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!
No comments:
Post a Comment