Dr. Rick Mandl - September 4, 2020
When You Don't Know Why
When You Don’t Know Why?
Friday, September 4, 2020
Hey church family. As followers of Jesus Christ, one of the truths, that God’s Word teaches us is that the world in which we’re living right now, is not the world that God originally intended it to be, when he created it. It’s been scarred by sin. In Romans chapter 8:22, the Apostle Paul wrote... “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” While understanding that this world has been damaged by sin, we also believe that God is in total control of everything that happens here. In other words, nothing happens by accident.
Well, if that’s true, then why has God allowed something so small as the COVID virus to bring the whole world to a screeching halt? A bigger question is, why does He allow evil to exist at all? And what should we as Christians be doing during a time like this? I don’t think it will surprise you to hear that none of us can fully answer the question of WHY God allows evil in the world. Even God’s servant Job, after going through a time of intense suffering, came to the end of it, without ever having his “Why” question answered by the Lord. But that doesn't mean we should dodge the question.
If you look at Luke chapter 13, and verses 1-5 you’ll see that some people came to Jesus talking about a recent tragedy in their own day. Now, Jesus didn't explain to them WHY it happened, but instead He used their questioning as an opportunity to discuss a deeper issue – specifically the issue of how our sin separates us from God. I can’t tell you WHY, everything that’s happening in our country and in our world is happening right now. What I can tell you is what God wants you and me to do in response to it, and that is to simultaneously lean in to God and reach out to those around us who are suffering, and who are themselves asking the question “Why?”
When Jesus' friend Lazarus died, Jesus showed up to the funeral. Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha basically asked Jesus that question I’ve been talking about. They asked him, “Why?” "Lord, Why didn't You come sooner?" And Jesus didn't give them an explanation. Instead He wept with them.
Rather than trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe, for those who were hurting and asking that question, He entered into the pain they were suffering in that very moment. And you and I need to do the same thing for those around us who are hurting – for those around us who are asking Why. Admit that we don’t know, what we don’t know, and work hard to reach out to those to who are hurting, with the love of Christ and with tangible offers to help them in any ways that we can. We may not know “Why?” But we can do our best to point others to the one who does.
I pray that that’s what we’ll be doing – trusting Jesus and pointing others to Him.
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