Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 13:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”

 

Back in May, we took a break from our study of Luke’s Gospel.  Today, we are returning, and we are returning with an age old question.

 

Haven’t we asked this question in our own lives?  Haven’t we asked that question about our own family and friends?  Haven’t we asked that question about ourselves?

 

We look at different persons and wonder why they got that cancer diagnoses.  We look at different parents and ask why their kid was in that accident. We even look at different places and ask they had that storm.

 

In 2005, I know for a fact that people said Hurricane Katrina was God’s judgement on New Orleans.  Really?

 

Then was Hurricane Harvey God’s judgement on Houston?  Was last month’s flooding God’s judgement on the Hill Country?

 

In Luke 12, Jesus was talking about end time events and our needs to be at peace.  We need to be at peace with God and at peace with one another.

 

Luke 13 is all about God’s Kingdom.  Notice that wording in verses 18 and 20.

 

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

 

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

 

In 13:1, there were some present with Jesus at that season or during that time who told Him an incident involving Pilate and some Galileans.

 

Considering Jesus’ answer starting in verse 2, it seems that their question is our question for the day.  Why do bad things happen to good people?

 

 

1. The Tragedy at the Temple, Luke 13:1-3

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

 

This is an extra biblical event.  That means the only record of it is here from Dr. Luke.  However, it does seem consistent with Pilate’s character.

 

Some Galileans had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices.  While they were participating in a religious activity, Pilate had his soldiers execute them.

 

Can you even imagine?  This would be akin to a mass shooting at a church to synagogue or mosque today.

 

Notice what Jesus asked at the end of verse 2.  Did this happen because God’s was punishing them?  Did this happen because they were worse sinners than the other Galileans?

 

 

2. The Tragedy from the Tower, Luke 13:4-5

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

 

In verse 4, Jesus spoke of a second tragedy. This one involved a tower.

 

18 Jerusalemites were killed when a tower in Siloam fell on them.  Siloam was a part or section of Jerusalem.

 

The end of verse 4 askes the same question that Jesus asked regarding the temple.  Were these 18 worse sinners than other Jerusalemites who didn’t die?

 

 

3. The Tragedy of the Tree, Luke 13:6-9

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

 

In verses 6-9, Jesus told a parable.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and this parable involved a tree.

 

In the Bible, the fig tree often symbolizes Israel and the people of God.  The certain man in verse 6 is God the Father.  The keeper of the vineyard in verse 7 is Jesus Christ the Son.

 

The certain man who planted the fig tree for the sole purpose of growing figs came to the tree for three straight years expecting fruit.  However, for three straight years, he found nothing.

 

He wanted to cut it down, but the keeper of the vineyard talked him into being patient and waiting one more year.  In that time, the vineyard keeper would tend it and fertilize it.  Then, if there was no fruit, it would be cut down.

 

 

Application

So what is the answer to our question?  Before I go any further, it is important to recognize the question as flawed.

 

As Bill Beasley used to say, no one is good.  He was right, and that is exactly what the Bible says.  No one is good.

 

1 Kings 8:46, 46 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near.

 

Psalm 14:1, 1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

 

Psalm 143:2, 2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

 

Romans 3:23, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

Romans 6:23, 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

However, what did Jesus say specifically in this text?  He gave three answers.

 

First, we live in a fallen world, and bad people experience good, and good people experience bad.  When He asked rhetorical questions about the people murdered in the temple and the people killed by the tower, in both instances, He said, “I tell you no.”

 

We can’t always blame individuals for the tragedies of life.  See Matthew 5:45.

 

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

 

Second, instead of worrying about others and comparing yourself and your experiences to others, repent and bear fruit today! 

 

To the “some” who told Jesus about the Galileans in verse 1, Jesus told them the same thing twice. See verse 3 and verse 5.

 

Repent or you will perish.  Repent means to turn from something and go in the complete opposite direction, and the implication is urgency.  Do it now!

 

As it relates to salvation, repent.  Turn from your lie that you can save yourself and turn to Christ alone who can save.

 

As it relates to sanctification or becoming more like Jesus, repent.  Turn from your sin of coveting or disobedience or immorality or lying or pride and turn to Jesus and His way.

 

In the parable of the fig tree, bearing fruit is equivalent to repenting.  God saved you to bear fruit.  If you aren’t bearing fruit, has God saved you?

 

Apart from the rapture, every single person will die and be judged. Either you will be judged for your sins or Jesus will be judged for your sins.  See Hebrews 9:27.

 

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.

 

Third, repent today, and God is patient not wanting anyone to be judged for their own sins.  See 2 Peter 3:9.

 

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

God’s desire is for you to repent today.  Turn to Jesus today.

 

 

Conclusion

Why do bad things happen to good people?  The truth is that it is hard to know, but rather than getting stuck there, will you turn from your sin and self and turn to Jesus today?