God is all-powerful. That is why He is called God. But the world has many problems, heartaches, sorrows and tragedies. Why doesn't God do something about them?
For example, Christ is called the Great Physician. Why does He let somany people suffer and die of cancer? Why doesn't He stop it? He is also called the "Prince of Peace." Why does He let thousands of innocent people, even little children, suffer the tortures and horrors of war? Christ also says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Why does He let millions suffer with never-ending poverty? These may not be pleasant questions to ask, but they need answers. Most people want answers now. The Bible does not evade these questions. Let us look and see! God made man perfectly holy and happy. It is transgression of God's law-the law of love-that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God's love is revealed.
When Bad Things Happen to Good People: Does God Care?
1. Does the Lord claim to be able to do everything? Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17.
ANSWER: He says, "Is __________ __________ __________ for the Lord?" "... There is __________ __________ __________ for Thee...."
2. Knowing this, why do we see injustice and cruelty and suffering on every hand? Psalm 10:1.
ANSWER: "Why __________ __________ __________ __________, O Lord? why __________ __________ __________ in times __________ __________?"
3. Can we be sure that God really cares about each person? 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, 6; John 3:16.
ANSWER: "God our Saviour; __________ will have __________ __________ to be saved," and "... who gave Himself a ransom __________ __________."
4. Where can we see an example of the way God cares about all His creation? Matthew 6:26. (Read Matthew 10:29-31.)
ANSWER: "Behold the __________ __________ __________ __________: ... your heavenly Father __________ __________."
Do the little birds work for a living? No! Yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Our job is to believe that God is our heavenly Father, and He will care for us.
What is the Real Cause of the World's Problems?
5. Who does Jesus say is the cause of all our human problems? Matthew 13:24-28.
ANSWER: "He said unto them, An __________ hath done this."
6. Who is this "enemy"? Matthew 13:38, 39.
ANSWER: "The enemy that sowed them is __________ __________.
7. Where did the devil come from? Revelation 12:7-9; Luke 10:18.
ANSWER: __________ __________.
8. What kind of being was he originally? Ezekiel 28:14, 15.
ANSWER: "Thou wast __________ in thy ways from the day that thou __________ __________, till __________ was found in thee."
Sin began in heaven in the mind of Lucifer (who became Satan). No one can explain how sin could begin with a perfect being. It is "the mystery of iniquity." Although we can't tell how sin began, we can know how its power ends-by the sacrifice of Christ.
9. What led to Lucifer's sin and rebellion? Ezekiel 28:16,17.
ANSWER: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy __________."
10. What was Lucifer's goal for himself? Isaiah 14:12-14. (Note all the 'I's.)
ANSWER: "I will be like the __________ __________."
Lucifer's sin was self-exaltation. Hence the love of self is the underlying principle of sin, in complete opposition to the principle of God's government which is founded upon love (1 John 4:7, 8). Sin is rebellion against God. At the heart of every sin is selfishness. In heaven, Lucifer (who became Satan) coveted the place of Christ and therefore desired to murder Him so that he might get Him out of the way. (John 8:44)
11. When Satan's rebellion reached a crisis, what happened? Revelation 12:7-9.
ANSWER: "... Satan, which deceiveth __________ __________ __________: he was cast out __________ __________ __________ ,and __________ __________ were __________ __________ with him."
12. What is our defense against Satan's deceiving power? John 8:32, 36.
ANSWER: "And ye shall __________ __________ __________, and the __________ __________ make you __________."
Knowing what the Bible says opens to our view Satan's workings. They are unknown to most of mankind. It also reveals how God's love is at work, and its final triumph. There was no other way to put an end to rebellion than to let Satan show his evil character fully by crucifying Christ. Only in this way could God win the heart-loyalty of the entire universe. God will win the war, but it will be by love and not by force.
What is God Doing Now to Help?
13. We know that evil has come upon "all men." But how is God constantly trying to undo the evil Satan has done? Romans 5:20, 21, 18.
ANSWER: "Where sin abounded, __________ __________ __________ __________ __________: That as sin hath reigned __________ __________, even so might __________ __________...." "... by the __________ __________ __________ the free gift came upon __________ __________ unto justification of life."
The world may not know it, but they owe every blessing and good thing they enjoy to Him. He has given that "free gift" of "justification of life" to every human being, lifting from the heart that terrible condemnation that would crush out our life, if Christ had not died for us.
14. Is God actually on the job to send this "good news" of the gospel toeveryone, leaving no one out? Romans 10:12, 13, 17, 18.
ANSWER: The Lord "is rich __________ __________ that call upon him." The gospel news "... went into __________ __________ __________, and __________ __________ unto the __________ __________ __________ __________."
"The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation [sacrifice],but He provided the propitiation because He loves us. Christ was the medium through which He could pour out His infinite love upon a fallen world. 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). God suffered with His Son. In the agony of Gethsemane, the death of Calvary, the heart of Infinite Love paid the price of our redemption." Happiness Digest, pp. 3, 4.
Wherever Satan is at work, there Christ is at work by His Spirit to cancel Satan's power. One may hate the Lord and desire to crucify Him afresh, but he owes his life, even all he has, to what Jesus did for him that day when He died on the cross.
5. As salt must penetrate and infuse in order to preserve, what are we to be to the world? Matthew 5:13, 16.
ANSWER: You are the __________ __________ __________ __________.
The salt represents the love of Jesus in the heart, the righteousness of Christ pervading the life. "Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as He worked for the blessing and uplifting of humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy toward all the creatures of our heavenly Father's care." Happiness Digest, p. 37.
16. Do you want to cooperate with God in His work to help others? __________
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7) "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)