Why do bad things happen to good people – why do Christians suffer?

by David Leach
(Temecula, Ca)

Who is good? You and I may have an opinion as to who is - God says only He is good:

Matt 19:17 (Jesus) ...No one is good but One, that is, God...(and those He rules in)

Matt 7:18 (Jesus) A good tree (God) cannot bear bad fruit...(He can’t do bad things)

1 Jo 1:5 ...God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (He cannot do bad things)

Jam 1:13 ...God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. MSGE

So where do bad things come from if not God? From the one who is bad that is the Devil:

John 10:10 The thief (Satan) does not come but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy...

1 Peter 5:8 ...The devil...seeks whom he may devour (take captive, with his thoughts).

Eph 6:12 We are...fighting (by God’s word and Spirit in our thought lives - 2 Co 10:4-5) against the evil rulers of the unseen world, satanic beings...of darkness who rule this world; and numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.

How is the Devil able to do bad things to people? Because He is the world’s ruling spirit:

1 Jo 5:19 ...The whole world lies under the sway (influence) of the wicked one (Satan)

Rev 12:9 ...The Devil and Satan who deceives the whole world...It began in the garden

Rom 5:19 For by one man's disobedience (Adam) many (all) were made sinners...

But what about Christians, can’t God protect us from Satan; not if we sin, as in disobey Him.

1 Jo 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning.

Eph 2:2 ...The prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (by disobedience Christians get hurt by the devil).

Acts 26:18 (Jesus) I send you...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins (whether to be born again or to be restored to God) and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

How can Christians stay out of the destructive hands of Satan? Simply obey God always:

Jer 7:23 (God) ...Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.

Heb 5:9 ...He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Rom 6:16 ...You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin (disobedience to God) resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.

This is the way it is, whether you and I believe it or not. Jesus says “Only believe” (Mark 5:36) so He can bless us and keep us from Satan. Choose obedience and live (Deu 30:19)