Tragedy and Loss
This is one that effects everybody, all the time. We live our day-to-day lives without thought of a caring God, make our phone calls, write out letters, cash our paychecks, eat our meals... and then, out of the blue, something happens that is senseless or tragic, such as a child getting a debilitating disease of suffering and heartache. Or death of a close one that happens in the dead person's prime.
We all face death; none of us are immortal. But sometimes loved ones die young. Sometimes freak accidents happen that claim their lives and it all seems just so crazy. Sometimes truly wonderful people or children contract painful diseases. We ask ourselves during those times, "why him?" or "why her?" The unexpectedness of the tragedy seems supernatural and the shock reminds us that there is "supposed" to be a God, and that God is "supposed" to be caring. So, in our grief, we turn to God and ask why. We think that because the tragedy was so unexpected that the situation was most certainly caused by God.
We get this idea that God must be some perverse and befuddled entity with sadistic intentions to force us to suffer so.
That doesn't last long though... our minds begin to formulate the idea of a benevolent God being so cruel as an impossibility. Our logic then tells us that there can't be a God, because a real god would not let these tragedies happen. So then we get cynical and express our disdain for the idea of God by telling everyone else that God doesn't exist. It's a way to garner sympathy for unanswered pain.
But what about a serious look at the question of tragedy and God? If God does exist.... well, I know He does, so the question might be, If God exists, then why does this senseless crap happen?
The answer is a simple one, but hard to accept. First, everyone dies. The graveyards are full of people that thought they would live forever. Dying is part of mankind's fall with Adam and Eve. With the salvation that comes by faith, we can look forward to an immortality of the self, but not the flesh. So, even believers are gonna die. Some of those deaths will be quick, some will be painless, and some are gonna hurt. After the return of Jesus, whenever that day comes, our flesh will be perfected and live again. But we're still going to die in the meantime.
But what about senseless tragedy? How could God let a burning school kill dozens of innocent children? That last example of a question assumes something that isn't true. I'll need to lay the groundwork and then I'll explain. It won't take long.
Genesis 1:28: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Note here that God gives dominion (ownership and control) to Adam and Eve. When Eve gave Adam the apple and they had both eaten, they had taken their trust from God and given it to Satan. By this transfer of trust, all of the gift of dominion over the world was lost from Adam and Eve and handed to Satan. Note the New Testament verse 2 Corinthians 4:4: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." This passage refers to Satan blinding men to God's word. God has inspired Paul to label Satan as the "god of this world."
Take a look at Matthew, Chapter 1. Verse 1: "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Don't fall asleep yet. Follow along. Skip up to verses 8 and 9: "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Hmm. Sound like a connection yet? Look at the more detailed version of the offer in Luke 4:5-7: "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." Okay, I'll point it out. Satan offered Jesus the world if He would only kneel and worship him. Satan offered Jesus the world, because he could. The world was handed to him with Adam's fall. Since the time of Adam's fall, complete and total dominion over this world belongs to SATAN. That is why Paul refers to Satan as the "god of this world" - because he is.
This world belongs to Satan until Jesus returns as King to end the devil's rule over the world. Strictly speaking, when bad things happen here on Earth, blame Satan. God has nothing to do with the tragedies and losses that occur here. He gave this world to Adam and Adam handed it right over to Satan. Note also Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Principalities and powers are demons that rule over the areas of this planet. This world is in darkness because it belongs to Satan and his demon followers.
The tragedies that happen here are not God's fault and are not caused by Him. God will reclaim this planet, but until then, the blame for these things rest with SATAN.