As has been written from the start of our quest to answer the question of evil and suffering, this is a question the appears to affect us all more than any other. We all have or will enter days of suffering. So why? Why does it happen?
It has been asked many times "why do bad things happen to good people?" One reply to such a question is that there really are no good people. This means the we are all people who have fallen short of obedience to God, our creator, and as a result, we all suffer the consequences. When humanity decided to rebel against God in Genesis 3, all of creation changed. The repurcussions of that rebellion resulted in all creation falling under the judgment of God. So why do bad things happen? Can I say that we have brought such things upon ourselves?
But wait a minute? What about children who are abused? What about those who seek God and yet still get cancer and die at a young age? Are they getting what they deserve? It is true that they are born into a world of sin and evil in which all is not right and so as a result, bad things happen. But did they specifically do anything wrong that would warrent such evil atrocities? No! But the fact still remains that we are all born into an imperfect world making suffering impossible to avoid. So where is the justice in this? Good question and one which will be answered, but for the moment, allow me to comment that maybe we should ask a different question: Why should we think suffering should not happen to us? If it is true that we live in disobedience to God, then why doesn't God, who is just, consume us all? It does appear at times that there is not justice in this world, but could it be worse?
But I am going through the darkest time of my life! Why? Why am I suffering? Well, we know that we live in a sinful world in which all has gone tospy-turvy. But that is not the whole answer that I think we find from God. If you read through the book of Job in the Bible, one of the most haunting things about it is that Job, who was a righteous man, suffered incredible pain and loss. His friends who tried to comfort him knew that he must have sinned against God for such afflication to come upon him. "Just confess!" was their continual plea to Job. But Job remained steadfast in his understanding of his right standing before God. By the way, part of the reason that Job's friends wanted him to confess his sin might have been because if Job was a good guy who suffers, then what would keep them from suffering as well?
Now was Job perfect? Of course not. In fact, we see at the end of the book of Job that he repents of the fact he is limited in power and in understanding of God. But the real question of the book of Job shows is that when it comes to suffering, it is not about why, but who. Job never learned why he suffered, but he trusted in God. For Job, it wasn't about an answer, but about the person of God.
When it comes to answering the question of evil and suffering, I think the most definitive answer is found in the cross. God did not remain distant from suffering, but instead, took upon himself the penalty of sin. It is at the cross that justice is served. Who's justice? Our justice! But not only is justice served, but so is love. God has not abandoned us to flounder on this earth with no hope. True, we suffer and our bodies will give way to disease and decay, but for those who trust in what Christ has done on the cross, this life on earth is as bad as it will get.
Questions? I would love to read them!
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