Why?

Many thoughts are running through my mind. No thanks to the effects of coffee and adrenaline :)

But the most pressing one is this. Why? Why do good things happen to bad people? Why do children get "struck" by serious illnesses that drain their finances at time.

I was saved by the bell today. The intermission bell that is. :) From going into a full blown theological discussion.

I believe there are a few reasons.

1) The sins of the father are borne by the son. I had a discussion the other day with a friend from Brisbane about someone we both knew. Let's call him B. B was a crook. I don't know if he's still a crook. Because understandably, Isabel doesn't associate with crooks.:) Problem is, Isabel's parents are friends with B's parents. So occasionally I still hear of stories about B's antics/adventures.

B was a real crook. He was a liar, and a deceiver. Sadly, B is now a pastor. I'd like to think every sinner has a future and every saint has a past. However, I have yet to see anything that proves B is anything but a crook that can hide his tracks well. The Bible does say that by a person's fruits, you will know if the person is a believer or not. And to be honest, I can't see B's fruits. But, that doesn't mean he doesn't bear fruits. It just means, I'm not convinced.

B was a manipulator. In short, he was a two-timer. He dated and expressed interest in two girls at the same time. The worst part was, these two girls were good friends. He went public with one, and covert with another. The only reason Isabel knew was because girl two (the covert one) told me. I was incensed! But there was nothing I could do short of exposing his deviousness. This was in a context of a bigger group of friends. And everyone was amused and happy for B and girl one. When B eventually "dropped" girl two, she was crushed!

And I remember thinking, B was so cruel, the way he manipulated girl 2. All I did do in the end, was tell girl 1 and say, "I want you to know, what kind of animal B is" She said she knew. Perhaps I was judgemental, but I remember praying to God, I hope B will have a daughter one day and understand the PAIN of having his own daughter's heart broken. Thankfully B and girl 1's relationship came to an end.

Years later, B married girl 3 (someone I don't know from anywhere). I remember thinking, "oh dear, poor girl 3, hope she knows what she's getting herself into,"
And they seem to be happily married for the last 10 yrs or so. However, recently, I heard through the grapevine, that girl 3 had a baby girl who died a painful death. And I was chilled to the bone, because I remember the prayer I made, that B will know the pain of having his own daughter's heart broken. I didn't expect God to take it LITERALLY, because the baby girl's heart really stopped! :( YIKES

So if I may come back to my main point, I think some children suffer, because of their father's sins or their grandmother's sins (but that's a different story).


2) I think some children suffer because God wants to use their suffering as a way to testify to His grace and mercy. I have seen many people who have children who are in so much pain, but by their faith in God, they are a real testament to God's love.

and lastly, I quote scripture.

3) John 9:3 Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

I quote the whole context. John 9: 1 to 11

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.