IS IT POSSIBLE GOD HAS A GOOD REASON FOR ALLOWING SUFFERING?

Saturday, September 19, 2009


Part of being fallen is thinking we know more than we really do. Of all there is to know in the entire universe, how much do you know? Let's say you're the smartest human being who's ever lived and that you know 1 percent (of course nobody knows nearly that much). Now, is it possible that in the 99 percent of all there is that you don't know, there exists or will exist enough goodness and happiness in the universe to outweigh all the evil and suffering?

Is it possible that in the 99 percent you don't know, a good God exists who has legitimate reasons for not making his purposes clearer and for not forcing people to recognize his existence? Is it possible that some rational explanation exists--if you were smart enough to understand it--for why this good God permits evil and suffering?

Is it possible that God's redemptive goodness will in the end utterly overshadow evil?

Joe Gibbs, the NFL Hall of Fame coach and NASCAR team owner, tells lots of great stories. One is about flying into Washington, D.C., when he worked as head coach of the Redskins. His cab driver had immigrated recently, and Joe had to explain to him how to get to the stadium. The driver suddenly recognized his passenger and, with a thick accent, asked if he was the coach. Joe nodded, feeling flattered and prepared to hear some affirmation. The cabbie gestured excitedly and exclaimed to Joe, "You should throw deep!"

Here was a cab driver who didn't even know how to get to the football stadium and probably knew next to nothing about American football, yet believed himself qualified to to tell a Hall of Fame coach and winner of three Super Bowls how to run his team!

Even the most uninformed fans act as if they know more than the head coach.

And even the most clueless creatures act as if we know more than God.

(From Randy Alcorn's book, If God Is Good which I will be reviewing soon.)

24 comments:

Charlotte said...

Wow! That is so good.
Charlotte

SmilingSally said...

I love Joe Gibbs. I was raised in DC, and my family are BIG Redskins fans. I guess that cabbie kept him humble!

RCUBEs said...

Our wisdom is just foolishness to our God. But we never learn...because of PRIDE...Thank you for sharing this...God bless.

Mary said...

So true...we know so little in the great big world...we must give God a really good laugh...reminds me of my son, when about 5, asking a question, and when I was about half way through answering it, he held up his hand, and said, "that's enough, mom, I know the rest!" Isn't that just like us? We get a speck of knowledge and understanding, then pick up the ball...and run the wrong direction with it!

Anxiously waiting for the review...I know it will be good!

Blessings,
Mary

Ms.Daisy said...

Clif,
So many times people have tried to answer this question and they (and we) seem to come away with even more questions. Great post...and a new perspective on this vexing question. Thanks!


~Jean

michelle said...

i so want to read this book and i also want to give it to a coworker who is suffering after the suicide of her son. she is so broken she doesn't know what she believes in anymore...

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

This sounds like a great book, all of your books sound great. I have so many questions for God, I hope I don't forget any of them ;)
Blessings,
Ginger

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Clif,
Another good book to read from the sounds of things! Thank you for sharing this with us today. I always look forward to reading your post! Have a wonderful Sunday.

Blessings,
Sandi

Karen said...

A lady in my Sunday School once prayed, "Okay, God, Here's what I'm thinking...." Thanks, Clif, for sharing another good illustration.

Robin said...

Thanks Clif for these reviews, I want to read all of the books on your list. Scared Waiting looks interesting.

Loren said...

Wow....Some people just amaze me....thanks for sharing this and I anxiously await the review!

LivingforGod said...

I'm reading this book right now and will be posting my review soon, too. Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Clif..
I enjoyed your post today, I too sometimes think the Lord just looks down and shakes his head and smiles at some of our foolishness at time LOL. The books sounds like somwthing I would love yo read.

Blessings Lorie

Denise said...

Really good.

Saleslady371 said...

Amazing how a little knowledge puffs us up! Happy Sunday, Clif!

kymber said...

I love it how people try to quote from God's Word - yet they haven't read the Bible. It is so easy to distort the Word of God by "word of mouth"

We must all be readers of the Word so that we can give WORTHY testimony. I love the quote that you put on your sidebar that reads" Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." So very true! We may never learn it all - so much of the Bible is a mystery, but we need to keep our eyes and hearts continuously open to what God DOES want us to know so that the devil will not distort the truth and lead us astray!

Sounds like a great book - I look forward to your review.
Blessings,
Kymber

Regina, DailyLiving said...

Beautiful message.
I have to go back and read it again.

Have a blessed week.
Regina

nannykim said...

That was an encouraging post, THANKS!

Mevely317 said...

Like Regina just said, I had to read ... then come back and re-read this message. The first few paragraphs may be the best (and most comforting) explanation I've ever heard!

I, too, really look forward to your review.

Best wishes for a wonderfully satisfying new week!

Myra

Heart2Heart said...

Clif,

I believe God has a purpose in everything that happens in our life, good or bad. Nothing passes through His hands without His knowledge and even if it turns out bad, it somehow will ultimately work for His good in the end.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Renee said...

Good food for thought.....this story of the cabbie made me chuckle...Sometimes I find myself wanting to give God advice on how to solve my own problems... Ahh I have so much to learn and so little time. Sounds like a good book.

Sandy said...

Clif,
Thank you very much for visiting my blog and commenting.
I actually mentioned Max Lucado and his books twice in the past week.
One of my brothers is a pastor, and the other is a youth minister, maybe going evangelist, my 16 year old son felt the call to the ministry last year, and my daughter is at OBU, studying to be a Christian counselor. My oldest son is a teacher, coach, husband and Daddy.
Thank you, again.

Lisa said...

Great post Clif! I love the story!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Yes, the Bible says "we see
through a glass darkly. " I love that poem that Corrie TenBoom used to recite as she held in her hand a piece of tapestry turned to it's underside , then turned over to reveal it's beauty.

The Plan of the Master Weaver

My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me,
I may not choose the colors,
He knows what they should be
For He can view the pattern upon the upper side,
While I can see it only on this, the under side…

Sometimes He weaveth sorrow, which seemeth strange to me,
But I will trust His judgement, and work on faithfully,
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle, and He knows what is best,
So I shall weave in earnest, leaving to Him the rest…

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why -
The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

~Myrna