That's because there are no "good" people. Most of the suffering that people endure come about as a result of being part of a fallen human race that inhabits a fallen universe. Degrees of suffering are not predicated upon the relative goodness of individuals but upon the gracious will of God; that is to say that your level of suffering now as compared to those in Africa is not due to the fact that you are a better person than the mass of brutalized Africans living in their native land.
So the more appropriate phraseology that describes the actual state of affairs would be: "good things happen to bad people" (No, I haven't read Rabbi Kushner's book. LOL). What could be a better thing than languishing in the pit of suffering and then being told that it doesn't always have to be this way, and that the real solution to the problem is not a change in circumstance but a change in perspective—one that looks to a Person, Jesus Christ?
We will all suffer in this life, both the "good" and the "bad" people. Job was by all accounts a "good" person, but then he had eyes enough to see the vileness that festered within his own heart for him to cry out, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25—26). It is unlikely that you and I would ever suffer to the degree that Job did. But if we are to rise above our suffering, we must be one with him in crying out for Christ, our hope in this life and the life to come.
So the more appropriate phraseology that describes the actual state of affairs would be: "good things happen to bad people" (No, I haven't read Rabbi Kushner's book. LOL). What could be a better thing than languishing in the pit of suffering and then being told that it doesn't always have to be this way, and that the real solution to the problem is not a change in circumstance but a change in perspective—one that looks to a Person, Jesus Christ?
We will all suffer in this life, both the "good" and the "bad" people. Job was by all accounts a "good" person, but then he had eyes enough to see the vileness that festered within his own heart for him to cry out, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25—26). It is unlikely that you and I would ever suffer to the degree that Job did. But if we are to rise above our suffering, we must be one with him in crying out for Christ, our hope in this life and the life to come.
Good post. The Scriptures are clear that there is none good, no not one. Really, the question is Why do Good Things happen to bad people?
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this reminder. Praise God that our hope is Christ.
ReplyDelete'That's because there are no "good" people. Most of the suffering that people endure come about as a result of being part of a fallen human race that inhabits a fallen universe. Degrees of suffering are not predicated upon the relative goodness of individuals but upon the gracious will of God; that is to say that your level of suffering now as compared to those in Africa is not due to the fact that you are a better person than the mass of brutalized Africans living in their native land.'
ReplyDeleteWell stated.
'Degrees of suffering are not predicated upon the relative goodness of individuals'
I would agree in general terms, although sin can lead to more suffering.
'but upon the gracious will of God;'
Agreed.
I will always remember that first sentence: Bad thing don't happen to good people "because there are no 'good' people." Right on the money!
ReplyDeleteIt's that good things happen to bad people - that's the story of grace. Good stuff.
Soli Deo Gloria, my siblings in Christ!
ReplyDelete