Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

I think almost everyone has either heard that question or asked it themselves. People struggle over this question and make up excuses and lies to comfort themselves and others. The problem is, it shouldn't even be answered in the first place. Why? Because it is the wrong question.

The reason why it’s the wrong question is because it presupposes that there are good people.

The Bible says “There are none righteous, no, not one, none who does good…”

People are not good. By nature, in fact, since the fall, we have been anti-good. We are bad. We are prone to sin, and sinful. We are in rebellion against God and at war with the truth, dead in our trespasses and sins. (Romans 1, Ephesians 2)

The other way to put this question is this way: Why do good things happen to bad people? Or, Why is God Gracious?

The only answer to that is: because the Worst Thing happened to the Good Man.

Jesus was the only good person, and He suffered as though He were the worst criminal, the greatest sinner, and most defiant enemy of God. He suffered that for us.

Philippians 2:5-8

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

So instead of asking “Why do bad things happen to good people”, I think we should point out that simple yet profound truth:

The Bad Thing happened to the Good Shepherd, and now, because of this, we are free and redeemed. Praise God!