This was our sermon for this past Sunday, and the last week in our FAQs series. I apologize for not keeping as caught up with these in the past, but I had a special request to post this particular synopsis, so here you go..
To start off the sermon, our pastor began by saying that bad things don't happen to good people, because, well...there are no good people. After this statement, you could look around and see some people who got maybe a little defensive or confused, and for some you could hear gasps. To back up this belief, we turned to Mark 10:17-18, which reads "As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good--except God alone.'
This passage pretty much sums that up exactly. None of us are perfect/good except for God. The better question to be asked is, why do bad things happen to people who are 'trying' to be good? Some say that God causes these things to happen to teach us a lesson. Examples of this can be found in Proverbs 3:11-12, as well as Hebrews 12:5-6. Our pastor went on to say that he didn't believe this 100% and that it's probably not a good idea to say that to someone going through a rough situation, because usually we cannot see what God is trying to show us until later on, in hindsight.
It is also say that sometimes bad things just happen, but it's God's nature to bring good things out of them. This is true, however it is mostly because of our sinful human nature and rebellion against God and His will that causes us to be in painful situations. I agree with this completely. I cannot say how many lessons I've learned that could have been so much simpler had I just followed God's will that I felt tugging on my heart. Then again, maybe it's better that I learned the hard way in hopes that I will not repeat my bad decisions from my past.
We were left with this quote: "Jesus didn't suffer so that you won't suffer. He suffered so that when you suffer, you will be more like him."
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I'm so glad you had a request to write this. I really enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I've been through some bad stuff in the past but it's almost hard for me to call it "bad" because I really believe I am a better person because of it. So many more good things than bad have come out of what I went through. I am blessed beyond belief!!!
I love you!