From His Heart

Speaker 1

Are you a good person? But bad things continue to happen to you? Why? Well, discover the answer today on From His Heart.

Speaker 2

I was going through a hard time in life and I talked to a pastor friend of mine. As he was encouraging me, he said, "Jeff, Romans 8:28 is still in the book."

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. I encourage you, with whatever you're going through in life, to stay positive and stay encouraged.

The worst situations in life are just an avenue and a roadway for God to work his greatest miracle. He can heal every scar with real truth, real love, and real hope from his heart.

Speaker 1

Are you a person who has experienced a deep and abiding walk with God, yet you've had to endure some really bad things that have happened in your life? Why is that? Why doesn't God protect his own children from suffering?

Well, it's an age-old question and one that's fully addressed on the broadcast today from the pages of Scripture. This is From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve. Thank you for being with us today for a message that answers a really tough question: why do bad things happen to good people?

It's from Pastor Jeff's insightful series, "Now That's a Tough One," addressing the difficult questions of life. You can find out more about this series when you go online to fromhisheart.org.

Now though, let's get started today and learn the answer to that age-old question: why do bad things happen to good people?

Speaker 2

I want to give you seven reasons why bad things happen. Reason number one: because you may have done something wrong. Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, maybe you did something wrong. You know, good is a relative term. We talk about being a good person, but we're not perfect. Jesus is the only perfect person. One of the reasons we can run into bad things in our lives is that, when we're dead honest, we've done something wrong.

Reason number two: maybe you haven't done anything wrong, but someone else has. Bad things can happen to you and me when someone else does something wrong. The Bible says in Romans chapter 14, verse 7, "None of us live to ourselves." We don't live in a vacuum. The things I do affect you, and the things you do affect me; our lives intersect and are entwined. I can get in my car and drive to a restaurant after this service, and I can get hit head-on by a drunk driver on Richmond Road. Now, I didn't have anything to drink; I didn't do anything wrong. He did something wrong, but I'm affected by that. So, why do bad things happen to good people? Well, maybe you did something wrong, or maybe somebody else did something wrong.

Reason number three: maybe it's because Satan is attacking you. He's looking for someone to attack, someone to devour, and he causes suffering among God's people. But as we learn from the story of Job, the devil is limited in what he can do to a child of God because God puts a hedge of protection around His children. The devil has to get permission to come after you and me. God sees to it. Do you remember Jesus at the Last Supper said to Simon Peter, "Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat"? He couldn't just take out Simon; he had to get permission. So, why do bad things happen to good people? It could be that you're being attacked right now. If you're going through some terrible, horrible things, it could be that you're being attacked by the devil, and you're suffering as a result.

Reason number four: maybe bad things are happening to you, a good person, because God is testing you. First Peter, chapter four, verse 12 says, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you." Some of these other things could be or couldn't be. I don't know if it's something I did wrong or if someone else did something wrong, but I do know this: God does test me, and He does test you. When you go through fiery trials, don't be surprised, like, "Whoa, who signed me up for this? Why am I getting this?" Peter says, "Listen, the Lord is testing you." Those fiery trials, those difficulties that come into your life and mine, are a test. Why are bad things happening to you? Maybe right now in your life, it's because God is testing you. Don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing.

Reason number five: why do bad things happen to good people? Because God is teaching you. All the time, God is testing and teaching. I think we would all agree that one of the greatest Christians who has ever lived, maybe the greatest Christian to have ever lived, was the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul experienced bad things in spades. He had some great, awesome, and incredible things happen in his life, but he also faced tremendous suffering. One of the great things was that he was taken to heaven, where he learned and was shown things that are not permitted for a man to speak. He said the revelations God gave him were so great and awesome that they came with a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to keep him from exalting himself. In 2 Corinthians 12:8, he says, "Concerning this thorn in the flesh, I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me." God said to him, "Paul, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." The light came on for Paul. God taught him a great lesson through his suffering, through this bad thing, this thorn in the flesh. Maybe you're going through a bad time right now. God is teaching you. When answers aren't enough, there is Jesus, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. When you walk through the waters, they will not overflow you. When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame kindle upon you. God will see you through. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you, Lord, are with me," because God is teaching you.

Reason number six: because God is positioning you. Another man in the Bible who had lots of bad things happen to him, yet was such a good and godly man, was Joseph. Joseph in the Old Testament was Daddy's favorite, but he had ten brothers who hated him and sold him into slavery when he was 17 years old. His master Potiphar's wife lied about him, and they threw him in prison. He didn't understand why he was in Egypt. But when he was 30, he interpreted a dream, and God pulled him out of prison. Pharaoh elevated him to the number two man in all of Egypt, making him prime minister. God gave him wisdom and insight, telling him there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was in charge of keeping everybody alive during the famine, devising a master plan to store up grain during the years of plenty.

