From His Heart

Narrator: Are you a good person, but bad things continue to happen to you? Why? We'll discover the answer today on From His Heart.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: I was going through a hard time in life, and I talked to a pastor friend of mine. And as he was encouraging me, he said, "Jeff," he said, "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." And I encourage you with whatever you're going through in life, stay positive and stay encouraged. The worst situations in life are just an avenue and a roadway for God to work His greatest miracle.

Song: He can heal every scar with real truth, real love, real word from His heart.

Narrator: 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?

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Well, it's an age-old question and one that's fully addressed on the broadcast today from the pages of Scripture.

Narrator: This is From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Schreve.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Thank you for being with us today for a message that answers a really tough question: Why do bad things happen to good people?

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

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Now, though, let's get started today and learn the answer to that age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people? I want to give you seven reasons why bad things happen.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: 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.

You know, we talk about we're a good person. Well, we're not a perfect person. Jesus is the only perfect person, but you know, one of the reasons that we can run into bad things in our lives is because when we're just dead honest, we've done something wrong.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason number two: Maybe you haven't done anything wrong, but maybe someone else has done something wrong. See, bad things can happen to you and me when someone else does something wrong.

The Bible says in Romans chapter 14 and verse 7, "None of us live to ourselves." We don't live in a vacuum, and the things that I do affect you, and the things that you do affect me, and our lives intersect and our lives are entwined in this world.

I can get in my car and I can drive to a restaurant after this service, and I can get hit on Richmond Road head on by a drunk driver. Now, I didn't have anything to drink. I didn't do anything wrong. He did something wrong. But I'm affected by that.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, maybe you did something wrong. Maybe somebody else did something wrong.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason number three: Maybe it's because Satan is attacking you. He's looking for someone to attack. He's looking for someone to devour, and he causes suffering among God's people.

But as we learn from the story of Job, and Job was terribly, horribly attacked by the devil, the devil is limited as to what he can do to a child of God because God puts a hedge of protection around His children, and the devil has to get permission to come after you and to come after me.

God sees to it. Do you remember Jesus at the Last Supper said to Simon Peter, "He said, Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat." He couldn't just take out Simon. He had to get permission. But why do bad things happen to good people?

Well, 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.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason number four: Well, maybe bad things are happening to you, a good person, because God is testing you. First Peter chapter 4 and verse 12 says this, "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."

See, some of these other things could be or couldn't be. I don't know if it's something I did wrong or someone else did something wrong, but I do know this, that God does test me, and He does test you. And when you go through fiery trials, don't be surprised, like, "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, that come into my life, it's a test. Why are bad things happening to you maybe right this moment in your life? Because God is testing you, and don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason number five: Why do bad things happen to good people? Because God is teaching you. Now, all the time God is testing, and all the time God is teaching, and I think we would all agree, one of the greatest Christians who has ever lived, maybe the greatest Christian to have ever lived, was the Apostle Paul.

And the Apostle Paul, you talk about bad things happening, wow. He had bad things in spades. Now, he had some great and awesome and incredible things that happened in his life, through his life. One of the great and awesome things was he was taken to heaven. He said, "I learned things and I was taught things, and I was shown things that are not permitted for a man to speak. I can't even talk about them."

Because he said the revelations God gave me were so great and so awesome. What came also with those revelations was a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to keep me from exalting myself. Because there was a great tendency with what God had shown him that Paul would have exalted himself. He would say, "Look at me! Look what God did in my life! Look at the things I know, at the things these eyes have seen."

And so God gave him a thorn in the flesh. We don't know what that was, and he says in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 8, "Concerning this, this thorn in the flesh, I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me." And He has said to me, Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you. For power, My power is perfected in weakness."

And the light came on for Paul. Wow! 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.

