man has ever suffered as Jesus suffered !
We have the tendency to say : God it’s a mistake ! I don’t deserve it.
Why was I born poor ?
Why is my life in such a mess ?
Why do my kids break my heart ?
Why do I have to deal with so much pain ?
But as a Christians we understand by Faith , because God is a Good God !
No one likes suffering – including me !
Nobody likes suffering
Listen: Suffering is a part belonging to our fore father Adam
I don’t like it , but it’s part of life
Even though suffering is not from God , People have been turning to God because of their Suffering !
When things are okay , when life is good , when health is fine : no one wants to seek God !
But when accidents happens, when problems knocks on people’s door : the first thing people say is : My God ! Jesus !
Suffering and pain have been the way that many people have returned to God and been saved !
Genesis 3:17-19 “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful (Tóiel) toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your (brau )brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.””
What is God saying here ? In your life you are going to have troubles ! It’s a reality !
God said : because of your sin you are gonna suffer and you are going to dye !
Listen: it’s by Faith and through faith !
You have to believe God regardless the circumstances !
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (Valley of Death) I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
I believe Him in the middle of troubles !
But you have to keep your eyes on the goal , on the recompense , look ahead !
Regardless what happens – I will be with Jesus !
How do we walk ? By Faith or by sight ?
Beloved walk not by sight – walk by Faith !
What does this mean : In every step you are trusting , you are believing !
Do you believe in what the Bible says ?
Romans 8:28 this is Paul writing to the believers in Rome ! Where the believers were facing death , suffering ,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
All and everything thing works together , cooperates for your good !
My questions is : Does everything work for the good of everyone ?
No ! Everything works for the good of those who LOVE HIM !
Lets look to Joseph life – book Gen. – A young man who loved God !
Here you are going to see , that everything works for the good of those who loves God !
- his brothers hated him
- his brothers sold him to slaves traders
- the traders sold him to Potiphar
- he became a slave at Potiphar’s house !
How would you feel in a situation like that ?
He suffered but kept his faith in God
Because of his character , because of his integrity , because of the man he was , all things worked for his good!
Gen 39:7-10 Potiphar’s wife , a wicked woman invited him to go to bed …. A young single man ! Well built and handsome !
but because he was a man who loved God , a man of faith , a man of integrity , a man of character and morality , because of his fear for God – HE CHOOSE NOT SIN AGAINST GOD –
What happened to him : His fear for God led him to prison !
Because of a lying and wicked woman
Even though – He was sold to slaves traders , went to prison because of a lying woman – He kept his integrity , Faith and love for God !
But , what happened in the prison ? He rose to the Top again ! You know the story .
To make the story short – in 1 day he was no longer the second at Potiphar’s house , but the second man in all the land of Egypt !
Do you see how faith works in the middle of the suffering ?
All things works for the good – of those who loves God If you keep your integrity – being faithful to God
We have a Good God and we can trust him !
Are you prepared for the adversity , for suffering ?
Give God the Glory , When you truly trust him … You can give him glory in the midst of the troubles
- you need to live in this earth – looking towards eternity
- Maybe you have sinned against God
The bible says we need to Repent and
To Repent, means to give up our sins , to renounce , to quit the old style of life !