Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? – Pastor Obed Martinez

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. – Hebrews 12:2 (MSG)

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. – Isaiah 57:1 (NLT)

“Realize that until you get to Heaven, there are some things you will NEVER UNDERSTAND.”

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

What’s the point of life when it doesn’t make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning? – Job 3:23 (MSG)

1. THINK ETERNAL

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. – Job 42:2 (NIV)

2. LET GO

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. – Job 42:3 (NIV)

3. GET CLOSE

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. – Job 42:5 (NIV)

1. WE MUST HAVE FULL ASSURANCE

You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. – James 5:11 (MSG)

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance of faith… – Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance…6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together. – Genesis 22:4,6 (NIV)

2. WE MUST HAVE FOCUSED FAITH

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. – Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

“FOCUSED FAITH LEADS TO FAVORED FAITH”

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; – Ephesians 2:8 (AMP)

Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. – Romans 5:2 (AMP)

2 Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – 2 Peter 1:2-3 (AMP)

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)

How do I attain this Assurance?

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things (Moveable Possession), which you do not know.’ – Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)