Why? Why Me? Why Now?

In human history, grief, suffering, loss, disaster, bankruptcy afflicts in human life. The biggest questions “WHY? WHY ME? WHY NOW?” exist deep within the heart and mind of those who went through these. During the holocaust, where 6 millions Jews were exterminated, about 10 – 50 million Chinese died under the rule of Chairman Mao of Communist China and millions died under the reign of Stalin, Poi Pot. Idi Ami, Nicolae Caeusescu, Saddam Hussein and many others in Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Because of unsatisfactory answer, they conclude or hard to believe God is good as what Bible teaches.

Rev Stephen Tong once responded to the problem on one's suffering is to check ourselves first before anything else. Are there any area in our life we need to repent.

We can find good example in the life depicted by Job who was inflicted with various kinds of sufferings. He lost his livestock, his employees were murdered, his 10 children were victim of a wind-storm, his body is covered with painful boils from head to toe. He too must have questioned, “why?” over and over and over again. But the heavens were mute. No explanation, not one reason. His wife couldn’t take it and snapped at Job “Curse God and die!” But Job answered, “You sounded fool, wife. Shall we accept only good things from God and not adversity” (Job 2:9-10).

We may be wondering why we are inflicted with all sorts of problem. Why life treating me harshly? We seems don’t understand why. Well this is life. We don’t have answers to most of life’s problems. Life is complicated.

When Jesus was questioned about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices (Luke 12:1-5). Pilate had committed massacre by killing worshippers in the Jerusalem temple. Jesus also reminded them of an incident which killed 18 people when the Tower of Siloam suddenly collapsed. Jesus answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well! Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!” (vv 2-5). It was not because people were more sinful that they suffered a more horrible death. Bible says the wages of sin is death. Life is full of uncertainty. We live today we can die tomorrow. Thus Jesus reminded 2 times (vv 3 ,5 ) to repent. Without true or genuine repentance, all will end up with death. As we know God had spare the city of Nineveh from judgment in the days of Jonah. John the Baptist preached of repentance. The entire bible message calls people to repentance. Everyone must turn from their sin and toward Christ.

At the end of Job’s chapter, Job repented and confessed before
God “Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job did the right thing. Job understood that God was to good to do anything bad, too wise to make a mistake, too deep to explain Himself. God will never allow us to go beyond what we can go though if our sufferings. God is sovereign and rules over all that He will not allow anything to fall on us without His permission. God is the one whom we can trust. Psalm 46:1 states that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Instead of getting mad, disappointed at God, we should come to Him alone for He can deliver us from all troubles. The book of James tells us that our faith will be tested. James encourages us to ask God for wisdom when we faced trials. He doesn’t tells us to blame or angry at God.

May we think out of the box “problem”. Instead of looking at the problem and question “why”, let us look at “Who”. “And we know all things will work for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).