I was not present on the campus on April 16th 6 years ago, but I still remember the pain that showered the campus for a while afterward.
I used to ask God, "why do you let people die in such a horrible way?"
Well, after many years of growing in faith in God, I surely haven't come to an amazingly clean cut answer to that question. However I do know a few things from the Bible that explain why there is such suffering in the world, and how we can handle it.
1. Sin is the cause of death - The Bible says in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." People will all die, physically and some people eternally, because of sin.
The only way to escape eternal death is to be born again, through the gift of life and faith in Jesus Christ. This is a free gift of God, of which no person can do anything to deserve.
2. God will provide relief from our suffering through faith in Jesus Christ, now and in the future - Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
3. The suffering does not last forever - 1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you"
4. Our pain and suffering is actually working for the good of believers - Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
5. Born again Christians can expect that they will suffer in this world,because of sin and because of their faith, but they should take heart, because God will not put them to shame -
John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”"
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
Romans 8:18 - "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us"
Today I am praying specifically for the families and friends of those who died, who are still experiencing the pain or grief of loss, that they will be comforted by the God of all comfort. I look at such circumstances as these, and always pray and trust God's plan. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and everything, even horrible things, work together in the grand scheme of His plan for the world to bring people to Him.
May God bless you to know Him today.
