Faith It recently shared a devotional based on a 2017 article written by Christine Suhan. The article suggests that Christians should stop saying to each other that “everything happens for a reason” because God’s will is not the path we walk, but rather how we walk the path.
The article points out that God’s plan for our lives isn’t to suffer tragedy and illness in our lives, nor does He bring such tragedy or illness upon us. Rather, God provides the strength and wisdom, in Christ, to walk through these things without losing our faith. God’s will is for us to draw close to Him in the midst of pain and to use painful life events to carry, demonstrate and stand strong in His message of hope, grace, forgiveness and mercy.
The Faith It article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, the issue at hand involves “original sin” introduced when Adam and Eve succumbed to the evil one in the Garden of Eden and ate forbidden fruit from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (see Genesis 2:16-17).
Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. Human eyes were opened to sin because of the deceit of the evil one, forever changing the world and setting the stage for God’s “Plan B” – the salvation of mankind through Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross at Calvary.
Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV)
“And the Lord God commanded the man [Adam], saying, ‘[o]f every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
Got Questions discusses original sin, which refers to Adam’s sin of disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit and defining original sin as “the moral corruption we possess as a consequence of Adam’s sin, resulting in a sinful disposition manifesting itself in habitually sinful behavior.” The doctrine of original sin focuses particularly on its effect on our internal nature and our standing before God.
The article also points out that because of original sin, we cannot please God on our own. No matter how many “good deeds” we do, we still commit sin and we still have the problem of a corrupt nature within. We must have Christ; we must be born again (see John 3:3).
John 3:3 (NKJV)
“Jesus answered and said to him [Nicodemus], ‘[m]ost assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
Our past sins are forgiven and we are born again as the gift of God by grace through faith (justification) and we begin the lifelong process of sanctification as we grow day-by-day to be more like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). God deals with the effects of original sin in our hearts through the process of sanctification.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The Got Questions article may be read HERE.
FGGAM’s Co-Founder and Pastor, Dewey Moede, is often called upon to perform funeral services. He notes that those who are deeply grieving following the loss of loved ones sometime question as to why tragedy or illness happens, even to “good” persons, and is such the will of God? Did God bring this upon them?
God’s plan for us is for our good (see Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28). God sometimes allows our faith to be tested (as we move from glory to glory), but He does not cause evil to happen to his children! And when evil comes upon us, God gives us the necessary strength and a way of escape through Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Romans 8:28 (Amplified Bible)
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”
We live in a fallen world because of original sin, and we sometimes suffer because of our own sin and life choices made as a matter of free will. Sometimes we may suffer from the result of others’ sin and life choices – not because the Lord caused it to happen, but because He allowed it to happen. The Lord does not bring pain, disaster or death upon us; that is the mission of Satan.
This writer would suggest, in the alternative, that “everything happens for a reason,” but that reason is not necessarily the will of God in our lives. Through Christ Jesus, we have a way of escape. Salvation, and the accompanying wisdom and strength found in Christ, will carry us through our times of pain and difficult choices in this life. For God is good and His mercy endures forever!
Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)
Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!