"Why do I have to eat my vegetables?"
"Why do I have to go to bed?"
"Why can't I have a puppy?"
"Why do I have to brush my teeth?"
What is the most common response a parent will give to the child's question of why? If you're thinking, "Because I said so," is the most common response than you are tracking with me!
Why oh why do we ask why?
My son asks me a certain "why" question a lot. "Mommy, why did dad have to die?"
What does a mother say to her child when she asks the same question from time to time?
"I don't know why."
I do know why people have to die, because of sin.
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:15-17
Just a little side note... the woman wasn't even created when God gave the man this commandment...for all you who solely blame Eve. ;)
Anyways, we have all heard the story of how Eve ate the fruit and gave it to her husband and he ate too and their bad choice led to our falling into this place of disconnect with our Creator God.
So that's why! God said do not and we did! But why can't I eat the fruit God? "Because I said so!"
But even knowing that we still question, why? I wonder if in cases of suffering and pain, that there is more behind the question than we realize? God help us to understand the cry behind the why!
Maybe there is a deeper search inside of each question of why. A missing piece to the puzzle of our lives makes us always wonder, even if we don't come right out and say it. What am I here for? What is all this pain for? Why does it feel like something is still missing? Maybe there is something deeper or perhaps we are just ungrateful children!
The truth is we were created to have a loving and pure relationship with God! We were created to worship God! God loves us and He gave us the whole earth but we rebelled and broke His heart. And instead of admitting our fault and asking for forgiveness we ran and hid ourselves from Him. Typical human heart! We didn't want to see what we had done in the face of love. So out of sight out of mind.
But that God of great love is still seeking us out. He has paid the highest price to win our hearts! Jesus Christ His beloved and perfect Son shed His blood to pay for our sin and to return us to our Creator God.
If you've ever lost someone you love you know the pain that comes from such a loss. God willingly suffered a greater loss for the sake of saving us from ourselves and from the chains of sin and death.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:7-10
What are we here for? To get a good education and find a great job, start a family and go on vacation once a year...hmmm? That to me just doesn't seem to fit anymore! Those things are wonderful gifts that we get to enjoy but certainly not the reason why we are here! What would you do if you found out that the only reason you are alive today is because someone gave up their life for you? How could you go on being satisfied with anything besides devotion to that one by trying to live for them?
What about the pain of life? Bad things happen in this fallen land but; "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
It has certainly been seen through the ages how great men were born out of adversity. What if these sufferings and pains of life were somehow for our good? Can we receive beauty for ashes? I believe it's the only way! When we read stories and watch movies there is always some conflict for the main character's to over come. What would be the fun in a story where no fight no battle no destination needed to be reached or sacrifice made? Why do songs strike the cord of our hearts unless we can relate to the message behind them be it anger or sorrow or love or joy or whatever?
Let's face it, a life of pain and heartache beats watching paint dry! Faith is the key to overcoming this life! We will all be given the free will choice to have faith or to be full of fear. Hardships will either make you better or bitter. Author Randy Alcorn once said, "A faith that can't be shaken is the faith that has been shaken."
Praise the Lord for the chance to live a life full of love!
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