When the years of famine came, he had enough to feed the multitudes, and he was reunited with his brothers, who didn't recognize him. When he finally revealed himself to them, they were dismayed and afraid. Joseph said in Genesis 45:8, "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler of all the land of Egypt." He explained that God sent him there to preserve life. The Lord was positioning him. God had a plan that required Joseph to be in Egypt, and He sent him through tribulations, through Potiphar's house and the prison, to get him where He wanted him to be. Maybe you're going through something right now that you don't understand and don't like. God says, "Well, you don't see what I see. All you see is the prison, but I see the palace. I see what's going to happen after that. I see that you're going to preserve many souls alive by your life, and I'm putting you exactly where I want you to be."

Speaker 1

You're listening to From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve, where in just a moment he'll return with the seventh and final reason that bad things happen to good people.

Listen. Life is filled with tough questions. We have questions about why people suffer, the truth of the Bible, the existence of God, heaven and hell, and many more. And this month, Pastor Jeff continues to answer these kinds of questions.

Also, earlier this month we aired a timely six-lesson series that gives us all insights to bolster our faith. It's called Life's Biggest Questions. This series is our gift of thanks to you this month for your support from His Heart. This month, for any amount, the series is available on a USB flash drive, CDs, DVDs, or an immediate MP3 download—your choice when you make your gift today.

When you do that, we'll also send you Pastor Jeff's timely booklet, the ABCs of the Christian Life. This booklet will help you face your fears and have a flourishing faith by learning the benefits of fearing the Lord. Because as the Bible says in Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

From His Heart exists to point people to Christ, and we appreciate your support to make that happen. If you want to get the six-message series Life's Big Questions and the booklet the ABCs of Life, go to fromhisheart.org or call 866-40-BIBLE. Thank you so much for your investment into the growing outreach from His Heart to speak the truth in love to the lost in a desperate world.

Now let's conclude this important and timely message today: When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

Speaker 2

**Reason 7: Bad Things Happen to Good People Because We Live in a Fallen World**

Sometimes that's just the answer. Because life happens and because life on this earth is cursed by sin. When Adam and Eve fell, God cursed the earth, and the whole earth is under a curse. You and I live in a fallen, sinful world. Matthew chapter 5, verse 45 says, "The Lord causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Now, the Lord is very, very upfront with Christianity. Sometimes we're not upfront with people when they're coming to Christ. We give them the idea that, hey, the Christian life is all honey and no bees. It's a wonderful rose with no thorns. God never says that. The Lord says, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. I said, through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." When Paul got saved, the Lord told Ananias, "Tell Paul how much he must suffer for my name's sake." Man, he's upfront. It's going to be tough. Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Jesus said to his disciples, "In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good courage. I have overcome the world."

So the Lord is very, very upfront. You're going to have trouble, but listen, you're going to have trouble in this life, whether you're a Christian or you're not a Christian. The Christians have the Lord with them to go through all the trouble. See, Paul would have had a lot easier life had he not trusted Christ. But then he would have died and gone to hell, and his life wouldn't have counted for Christ. There would be thousands and thousands of people who wouldn't have been touched by the gospel if Paul hadn't given his life to Christ. But see, the Lord just lets us know upfront, if you're going to walk with me, you're going to have some trouble in life. God the Father says, "Listen, if they took my own dear son and nailed him to a cross, and you follow him, you're going to know the fellowship of his sufferings, and it's going to be hard for you. But be of good courage, because I'll be with you every step of the way."

**Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?**

Because you've done something wrong. Because someone else has done something wrong. Because Satan is attacking you. Because God is testing you. Because God is teaching you. Because God is positioning you. Because we live in a fallen world.

Now, what do you do in closing? What do you do when you're in the midst of bad things happening to you and you're really trying to do right, and you're trying to walk with God and you're facing bad things right now?

**Number One: Continue to Trust God.**

Continue to trust God. That's what Paul did when he strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith. Keep trusting God. Proverbs 3:5, one of the greatest verses in all of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." Just trust him no matter what is going on. Psalm 62, verse 8 says, "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us." Continue to trust him. Listen, it is better to die in faith than to live in doubt.

**Number Two: Seek Him.**

See, a lot of times when the tribulations come, we can just say, "I am out of here. I can't handle this anymore." And God, I'm checking out; I'm turning in my uniform. I had a professor in seminary who said, "You know, you're really saved when you throw in the towel and God throws it back." I mean, you can't quit. Keep seeking God even through the hard times. Keep praying, keep reading the Bible, keep coming, and keep praising. Keep doing the things you know to do.

