To listen to Nancy’s answer recorded from Moody radio, click below.


 

On April 20, 1999, a school shooting and attempted bombing occurred at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, United States—the perpetrators, 12th-grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, murdered 12 students and one teacher. Ten students were killed in the school library, where Harris and Klebold subsequently committed suicide. Gunshots injured twenty-one additional people, and gunfire was also exchanged with the police. Another three people were injured trying to escape. At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting at a high school in U.S. history.

March 23, 2023. Educators at Denver’s East High School knew that a troubled 17-year-old was on probation from an Aurora weapons criminal charge, so they carefully checked him daily for firearms. Searching the student were administrators Jerald Mason and Eric Sinclair, who were shot immediately when they found his gun. Austin ran from the school and shot himself. Mason was treated and released from Denver Health, while Sinclair underwent surgery Wednesday and was listed in serious condition on Thursday afternoon.

The United States has faced at least 163 mass shootings this year. Events like these are now so numerous that we fail to be shocked at man’s inhumanity to man. We get so self-absorbed that most of us pay little attention to these events until they become personal. I live less than 5 minutes from Columbine High School, and my granddaughter had planned to attend Denver East this next year. These acts of evil have become very real when they are close to home.

More often than not, the “innocent” are victims of someone’s sin. Is this fair? Where is God in all this? He could have stopped the bullets, but He didn’t. Why?

God designed humans to love Him and to love others. Part of loving God is choosing to obey Him, which requires faith that God is who He says He is, The One True Sovereign God. God is love but does not force anyone to love Him back because true love involves choice. God gave Adam and Eve a choice back in the Garden of Eden. They chose to disobey God and turned instead to Satan, the evil one whose goal is to kill and destroy. We, like Adam and Eve, rebel against God every day. From our rebellion comes pain and suffering not only to ourselves but also for others.

“The thief (Satan)comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Why are we blaming God for suffering? We humans are the creators of suffering. It’s not by God’s design; it’s by our sin. God allows for suffering, but He did not create it. The good news is that even though we royally mess up, God enters into our suffering in his pursuit of us. Hope is not lost. God is restoring creation to His original righteous design. Jesus’ goal is to redeem all humanity.

Former atheist and writer Lee Stroble says, “Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. Romans 3:23 says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'”

“So much of the world’s suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. For example, people look at a famine and wonder where God is, but the world produces enough food for each person to have 3,000 calories daily. It’s our own irresponsibility and self-centeredness that prevents people from getting fed.” Explaining it in another way, he said a person could use his hand to hold a gun and shoot someone or use the same hand to feed hungry people. “It’s your choice. But it’s unfair to shoot someone and then blame God for the existence of evil and suffering. Like that old cartoon said, ‘We have seen the enemy, and he is us.'”

While most suffering is caused by sin, God can use what He hates to bring about what He loves. He is our Redeemer. When we admit that we have sinned and confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us and walk us through our restoration process. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

God does and will continue to allow us to choose a path that will take us closer to Him, or we can become bitter toward God and walk away. When walking with God through the hard times, God gives us peace and hope. Suffering is temporary, and eternal Heaven awaits!

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God will be with them and their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne, said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:3-5).

Billy Graham, “But man rebelled against God. Man said, “I don’t need You, God. I can build my world without You.” God said, “If you take that position, you will suffer and die.” Man took that position, began to suffer, and has been dying ever since. Physical death is just the body’s death, but the spirit lives on. If your soul is separated from God for eternity, it will be lost forever.

The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. All of our problems and suffering, including death itself, result from man’s rebellion against God. But God has provided a rescue in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ died on the cross. That’s why He rose from the dead.”

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18)

“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).