The Las Vegas Shooting
The “Why?” And The “Now What?” Of Suffering
John 16:33
Job 23:10-13
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 (NIV)
Lots of types of suffering (according to the Bible) . . .
· Adamic suffering
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men . . . For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners . . .”
Romans 5:12, 19
· Demonic suffering
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
· Victim suffering
“If your brother sins against you . . .”
Matthew 18:15
· Collective suffering
· Disciplinarian suffering
“Whom the Lord loves, He disciplines.”
Hebrews 12:6
· Persecuted suffering
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My names sake.”
Matthew 5:11
· Empathetic suffering
“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15
· Testimonial suffering
“And they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their own lives to death.”
Revelation 12:11
· Providential suffering
“You meant it for evil against me but God meant it for good in order to bring about as it is this day to save many people alive.”
Genesis 50:20
· Mysterious suffering
“Oh, the depth of riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out. For who has known the mind of God?”
Romans 11:33-34
· Punishment suffering
“on him who practices evil.”
Romans 13:4
· Self-inflicted suffering
“For whatever a man sows, he will also reap.”
Galatians 6:7
· Apocalyptic suffering
One huge (and difficult) truth . . .
God is Lord over all things (yes all things).
The true biblical picture brings God into the midst of the worst things that happen in the world.
Everything is either caused by God or allowed by God, and there is no third category.
“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things”
Isaiah 45:7
Nothing can happen to us that does not first pass through God’s loving hands.
God is not the author of sin, but sin itself cannot exist apart from God’s decree that sin should be permitted to appear in the universe.
Where does this leave us?
“But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than necessary food. But He is unique (He stands alone) and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires that He does.”
Job 23:101-13
· God sees you even though you may not be able to see Him.
“You are the God who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13
· God uses suffering to teach you many lessons you couldn’t learn any other way.
You slow down . . . and begin to think.
You calm down . . . and begin to listen.
You look up . . . and begin to learn.
“tribulum” – “tribulation”
“tribulation produces patience; and patience, perseverance; and perseverance, hope.”
Romans 5:3
· Faith is a conscious choice to obey God in the midst of the suffering.
· God is God and He has the absolute right to ordain or allow whatever He wishes.
· We can hurt with God or we can hurt without God.
“Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
“I can’t read. I can’t think. I can’t pray. But I can trust.”
Hudson Taylor