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#1 – How does the Bible answer the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” (or, vice versa: “Why do good things happen to bad people?”). Real & unsatisfying part of life – Eccl. 8:14 Pondered for ages – Job 21:7. 1. #1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
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#1 – How does the Bible answer the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” (or, vice versa: “Why do good things happen to bad people?”) • Real & unsatisfying part of life –Eccl. 8:14 • Pondered for ages –Job 21:7 1
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -Bible answers include… • The vanity & uncertainty of all earthly things –Eccl. 8:14 • -Whether righteous or sinful (Lk. 16:19) Heb. 11:35-38 2
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -Bible answers include… • Time & chance happens to us all –Eccl. 9:1-2, 11 • -Both calamities & blessings 3
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -Bible answers include… • One of the consequences of sin in the world –Gen. 3:14-15, 19 • -Does not necessarily mean it is due to one’s own sins (Job 4:7; Lk. 13:1-5) • -Opportunity for faith in God’s works (Jno. 9:1-5) • -Better to suffer for good (1 Pet. 3:17; 4:14-16) 4
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -Bible answers include… • Satan is active in the world – Job 1:7 • -Seeks opportunities to discourage, dishearten & destroy (1 Pet. 5:8) • -Uses trials of suffering (Matt. 24:7-13) 5
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -Bible answers include… • Evil people will do harm to the innocent – 2 Tim. 3:12-13 • -Sin & its effects are all around us (Psa. 51:5; Eccl. 7:29) • -Good people are affected 6
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -WHAT SHOULD WE DO?- • Enjoy life as a gift from God, Eccl. 8:15 • Accept that all of your questions will not be answered in this life, Eccl. 9:16-17 • Remember God in the face of life’s trials,Eccl. 12:1, 6-7 7
#1 - “Why do bad things happen to good people?” -WHAT SHOULD WE DO?- • Do not envy the unrighteous, Psa. 73:1-3 (Job 21:7-16; Psa. 37) • -Their end is demise & destruction! (73:18-20) • -God is good to the pure in heart! (73:1) • -Continue with God…live by faith… eternal glory! (73:21-28) 8
#2 – Since God hears the prayers of the righteous (“the prayer of the righteous man avails much”) then does someone (friend/family) in a denominational or “unsound church” who prays for you do any good? • While we cannot render judgment on the validity of every prayer offered, we can know when to be confident that God hears & acts upon prayer – Jno. 7:24 9
#2 – …does someone (friend/family) in a denominational or “unsound church” who prays for you do any good? • KEY: The power of answered prayer lies, in part, in who has the privilege of coming before God in prayer • -The righteous person (James 5:16) • -God’s children –Matt. 7:11 (6:9) • -The person of true faith –Jas. 1:2-6 • -Christians –Heb. 4:14 (3:1; 10:23), 15-16 10
#2 – …does someone (friend/family) in a denominational or “unsound church” who prays for you do any good? • If the denominationalist is saved, then his prayers avail…if he is not, then they do not • -Endorse division - 1 Cor. 1:10 (Jno. 17:20-21) • -Have not been baptized into Christ - Gal. 3:27 • -Not of the “one body” of Christ – Eph. 4:4 (Acts 2:41, 47) • -Offer vain worship to God – Jno. 4:23-24 • -They are lost & need salvation – Rom. 6:3-4 11
#3 – Why and how did the dinosaurs become extinct? In the Bible it says Noah brought two of all living things into the ark (Gen. 6:19-20; 7:8-9). Did Noah forget them (they are now extinct)? • No, Noah did not forget them – Noah fully obeyed God – Gen. 6:22; 7:2-5 • Became extinct before or after the flood • Bible does not reveal such details 12
When did dinosaurs live? (Gen. 1:20, 24) Could dinosaurs fit into the ark? Yes! (Gen. 6:15-17) Why doesn’t the Bible mention them? (Gen. 2:19; Job 40:15-24; 41:1-34) Man & dinosaurs stood together! (Gen. 2:19) 13
We Stand in Awe!Psa. 111:7-10 • Of God’s great works & words • Of God’s holy character which anchor & support His works & words • His name (which is holy & reverend! (Eccl. 12:13) 14