A couple of verses in Luke 13 caught my attention for the simple reason that they had the words of Jesus talking about when bad things happen to good people.
“Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Bad things happen to good people and that’s the simple truth. Nobody knows why or for what reason, but even Jesus, during his stay on earth, referred to this. The people who were affected by tragedy or horror were not more sinful than anyone else; they really hadn’t done anything to merit destruction or mistreatment, yet they still suffered and were killed.
As a believer, we know that all things work together for good to those that love God and for the ultimate glory of God, who uses all events and attacks of the devil, flipping them around and using them to serve His purpose.
Bad things do happen to good people… and it doesn’t mean God isn’t looking or isn’t in control.
One other verse that hit me was the one where Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to leaven. A little bit of God has great effect on much around it. The most interesting part of this analogy is the fact that during the observation of Passover, leaven is a representation of sin; a little sin affects everything it touches. How interesting that Jesus also likened leaven to the effect of God in people’s lives.
