BY JACK WARD
Psalm 14:1: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
Those who reject the God of the Bible really have to admit that they just do not know for sure whether God is there or not because they have never investigated the issue. Or they believe that God let their loved one die and they are really just mad at Him.
We all know that thousands of people die each day. But to believe that God only lets other people die and not our loved ones is pretty arrogant, we have to admit.
Bad things happen not because it is God’s fault. Adam is the one who sinned and the result is that we have all been separated from a Holy God.
Tragedies happen in a sinful and fallen world. The Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust. It is just life. Yes, I believe that God protects us from early death and tragedy sometimes but the Bible also says that we all have an appointment with death one day.
But do we really know how many times God protected us when He did not have to? How many close calls have we had with injury or death? We are one bad cell from cancer, one bad germ from a terminal illness, one heartbeat from death.
We all have to admit that God is good to us. We have many more good days than bad, for sure. We have great and wonderful times in our lives—times of rejoicing and times of great happiness, along with the sorrows of life.
So how can we be mad at God? He is a good God. We are the ones who are bad. He is so good, in fact, that He has made a way for us to be restored to holiness and perfection. The Lamb of God has provided the provision for our sin. Jesus Christ took our punishment for our sin on His cross. He died that we might live and be restored to holiness and complete joy.
Eternal life begins the moment we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He did it because He loves us, not because we deserve it.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” should be said, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” The Bible says that there is none good but one and that is God. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) We have all sinned before a perfect and holy God.
You see, God is not only Holy but also just. A just God cannot just forgive sin without penalty. The Bible says, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.“ Sin is such a serious crime that blood is required. Death of the sinner is required. You rob a bank and the judge may forgive you but that does not mean anything. He still must sentence you for the crime. That is justice. The people whose money you stole want justice.
Heaven cries out for justice for sins. God gave Jesus Christ to take your punishment for your sin so that you might be declared NOT GUILTY in heaven’s court. We are justified. Justice is satisfied. Just as if we had never sinned. Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God when He died for your sins and mine.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call unto me, and I WILL answer thee … and SHOW THEE great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”
My non-believing friends, God challenges you to ask him to reveal Himself to you. What have you got to lose? Will you take the challenge?
Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons every Sunday morning at 10:30 on 98.9 WSIP FM. Check out the Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church Facebook page and our website at tomahawkmbc.com.