WHY?

By Bill Brandstatter       After the events at Michigan State University, many may be asking one question: WHY?     We live in a country where blame is the name of the game. We want to blame someone or something for the problems of our world. Some may blame guns. Some may be looking for blame in other places. One thing I do know, God is not to blame.     God does not eliminate problems in our lives. He helps us in the midst of our troubles. Remember, Paul told Timothy that the godly would suffer persecution in 2 Tim. 3:12. There were many people in Bible times who experienced troubles. The apostle Paul had his share. He details some of them by stating: “I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of my own countrymen.” (2 Cor. 11:26) Paul had a lot of bad things happen to him at the hands of bad men. Was it God’s fault? Later, as he was put in prison by the hands of evil men, Paul wrote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13) He stated before this: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Phil. 4:11) In his last imprisonment, about a month before His death, he wrote; “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that the message might be preached fully through me.” (2 Tim. 4:17 NKJV)     It is interesting that Paul did not look to blame anybody. Paul looked to the Lord instead. We too must realize we live in a world of sin. Satan is active and is seeking to cause man to suffer in all kinds of ways. (1 Pet. 5:8) God made man with the power of choice. Throughout history, many have suffered because of evil choices made by many. Jesus suffered on the cross because of the choice of the many who said, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”; (Mark 15:14) and yet Jesus asked the Father to forgive them. (Luke 23:34)     There is an effort to eliminate God from our society. Students can’t pray publicly in schools. Certain religious functions can’t take place on government-owned properties. We don’t need to eliminate God; we need to increase our emphasis on Him and include Him more.     “God is a very present help in time of trouble.” (Ps. 46:1) He knows what we need. Let us pray to Him for solutions to problems we can’t solve. Let us turn to Him for questions we cannot answer. Let us turn to Him for help in difficult times (Phil. 4:6, 7).

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/