A question that has haunted Christians and non-Christians alike since the beginning of time is this: “If God is good and powerful, why does he allow evil and suffering in the world?” Job asked this question several thousand years ago. “God, why have you made me your mark?” (Job 7:20) If God is good, why would he allow such things to happen? This question pressed in on me with a particular clearness this past week as my home state of Kentucky was ravaged by a massive tornado. Small towns dotting western Kentucky were ripped apart in a matter of minutes during the middle of the night. Nearly one hundred individuals were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed. I witnessed this devastation first hand as I volunteered with a search and rescue team and spoke with affected residents.
I believe in the God of the Bible. I believe he is good. I believe he loves the human beings he created in his image. I believe his ultimate desire is not for this world to wallow in suffering, misery, and pain. So why? Why this devastating tornado? Why were children killed? Why were individuals ripped from their homes in front of their families only to have their mangled bodies found in a nearby field? While I am in no position to speak on God’s behalf and explain why he let this particular event happen, I do think having some theological categories in our minds can help us process what seems unexplainable.
Redefining Good
In our modern western culture, we are held captive to the belief that man’s highest good is to be healthy, wealthy, and living a life of meaning and pleasure. I suppose there is nothing wrong with any of these particular aims, but they fall far short of a greater good found in God. Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck opens his Our Reasonable Faith with these words: “God, and God alone, is man’s highest good.” Likewise, Scripture, from beginning to end, speaks of God being the supreme good, the fountain from which all other goods come. If you ponder for a moment, you can see the truth in this claim.
If life, health, and any other material reality has a measure of goodness in it, it only makes sense that the creator of such things would possess an even greater measure of goodness. Therefore, the good we find in material things points us to the greater good found in its creator, God. While money, possession, and even life itself are goods to be enjoyed, they should not be our ultimate aim. God, the source of good – even goodness himself – is the chief aim, the pinnacle of human happiness and desire. We can acknowledge the awful reality of the tornado devastation, while also recognizing it is not the worst of tragedies, to be separated from the source of supreme goodness.
Reaching For God – The Ultimate Good
In writing an article like this, my fear is to minimize the loss, pain, and heartache experienced by those suffering this terrible event. No one can deny the horrible reality of those experiences. Individuals affected need love, care, and knowledge that God loves them. Maybe they just need a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Nevertheless, when all that seemed good has been stripped from their hands, they too need to know that a greater good is offered. A greater hope, one that transcends this life, is available. It doesn’t eliminate the current pain, but it offers hope in the midst of pain.
If God is the source of goodness, the ultimate desire of the human heart, we can see this tragedy in a different light. We can see it as a sobering reminder that we must not set our heart on earthly things. Infinite good is found elsewhere. Insofar as we cling to earthly treasures, we rob ourselves of true pleasure. “At your right hand, O God, are pleasures forevermore.” As C.S. Lewis said, clinging to temporary things is like a child content making mudpies in the street because he cannot imagine a holiday at the sea.
The tornado reminds us of the temporary nature of this life. It reminds us that something is fundamentally broken in this world. Things are not as they should be. We see clearly that our hope cannot be fixed on health, possessions, or our family. Those things can vanish in a moment. Individuals affected by this storm are painfully aware of this fact. Perhaps this awful event redirects the hearts of many to set their affection and hope on the ultimate good, God himself. This does not minimize the pain and suffering, but it does orient it. If God’s aim is for our good, and he is that source of good, we can at least trust that he can work through this devastation for his glory and our good. May it be so!
A Broken World, A Savior God
An article like this would not be complete without some mention of the Gospel. I’ve offered a couple of categories to help us process this event. Rationally, they can offer at least the beginning of an answer. But emotionally, they aren’t likely enough to compel many to trust in the God I speak of. This is where the Gospel beckons both our minds and hearts.
We know the world is broken; things aren’t right. This tornado has crystalized this fact in our minds. And if God is both good and powerful, would he do something about? Has he? The answer is yes and yes. Since the highest good is to know and enjoy God, but the problem is our sinful selves, we needed a remedy to make the attainment of our highest good possible. This remedy is found in Jesus. God himself became a man, suffered at the hands of men, and bore the punishment we deserved for our sins. He literally entered into our suffering, experienced it, and overcame it when he rose from the grave. In the Gospel we see the ultimate demonstration of a God who cares about our highest good and who also understands our greatest suffering. While we may not understand the tornado, the love and goodness of God has been demonstrated at the highest possible level; therefore, we have solid grounds to trust him despite our confusion.
Your highest good has been revealed, it has been made possible, and it is offered for you today. Run to the one who understands your pain and loved you enough to secure your ultimate pleasure. Repent and believe in Jesus – for your good and his glory.
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