Hope In The Midst Of Evil And Suffering
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
Good morning, brothers and sisters!
What a great day it is for us to gather together as a church family.
It gives me an honour to open the word of God and preach from it.
This past week, I have been thinking and praying what to preach from God’s word.
The Lord has compelled me to address biblically an issue that has affected the city of Vancouver this past week.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the news about what happened on April 26th, at around 8 PM.
Not too far from our church neighbourhood, there was a festival that happened on Fraser street from 41st to 49th.
Without getting into all the details - which I’m sure you’re aware of - we know that evil and suffering occurred.
I cannot imagine the pain and grief that was inflicted upon the community and the loved ones.
News reporter said that it’s the darkest day in our city's history.
Maybe some of you are affected and traumatized by the event.
And these feelings and emotions are still raw.
Maybe some of you personally knew - knew from a distance - those individuals who either lost their lives or were injured.
Perhaps some of you even know the individual responsible for this senseless act of violence.
My hope in this message is to be helpful and pastoral.
My desire to help us to respond to this situation biblically...
...so that we’re equipped with truth and grace to come alongside those who are suffering and grieving.
AND apply Scripture into various hardships and trials we face in life.
Today’s message will be different from how I usually preach.
Normally, I would work through one passage of Scripture...
...but I plan to glean through various texts and draw out general principles for us to consider.
Exposition
[SLIDE 2] I think it’s appropriate to ask ourselves this question: Why did this happen?
It’s a question that many people ask after they have experienced a form of evil and suffering in general.
Why am I diagnosed and battling with cancer?
Why did I experience abuse growing up?
Why did my parents separate?
Why do bad things happen?
The Bible provides us an answer. Scripture is our final authority that explains the existence of evil and suffering.
We should return to the beginning of the Bible.
In Genesis 1-2, God created the world to be good.
When God created man, it was very good.
So, we must remember that evil and suffering weren’t part of God’s creation.
However, in Genesis 3, everything changed.
our first parents - Adam and Eve - sinned against God by disobeying His commandment.
As a result, sin entered into the world.
This is known as “The Fall.”
And with it, evil, pain, death, suffering, and brokenness exists.
So, we live in a fallen world.
Humanity and the world are corrupted by sin.
The Bible helps us understand this evil in three ways:
First, there is natural evil.
This refers to the physical destruction and suffering found in this natural world.
Things such as earthquake, disease, cancer, mental illness, and death.
[SLIDE 3] As Paul writes in Romans 8:20–22,
“The creation was subjected to futility... and has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”
The world itself longs for redemption.
Second, there is supernatural evil.
It refers to the demonic influence perpetrated by Satan and fallen angels.
They continuously use their power to seduce and deceive people from following Jesus...
...such as taking advantage of the moral and natural evil in this world.
Third - and this is especially relevant to our situation - is the category of moral evil.
It refers to the immoral activity of people.
It is a sin committed by people against God, others, and oneself.
[SLIDE 4] Matthew 15:19: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Such moral evil comes from the human heart.
It’s a heart that has turned away from the living God.
So, evil and suffering happened because sin entered into the world.
And it’s important that we do not minimize evil.
We should not pretend that everything is fine.
Rather, we are given an opportunity to face this problem at such a time like this.
We should grieve that moral evil happened on April 26th.
[SLIDE 5] The next question that is often asked is this: Why Did God Allow This Happen?
There can be a lengthy response to this question, but I’ll keep it concise.
When evil strikes, we often wonder where God was at the moment.
This should invite us to consider who God is as revealed in Scripture.
God is sovereign even over evil and suffering.
Nothing happens outside of God’s control.
Nothing catches Him by surprise.
We can consider the story of Job.
Job was a righteous and wealthy man who went through severe trials.
The story begins with a heavenly scene where Satan challenges God.
He claims that Job’s piety is self-serving.
So, God allowed Satan to test Job by afflicting him with suffering...
...this results in the lost of his possessions, children, and health.
[SLIDE 6] Yet, Job still worship God.
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
We can consider the story of Joseph.
He experienced evil by his family members.
His brothers sold him into slavery and eventually ended up in Egypt.
While in Egypt, Joseph rose to fame.
Long story short, he saved Egypt and his family from famine.
And Joseph knew that it was the LORD who sent him to Egypt for a purpose.
[SLIDE 7] Joseph spoke to his brothers in Genesis 50:20.
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Joseph’s brothers intended harm and evil against him.
However, God intended it for good to save many lives.
