Pastor's Blog

If God is good, why did David die?

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Pastor Tom

David was supposed to be graduating this month. He looked forward to College and all the possibilities that awaited him there. David was 17. On Saturday, May 8th, he was on his way to a movie with an 18 year old friend. They were involved in a serious car crash. Both died at the scene. Alcohol and speed were not a factor. Both of these young men were Christians. They were involved in their church and volunteered helping younger children. Now David’s parents (my cousin and his wife) go into the summer gripped by grief. They have entered that journey through the shadow of the valley of death. Why?

This story could be repeated over and over. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there such suffering in this world? Why the holocaust, 9/11 or mass shootings? These questions particularly trouble us Christians. We believe God is good so He does not desire evil. We also believe He’s all powerful. He has the power to overcome evil. So God is all good and all powerful but evil has not been overcome. The atheist concludes therefore, God does not exist. It’s a strong argument. In fact many have been turned into skeptics because some evil has permeated their lives. Or some witness immense suffering maybe in Haiti or on the street or in a hospital. And they conclude, if God exists and allows this kind of suffering and could stop it if He wanted to, but doesn’t , I want nothing to do with Him.

So how do Christians answer this strong claim against God? I recently heard Christian apologist and philosopher Norman Geisler summarize it this way. We agree God is good. We agree God is all powerful. We agree with the atheist’s claim that evil has not been overcome. But we argue that there is one word missing from that third point. Evil has not been overcome YET. By the nature and character of God, we trust and know that He will eventually overcome all evil. Every heinous act will be called to account. Every hidden crime will be exposed. All sickness and untimely death and tragedy will one day be overcome. Some of the hidden purposes of God will one day be revealed.

Not that we understand all this. We dare not offer simplistic explanations to friends in especially grievous moments. But we do have a grounded hope when we turn to a loving and compassionate God whose ways are beyond understanding and who promises to overthrow all evil in the end.

So David has physically died. But he is not dead. In fact he already enjoys the glories of heaven much sooner than most people expected he would. One day, the evil of death will be overcome. Until that day, we can and must turn to the compassionate God, who will sustain us until He defeats death forever.

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