Okay, I can deal with the fact that we suffer the consequences for our
mistakes. I can also deal with the fact that the Lord disciplines us for
our good. But this - this is too much!
Does this sound familiar? What in the world did those kids in
Jonesboro, or at Columbine do to deserve that? What did all those people
who went to work September 11 last year in Manhattan do to warrant what
happened to them? What about those faithful Christians in other parts of
the world who are being tortured, whose families are ripped apart, who
suffer daily because of their faith in God. Indeed, the same could
even be said for Job. In Job 1, we can see that it was Job's uprightness
that led to the events that shattered his life.
It is easy to talk about this question on an intellectual level. We can
find answers that seem to fit. However, it is not unusual for those
answers to not quite be enough when an extreme tragedy disrupts your life.
How do you respond? The following story illustrates an answer to this
question.
Several years ago, a faithful and upright young couple lost their only
child in a senseless accident. In anguish they asked why? How could God
allow such a thing to happen? Why didn't he stop it? They asked the
preacher. He said it was God's will. They then asked an elder. He said
that it was a bad tragedy. They talked to their Bible class teacher. He
said that God needed their son, so he took him. They asked a theologian
from a nearby theological school. He explained to them at some length that
God can use every event in a person's life for good. He even cited
numerous scriptures. None of these answers seemed adequate. Surely someone
had an answer. In a last ditch effort, they asked an aging widow in the
congregation why this happened. She simply took those two young people
into her arms, and they all cried together.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Rom
12:15)."
Job's friends came to sit with him and comfort him. It wasn't until
they opened their mouth in chapter four that things began to go downhill.
Sometimes the best thing to do is simply weep with those who weep, and
realize we do not have the complete picture.