Why Did That Happen?

I truly believe that we are fighting a spiritual war here on Earth. We are not fighting against flesh and blood so much as the spiritual forces of darkness.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph. 6:12

Sometimes, God allows what we see to be bad or an inconvenience in our life because he is preventing something else worse from happening or He is setting us up for a different future than we could have if we had that something that we've always wanted...or even if we have a fender bender, get stuck in traffic, or find ourselves in the middle of a conflict that we never intended to get into in the first place.

Now, I'm not saying that God causes bad things to happen. Unless we are talking about His judgment or punishment, which sometimes happens, I truly do not believe He purposes to cause His children harm. The Bible says that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1: 17 It also says, "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

But the truth is, as much as God desires our good, our world is just full of bad. It is because of the fall of man (Adam and Eve sinning in the garden--you know, the apple and the snake and all that) and because that original sin infected man kind for the future that mankind continues on Earth. Now, I do not believe that children die and go to hell. I believe in something called the Age of Accountability. Look that up if you're interested! But I do think we all suffer from a sin condition that we were, essentially, born with. But I think we all can admit that we all have "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," no matter what Eve did. So, because God gave us free will, we sin. Did God have to give us free will? Nope. He could have made us all robots that followed Him no matter what. But He didn't. He decided to give us the choice.

Why? Because He wants us to choose on our own to follow Him out of the love in our hearts. He wants a true relationship with us. He did this for our own good. He wanted us to be in a relationship with Him that was greater than that of the angels even (whom He also gave free will by the way). He wanted us to share in His own glory as co-heirs with Christ. He wanted so very much for us! Of course, we usually find a way to disappoint God. We usually let our flesh get us in trouble for time to time. Which is why it is so wonderful to be covered in the blood of Christ, sealed with Him for eternity.

But here's the deal, we cannot blame all the bad stuff in the world on God. We can't get all up in arms because He's not a genie granting us our every wish. God has a bigger picture of our lives and the world than we do. And the main thing is that people are saved and that His Kingdom is expanded. And He does have a plan on ridding the world of evil eventually. And vanquishing Satan. Whoohoo!

In the meantime, though, we have a job--and that is to share the Gospel of Christ and to be His examples on Earth. In our jobs, in our families, in our going about the world, we should be about His business--and not our own. Ouch. That really puts things into perspective for me. I have no right to throw things in the face of God when my life is not my own anyway. And I know He has a good plan for me. I know this because His word says it. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and hope." Jeremiah 29:11

So, the next time you stub your toe, try saying a word of praise to God instead of cursing. He has a plan--and maybe it was that you wouldn't wear your high heeled shoes and fall down the stairs, breaking your who knows what. Who knows? Only God does.

So let's leave things to Him and just do what He has told us to--be His witnesses to a lost world, confused and trapped by its darkness, not knowing or understanding the Light that could dispel it all for once and for all--and for good.