Is This Why You Say There Is No GOD?

How Can GOD Be So Cruel?

If There's A GOD, Why Do Innocent People Suffer and Die?

Why Do People Say GOD Is Love, Yet He Lets So Many Bad Things Happen?

Take your pick. The questions are all getting at the same thing -- you find it hard to accept that there is a god when so many ungodly things are happening around you.

I hear you.

There are murders, rapes, tragic car accidents, people dying from diseases, children starving...the list goes on and on.

Let me ask you one thing, however: What kind of place would this world be if no one died, no one suffered, no one got sick? In other words, if everything was perfect?

But is such a thing really possible when we humans are the ones immediately in control of what's going on around us?

How are we in control, you ask.

Well, first of all, who commits murders, drinks and drives, has unprotected sex, starts wars (which leads to countless suffering and deaths), oppresses the poor,etc.? Is it GOD who does these things? No, it's us.

Well, why doesn't GOD stop us, then? GOD gave us free will. Do you really want someone to reach in and tinker with your mind and heart and MAKE you do something? That's not much of an existence, right?

Well, why doesn't GOD warn people when bad things are about to happen to them?

He does. There are warnings and instructions all over the Holy Bible -- GOD's Holy Word.

Now I'm asking you to believe in the Holy Bible! Well, friend, if we are to talk about the True and Living GOD, then we must also talk about the Holy Bible, for the two go hand-in-hand.

But, let's forget about the things we seemingly can control. How about natural disasters? Who is to blame when a nasty tornado sweeps through a town and destroys people's homes and claims numerous lives?

Well, as it says in the Holy Bible, GOD is indeed in charge of all of creation and has orchestrated the movement of nature -- such as rain, snow, hail, etc. So therefore, HE must be in charge of the tornados and hurricanes and earthquakes, too.

Now, I have to tread carefully here because I don't want to make judgments about anyone.

But I will say, good people die everyday -- as it has been since the dawn of time. Some good people die tragically and in suffering, too.

I can't dare to speak for GOD, but I can look to HIS Holy Word and tell you what HE has said about such things.

Consider the Great Flood:

Genesis 6 (New King James Version):
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

So, based on this record, GOD realized -- based on what HE saw happening -- that the nature of man (once we became aware of good and evil), tended to choose to do wicked things. As it says, "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. " Let the violence that we hear and see everyday on the news and in the papers be a testament to that (especially the crimes against children). Remember, there is nothing new under the sun. Every and anything our fellow man thinks to do to harm another has been done since the beginning of time.

Now, when GOD realized that man liked doing wicked things and preferred it over the light, HE was sorry HE even made man. That's right, GOD regretted human creation. And you may say, why did HE even bother making us if HE knew we were going to turn out so terribly? Because when HE made us, HE made us innocent -- we weren't aware of the concept of good and bad. Didn't HE know we would soon find out? -- Of course. So should HE have not made us then? I can't speak for GOD, but I can speak for myself when I say I'm glad I've got life -- despite all the flaws, risks and danger. I delight in the good things.

But people on the earth were behaving so badly that it grieved GOD in HIS heart. Imagine that -- GOD getting so emotionally upset at what HE was witnessing! (Imagine if you could see EVERYTHING wicked and evil we humans do to each other everyday? You'd probably have a breakdown). So HE decided to sort of undo creation - HE would destroy everything and wipe the slate clean. (I'm not forgetting about Noah and his family and the animals.)

So GOD can't stand when man does wickedness - EVER.

Romans 6:22-23 (New King James Version): 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:11-13 (New King James Version): 12 Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned...

So sin (wickedness) leads to death -- in actuality either through wicked actions or through damnation (GOD condemns you because of your desire to remain in wicked ways).

Matthew 19:15-17 (New King James Version):
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Let me ask another question: Would you reward evil actions? Would you continually intercede and save/help someone who seems to always choose to do bad things to others? I know I would grow very tired of it. Of course, you would always try to help and reward those who do good.

Sit back and take a good look at the world in which you live. There are many who make life seem so pleasurable, yet there are just as many that make you ashamed to even be human.

As long as we live in a wicked world, we should expect bad things to happen on the grand scale. As for the individual, it is between he/she and GOD as to how things will be.

Again, bad things happen to good people. I know, I've had moments where I've struggled to understand why GOD would allow certain things to happen.

But ask any true Christian (I say true because there are many fickle, false people running around dirtying the name) and they will tell you the same thing -- yes, things get bad sometimes, but I know that GOD is with me and will see me through one way or another.

That's how people can say after a terrible storm or accident that the fact that some survived is a miracle. That's why some can say that when they were hiding in the basement and praying to Jesus as the tornado tore apart their house and the homes around them.

Once you enter a real relationship with GOD some things become clear to you. You understand that GOD does not owe you one single thing. There is nothing you could ever give HIM or promise HIM that would mean anything. After all, HE is the CREATOR and we are the creation (dust to dust, my friend).

So you can shake your fist at the heavens and curse and yell at GOD for all the bad things that are happening. Or you can step back and see who is really to blame and that we by nature are quite sinful and delight in sinful things. Until we all change as a whole, the earth will continue to be rocked and we will die and suffer. That's life as we currently know it. A true relationship with GOD will help you weather this storm known as life. And if you walk through it holding on to Jesus' hand and neither looking to the left nor the right, you'll get true life -- as GOD intended you to have.

Keep raging and hating GOD. Or accept that this is a situation that we've gotten ourselves into.

But don't forget, that there is a solution - eternal life. And that eternal life is quite accessible for those who truly thirst and hunger for it.

If you want it, it can be yours. Start by sitting yourself down and saying, "GOD, I don't know much about YOU, but I think there's a good chance You're real and I want to know who YOU ARE. Show YOURSELF to me, LORD GOD so that I may consider what it is you require of me."

Chances are, HE'll take you up on that.

I say chances because you have to mean it. Just like HE can get angry, sad and disappointed, GOD can also get impatient -- HE won't wait for you forever.


Extra reading:

Ephesians 5:8-10 (New King James Version):
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.


Proverbs 6:16-19 (New King James Version):
These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

That is: pride, lying, murderers, purposeful wickedness, pleasure in wickedness, false witness, trouble starters...

Galatians 5:19-23 (New King James Version):
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control...

Psalm 11:5 (New King James Version): The LORD tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.


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