Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

“I, the LORD, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty. [Isaiah 13.11]

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Jesus actually inadvertently answered our question with another question:

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. [Mark 10.18]

With what Jesus said here, we can conclude that the cliché, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" reveals a universal ignorance of God and His Word.

Sin requires punishment. There is no exception. Justice demands it.

Bad things never happen to good people. Bad things happen to sinful people. Even if we don't think we or others are sinful, the bad things that happen prove otherwise. That's what curses do!

Jesus' question in Mark 10.18 above (also recorded in Luke 18.19) reveals two things. 

First, Jesus made clear that if only God is good, then there are no good people. It's that simple. So, the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" is erroneous in it's false estimation that any person is good.

Secondly, God never asks a question He does not already know the answer to. In the Garden of Eden, when God asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" it was His way of revealing the obvious unspoken answer, "We have disobeyed and have separated ourselves from the presence of God." 

Jesus' declaration that "only God is good" answered the question, "Why do you call me good?" with this obvious, but unspoken answer, "Because I am God."

Why then do bad things happen to good people? Because, first of all, people are not good! But that leaves us with a hopeless situation, doesn't it? Now, we are getting somewhere! Now we can see more clearly the amazing love and grace of God in sending Jesus His Son to suffer and die for hopelessly evil people!

But then, why do bad things happen to people redeemed by the blood of Jesus? The same reason people don't go to heaven even though their admission has been secured by Jesus! People suffer both temporally and eternally because they do not respond to God in faith. To enter heaven, one must repent (because no one is good) and believe that Jesus is his or her Redeemer. To overcome "bad things" on earth, one must repent (again, because no one is good) and believe Jesus is his or her Redeemer. 

Why is faith so important? Because nothing but faith pleases God (Hebrews 11.6).

Look back at our opening verse:

“I, the LORD, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty. [Isaiah 13.11]

Does it not stand out that God will crush the arrogance of the proud? Only pride would lead a person to self-declare innocence. Only pride would lead a person to think he or she could declare another person innocent! But that is precisely what the very question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" does! It proudly defends human innocence (which is entirely impossible according to God's Word).

In this way, however, we see God's mercy. Bad things here on earth serve to remind us to repent and believe. It is a great exercise, repenting and believing for temporal things on earth, so that we might have confidence in repenting and believing for eternal things in heaven. It is indeed all about faith as Jesus indicated further in the context of His discussion in Mark 10:

The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” [ Mark 10.26-27]

The full context of Mark 10 is highly enlightening as it pertains to the discussion here. No human is capable of pleasing God (for earthly or heavenly benefit) except with the one tool God has provided every human: faith. Otherwise, Isaiah 13.11 is the default.

Instead of asking then, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" we should ask, "Why do bad things happen?"

If faith is not part of the answer, then the answer is simply wrong, temporally and eternally.

Father, I realize what I have said here is contrary to the popular beliefs of many people today. May Your Truth as revealed in Your Word transcend all opinions, including my own. May we all find grace as we respond to You in faith. May faith be found in our every response to You.