I
really don’t remember exactly when I said this, but I must have
been very young indeed. Anyway, this is a good question, To put it
another way: why do things that seem unjust happen to us?
First
of all, much of what happens in our life is the result of choices we
make and the consequences of those decisions. But, it goes deeper
than that. Our thoughts, our feelings have an effect on our lives as
well.
Next,
remember that we don’t live on this planet alone; other people
(both good and bad) can impact our lives as well. Also, remember all
those laws we must obey (again, good and bad).
Lastly,
we are not just physical beings, we have a spiritual aspect to our
nature as well. Think about the patriarch Job. He suffered through
pain and anguish caused by Satan and how God ultimately blessed him
beyond what he could have even imagined.
So,
things happen to everyone, but trying to determine why is one very
difficult proposition indeed. Here are just a few passages from the
Bible to reflect upon….
Ecclesiastes
3 ( World
English
Bible
)
Ecc 3:1, For everything there is a season, and a time for every
purpose under heaven: (emphasis added)
Ecc 3:2, a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecc 3:3, a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
Ecc 3:4, a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a
time to dance;
Ecc 3:5, a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Ecc 3:6, a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a
time to cast away;
Ecc 3:7, a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
Ecc 3:8, a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a
time for peace.
Ecc 3:9, What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
Ecc 3:10, I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of
men to be afflicted with.
Ecc 3:11, He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has
also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out
the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
(emphasis added)
Ecc 3:12, I know that there is nothing better for them than to
rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
Ecc 3:13, Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in
all his labor, is the gift of God.
Ecc 3:14, I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has
done it, that men should fear before him. (emphasis
added)
Ecc 3:15, That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be
has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
Ecc 3:16, Moreover I saw under the
sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the
place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
Ecc 3:17, I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the
wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every
work.”
Ecc 3:18, I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests
them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
Ecc 3:19, For that which happens to the sons of men happens to
animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the
other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage
over the animals: for all is vanity.
Ecc 3:20, All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to
dust again.
Ecc 3:21, Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and
the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”
Ecc 3:22, Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a
man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can
bring him to see what will be after him?
Ecclesiastes
9 ( WEB
)
Ecc
9:1, For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that
the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are
in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t
know it; all is before them. (emphasis
added)
Ecc 9:2, All things come alike to all. There is one event to the
righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the
unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice.
As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who
fears an oath.
Ecclesiastes
12
( WEB
)
Ecc
12:13, This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God,
and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
(emphasis added)
Ecc 12:14, For God will bring every work into judgment, with every
hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Romans
8:2 ( WEB
)
We
know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
to those who are called according to his purpose. (emphasis
added)
John
3 ( WEB )
Joh 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have
eternal life. (emphasis
added)
When
I reflect upon all this still have many questions, but this I do know;
God loves me and is working out everything in my life for a reason –
whether or not I know why. More than this, I must love, trust and
obey God in every aspect of my life, because that is what being a
Christian is all about!