Song: When answers aren't enough, there is Jesus. And He will never leave you, and He will never forsake you. And when you walk through the waters, they'll not overflow you. When you pass through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame kindle upon you. And 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.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Because God is teaching you.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason number six: Because God is positioning you. He's positioning you. Now, another man in the Bible who had lots of bad things, who was such a good man, such a godly man, but who had terrible, horrible things happen to him was Joseph.

Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph, daddy's favorite. Joseph who had 10 brothers who hated his guts, and they sold him into slavery when he was 17 years old. His master Potiphar's wife lies about him. They throw him in the slammer. Now he's serving time as an inmate. Didn't understand why. "Why am I here in Egypt?"

But when he was 30, he interpreted a dream. And God pulled him out of the prison, and Pharaoh elevated him to the number two man in all of Egypt. He became Prime Minister of Egypt. And God gave him wisdom, and God gave him insight, and God said, "Hey, there is getting ready to be seven years of plenty and then seven years of famine, and you're going to be in charge of keeping everybody alive during these years of famine."

And so he devised a master plan during the years of plenty to store up all this grain, so when the years of famine came, he had enough to feed the multitudes, and so people didn't die. And he was reunited with his brothers, and they didn't know he was Joseph, and when he finally revealed himself to them, they were very dismayed. They were very afraid.

And Joseph said this in Genesis chapter 45 and verse 8, "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God. And He has made me a father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his household and ruler of all the land of Egypt." And he said that God sent me here to preserve life.

The Lord was positioning him. The Lord said, "I have a plan. I'm going to need Joseph to carry out this part of my plan, but Joseph in Canaan can never carry out this plan. So I got to get Joseph into Egypt." And He sent him through tribulations, through Potiphar's house, through the prison house to get him where He wanted him to be.

Maybe you're going through something right now, and you don't understand it, and you don't like it. And God says, "Well, you don't see what I see. All you see is the prison." And God says, "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."

Narrator: You're listening to From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Schreve, who 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, and this series is our gift of thanks to you this month for your support to From His Heart this month of 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.

And when you do that, we'll also send you Pastor Jeff's timely booklet, The ABCs of the Christian Life. And 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 chapter 1 verse 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 Biggest Questions, and the booklet, The ABCs of Life, go to fromhisheart.org, or call 866-40-BIBLE. And thank you so much for your investment into the growing outreach of From His Heart to speak the truth in love to lost in a desperate world. Now, let's conclude this important and timely message today when bad things happen to good people.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Reason seven: 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, because when Adam and Eve fell, God cursed the earth, and the whole earth is under a curse. And 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 get and 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. "Yea, 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 not you're not a Christian. I mean, 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.

And there would be thousands and 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, then 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?

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Number one: Continue to trust God. Continue to trust God. That's what Paul did when he strengthened these souls, 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, "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, oh 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. So you continue to trust Him.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: And continue, number two, to seek Him. See, a lot of times when when the tribulations come, we can just say, "I quit! 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. He 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 and keep reading the Bible, and keep coming, and keep praising. Keep doing the things you know to do. I heard a preacher this week, blessed my heart so much. He was talking about Job. He was talking about all the difficulties Job went through. And he said, "You know, if you read in the book of Job," he said, "in Job 1 and Job 2, God is doing a lot of the talking."

And then he said, "All the troubles hit Job in chapter 1 and chapter 2, and at the end of chapter 2, God's not talking anymore. And Job is talking a lot, and Job is asking God, 'Why, why, why? Why are all these bad things happening to me?'" And God is silent from chapter 3 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, and 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, and listen, the book of Job doesn't end in chapter 37. It ends in chapter 42, and we have several chapters of God speaking again and God restoring him. So you just keep seeking God.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: And then the third thing you do, examine yourself. Examine yourself. Psalm 139 verse 24, "Search me, oh 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. And that's causing a lot of your problems. Maybe you don't have any friends and you don't understand. You say, "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 Bethesda, 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.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: And the 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, and as he was encouraging me, he said, "Jeff," he said, "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."

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