Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Jeremy McLellan – July 16, 2004

In answering this question, we must first define the term “good” and determine from this if there is such a thing as a “good” person. The word good is defined as being morally perfect or having never broken God’s law. In light of this standard, consider the following verses:

Romans 3:10-18 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit" "The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Romans 3:23“for all have sinned and fall short of glory of God”

These verses clearly lay out that man is by nature corrupt, and has turned from God. Man in and of himself is not “good”. Man has not lived up to the moral standards that God gave him in the law (i.e. the ten commandments). However, the Bible does tell us that there was a man who did live up to these moral standards. His name is Jesus. The following verses from the Bible testify to this fact:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ is the only one that is “good”. He lived a perfect, moral life. He obeyed every commandment given by God. Not once did He ever lie, steal, covet, or blaspheme. Yet, at the end of His life, He was rejected by many of the people He loved. He was beaten, spit upon, scourged, his beard was ripped out, he was mocked and crucified. Seven hundred years before Jesus suffered these “bad” things, the prophet Isaiah foretold that this is what the Savior would endure on our behalf.

Isaiah 53:3-5 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

In summary, the Bible tells that these bad things happened to a good person, Jesus, so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life (john 3:16). The punishment that we deserved, for not living up to God’s moral standard, was placed upon Jesus. And in return, if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and seek to live a life of obedience, then we will be saved from the penalty of sin (Romans 10:9-10). The alternative is to reject God’s gift of salvation through His Son Jesus, and suffer the penalty that is due, eternal separation from God, and the Lake of Fire (hell) for eternity.