Tested of God:
The community of atheists have worked hard to prepare for themselves the following question; “How can the God of the Bible who claims to be Almighty; all knowing, and omnipresent allow human suffering and tragedy like He does?”
Even for those Christians, who do have a great deal of insight will at times step back from the question. It’s obvious to everyone there is a great deal of injustice, pain, and suffering going on in the real world.
Well I suppose there are several ways to answer the question. But how can we answer it and be scripturally sound? If we approach the question from a worldly view, the question may even confuse the well studied Christian, and the answer may elude them.
Let’s start from a Christian’s point of view. First we must ask, “Why are we here on earth in the first place?” Are we here to get a good education, find a great job, earn a nice paycheck, enjoy 2 or 3 weeks of vacations in Hawaii, raise a family, own a home, purchase a new car, and never get sick? Well it all sounds good; and for those who expect these things, disappoint waits just around the corner.
Becoming a Christian in no way promises a comfortable, easy, and harmonious life. On the contrary, for many it’s the opposite. Human suffering for many weak men and women has turned their hearts away from God because they lost faith in Him to care for them. Yet with others who have suffered the same pains, these have grown stronger in their walk of faith.
Through all the human pain and suffering the words of our Lord have survived for some 2000 years, and the Holy Spirit has remained steadfast in His work. The logical answer has eluded many, yet others have found the answer to the question.
Ever since Noah came over the flood, God has been working on developing mankind spiritually. From the cradle, He has to begin with a fallen, depraved nature and a proud spirit. Man’s spiritual development is his concern not our worldly comforts. This world is the stage, a stage cluttered with dreams, expectations, ideals, sorrows, pain, and disappointments. These are the facts and truth of every person’s life; and each of us will be put to the test; that test proving and development our spiritual strengths, or causing some to fail.
If you were an athlete would you build yourself up physically, push yourself to your maximum limits, and then test those limits? Or do you retire to the couch, grab a beer, turn on the tube, and take it easy, then try to compete? Of course not!
Christian strength and testing is accomplished through many forms of stress. It has been proven over and over again, the weak will fail and fall in the time of tribulation, yet when that tribulation is over the church comes out a Samson in spiritual strength, a Solomon in spiritual wealth, and an Abraham in saving faith.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com