I heard a preacher this week who blessed my heart so much. He was talking about Job and all the difficulties Job went through. He said, "If you read in the Book of Job, in Job one and Job two, God is doing a lot of the talking. Then all the troubles hit Job in chapters one and two. At the end of chapter two, God's not talking anymore, and Job is talking a lot. Job is asking God, 'Why, why, why? Why are all these bad things happening to me?' And God is silent from chapter three to chapter 38. For 35 chapters, God doesn't say anything, and Job wants to know why. And God is silent."

Maybe you're here tonight, and God is silent. He's been silent for a long time to you, and you've been seeking God, and there's just silence, silence, silence. And you're ready to quit. Listen, maybe it's only chapter 33. Don't throw in the towel. Don't quit. Don't quit seeking him. Because in chapter 38, God spoke to Job. And in chapter 42, God restored Job, and Job had an awesome experience with God. The book of Job doesn't end in chapter 37; it ends in chapter 42. We have several chapters of God speaking again and God restoring him. So you just keep seeking God.

**Number Three: Examine Yourself.**

Examine yourself. Psalm 139, verse 24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts, and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Maybe you're going through a really tough time in life. Maybe you're having all sorts of Job problems, and you don't realize that you have a really big blind spot that's causing a lot of your problems. Maybe you don't have any friends, and you don't understand. You say, "Well, I'm just being persecuted." Well, maybe you're doing something that you don't even realize, and you're putting out a stiff arm to anybody that wants to get close to you. You don't understand that. You don't realize that you need to get alone with God. God, show me. And God, use people and bring people that can speak into my life and tell me the truth so that I can fix stuff in me.

I love the story in the Gospel of John where Jesus goes to that man who is 38 years crippled, sitting by the pool of Bethsaida, and he says, "Do you want to get well? Do you want to get well?" Hey, we got to deal with some things in your life if you want to get well. So examine yourself if you want to get well.

**Number Four: Stay Positive and Encouraged.**

Stay positive, stay encouraged. That's what Paul was doing. He was encouraging and strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them. Listen, don't quit. Stay positive. Stay encouraged. I was going through a hard time in life, and I talked to a pastor friend of mine. As he was encouraging me, he said, "Jeff, Romans 8:28 is still in the book. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose."

Speaker 1

Right?

Speaker 2

**Romans 8:28.** You know where Paul was when he wrote Romans 8:28? He was in Corinth. Things were going pretty good in Corinth, and he wrote Romans 8:28 when he was in Corinth and everything was going good. It's a lot easier to write Romans 8:28 from Corinth than it is to live Romans 8:28 in Rome when you're in prison and you're waiting to get your head cut off. But the truth of that verse is still true, no matter where you are, whether you're in Corinth or whether you're in Rome or whether you're in Texarkana. God works all things together for good to those who love him. So don't lose heart.

**Psalm 27.** Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. Stay positive and stay encouraged. The worst situations in life are just an avenue and a roadway for God to work his greatest miracle.

Helen Keller said this: "If you keep your face to the sunshine, you cannot see the shadows." I encourage you, with whatever you're going through in life, if you're going through a bad thing and you're a good person, keep your face to the sunshine. Keep your face on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you'll not see the shadows. You'll continue to praise him, and God will exalt you and bring good things to pass at the proper time.

Speaker 1

Wow. You've been listening to today's message, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" And you likely know someone who fits that description. Maybe it's you. You know, the purpose of our ministry is to reach out to people like that and to let them know that they are not alone, that God has not forgotten them.

And there is hope and light and healing and redemption in Christ. It's our desire to share the truth of God's word and to help people around the world to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. We pray that the clear and practical teaching of Pastor Jeff has helped you with that.

Today, we pray you'll find unparalleled peace even in the storms of your life. We pray for you each day, and we hope that you'll pray for this ministry as we diligently and fervently work to bring reconciliation and restoration to as many people as we can until He returns.

Well, I'm Larry Nobles. Our time is up for today. Thank you so much for listening, and we invite you to be here next time for another message from Pastor Jeff's series, "Now that's a tough one: answering the difficult questions of life." That's right here on "From His Heart."

Speaker 2

There is bless there is hope that you always dream love he can heal every scars from his heart.

Speaker 1

From his heart is the listener supported Broadcast Ministry of Dr. Jeff Shreve speaking the truth in love to a lost and a hurting world.

Remember, no matter what, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

Find out more. Go to fromisheart.org.