God has the ability to work through human actions, even those motivated by evil.
In His providence, God can bring about positive and good outcomes.
His purposes will not be thwarted by human sin or wickedness.
[SLIDE 8] As Christians, we can also remember Romans 8:28:
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God has morally sufficient reasons for allowing evil to exist.
He has a purpose for evil, and it is a good purpose.
God can work all things together for good, including evil and suffering.
And He does them for those who love the LORD and are called according to His purpose.
That is what Scripture tells us about the character of God.
However, when pain is deep and grief is fresh, it is not easy to trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness.
In moments of sorrow, our hearts may wrestle with doubt.
It is okay to wrestle with God in your pain and suffering.
In the story of Job, he also wrestled deeply with God in the midst of unimaginable suffering.
He questioned God and asked, “Why am I suffering?”
He demanded answers from God.
If you read the end of Job, God does respond to Job, but does not give a direct answer to him.
[SLIDE 9] Instead, God says this in Job 38:2-4:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
God asks Job to explain the birth of the universe.
And in Job 38-42, God humbles him by giving him a big picture of how God is running and operating this complex universe.
[SLIDE 10] That actually put Job in the position of humility, peace, and fear of the LORD.
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
We should humbly recognize that we are finite and limited human beings.
Personally, I humbly admit that I don’t fully understand God’s ways when evil strikes.
[SLIDE 11] The Bible says that His ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55).
His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
[SLIDE 12] The Bible says that there are “secret things” that God has not revealed, and they belong to God alone (Deuteronomy 29:29).
So, when evil strikes, we should cling to the truth that God is still in control.
We should remember that His wisdom is beyond our understanding.
We should trust that God alone is good, wise, and sovereign.
We should learn to be content with not knowing everything even though we demand answers.
But, what God has revealed to us in Scripture is sufficient.
[SLIDE 13] The next question we should consider is a practical one: How Can We Comfort Those Who Are Suffering?
[SLIDE 14] The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15 to weep with those who weep.
[SLIDE 15] It also tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:26 what happens when a fellow brother and sister in Christ are suffering.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
How can we walk alongside those who are in pain and grief? Let me offer you several principles to consider:
[SLIDE 16] First, pray for them.
Pray privately for God’s comfort, healing, and presence for the afflicted.
If given the opportunity, pray WITH them.
Second, be quick to hear and slow to speak.
In Job’s story, Job had his friends who were sitting with him in silence.
However, Job’s suffering intensified when they opened their mouths.
They offered all kinds of reasons and answers for why Job was suffering.
Don’t do that.
God rebuked Job’s friends at the end of the story.
Instead, those who are grieving want your presence more than your answers.
They want your listening ears.
[SLIDE 17] Listening well is a powerful gift we can offer.
13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
[SLIDE 18] Third, comfort them with the hope of Jesus.
If given the chance to speak, our words should aim to lead people gently toward the hope we have in Christ.
Don’t do it in a way that dismisses their pain...
...but in a way that honours the grieving moment.
We could gently remind them that Jesus sympathizes with our suffering.
Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus is a man of sorrow and aquainted with grief.
He suffered under the hands of evil men.
He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.
He was delivered to the Roman Soldiers to be crucified on the cross.
Yet, God’s purpose for Jesus’ death is to save sinners.
We know that Jesus was raised from the dead.
He conquered Satan, sin, and death.
Jesus is the hope for the hopeless.
There is hope beyond suffering.
It is a hope that is eternal, unshakable, and rooted in Christ.
Without dismissing the realilty of momentary pain, we should gently lift our eyes to eternal hope.
There is something glorious beyond this life.
[SLIDE 19] The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:18.
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.
[SLIDE 20] The Apostle Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Not only that, our Lord will return and He will make all things right.
He will execute true justice on the righteous and on the ungodly.
Brothers and sisters, if you’re hurt and weeping, know that your tears matter to God.
[SLIDE 21] Did you know that God keeps count of your tears?
8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
This shows that He cares about your concerns.
Not only that, God also promises when He will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4) when we are with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.
If you have placed your hope in Jesus Christ, that day is coming.
Until then, we grieve, but not without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have hope.
[SLIDE 22] Conclusion
If you’re grieving, come to Jesus.
If you are angry, confused, or afraid, come to Him.
Additionally, feel free to come and talk to me, or the elders, or other mature believers after the service so that we can walk alongside you in love.
As I close, I invite you to have a moment of silence.
Pray for those who are suffering during this time in Vancouver.
