Why Do Evil Things Happen to Good People

With the recent murder of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Ryan Clinkunbroomer, many are left wondering, “Why did God allow this to happen?” This question is often asked in times of tragedy and sorrow. For many, this question is an obstacle that prevents a relationship with God.

Since the dawn of creation, there has been both good and evil in the hearts of every human. We all know the story of Adam and Eve, how they sinned and fractured their relationship with God. We know that “In the beginning, God created the heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1) and that God created us to love and for us to love Him. As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, the human race has been alienated from God. We have been born into a world fraught with evil. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

When bad things happen, some people blame God, some curse God, and some walk away from God. After all, when bad things happen, we want answers.

The simple answer is that God did not allow this to happen; we did. Our world is imperfect and broken. It is consumed by sin and evil. Because of our sinful nature, evil thrives around us. Evilness is not a product of God; evil comes from Satan. Satan, sin, and evil are real and work hand in hand.

We were given a choice. God gave us freedom and free will. This freedom was given to us by God’s love for us. God wants us to walk away from sin and evil and be with Him. God created people; people choose their sinful ways, and people choose to do evil.

That said, God is not responsible for all the evil in the world.

We must remember Jesus’ experience of suffering as a sacrifice for us. His suffering was physical (Isaiah 52:14). His suffering was emotional (Matthew 26:56). His suffering was spiritual (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Because God gave people the ability to choose, people are to blame. Since the beginning, humankind has allowed sin, evilness, and savagery to spread throughout the world. Evil is well documented in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 3.

In our life here on earth, we are being trained and preparing for our life in eternity. We may not know the answer to the question; however, we will be completely satisfied in our eternal life. The truth is, that suffering is a part of the Christian life. The Bible teaches that we must suffer in times of trial to share in God’s glory. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

British writer and lay theologian C.S. Lewis wrote:

“but pain insists upon being attended to.” “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

God will use times like these, our grief and our pain, to bring us back to Him as humanity has walked away from Him.

As a child of God and a believer in Jesus Christ, I know my time on earth is short. I also know I will enjoy eternal life in heaven because of my choice.

Be sad that Ryan was taken from us. Mourn for him, celebrate his life, and honor him. Being a Law Enforcement Officer is an Honorable career; choose to fight evil and watch over the flock. Jesus said;

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)