Bible Question: What do you tell someone who asks, "If there is a God why are there young children who are sick and dying?"   Bible Answer: An important truth for anyone to hear is that God loves His creation, including little children. During Jesus' life on this earth, He gave special attention to young children (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). God encourages us to care for the orphans, widows (James 1:27), prisoners (Heb. 13:3), and poor (Luke 4:18). Even though there is sickness and death, God does love us (John 3:16).     This is a good question to ask, but it assumes several things are true. First, it assumes that every living man or woman in this world does not deserve to suffer, no matter how young or old. It also assumes that God may not be loving and considerate. And the question also assumes the following,      You thought that I was just like you. (NASB) Ps. 50:21    All three assumptions are contrary to the truth. This question is also similar to, "Why does God allow war?"     Man Deserves To Suffer. The first part of the answer to this question is that every man and woman is a sinner. God is holy and we are evil. This has never been a popular concept, especially today. The reason we struggle with this issue is presented in these two passages,      God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (NASB) 1 Samuel 16:7    All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives. (NASB) Proverbs 16:2    Most men and women see themselves as good people. But God has a different standard,      YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. (NASB) 1 Peter 1:16    Who of us measure up? God says that none of us do according to Rom. 3:10-18. Genesis gives us God's perspective,      Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (NASB) Genesis 6:4    The presence of illness in our lives is the result of Adam's decision to disobey God. When he disobeyed, illness and death became a reality in this life (Gen. 2:17). And we suffer in other ways when we choose to sin. We hate, lie, lust, eat too much, complain, and seek personal glory. We are self-centered people. God used Israel to discipline a number of nations in the Old Testament because of their sin.      It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you . . . (NASB) Deut. 9:5        God Does Love us. So we deserve to suffer. In fact, we deserve to go to hell and remain there for eternity,       < Back   Next >
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