In late 2014 a friend sent me an email and asked me an unexpected question. She asked me how God decides who suffers and who is saved from suffering. Sometimes, for me, what is written in the moments of email conversation can’t be reproduced, only cleaned up. She gave me permission to use our conversation on my site.

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014 1:47 PM my friend wrote:

I’ve been thinking about world suffering. And wondering how God decides who suffers and who is saved from suffering. Not sure why these thoughts have been in my head. Maybe you can help.

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December 30, 2014 5:56 PM, I replied:

You are probably having these thoughts because you are compassionate and you care about others. That is a good thing, to be compassionate and caring, but it also opens us up for pain. But it won’t always be that way. Jesus Christ is coming back in the fullness of time and then we will have new heavens and a new earth, one filled with righteousness. I look for that day.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

A time lies before us when there will not be any pain, or sorrow, or death. God Himself will wipe the tears from our eyes.

Revelations 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Very few people know this, and even fewer believe it, but God doesn’t cause suffering. The Devil, Lucifer, that old serpent, the Thief, he is the one who steals and kills and destroys. Not God.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: [Jesus Christ said] I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

God wants us to have life to the fullest; a life of peace and abundance. But by God’s grace, and his desire to be loved freely without compulsion, he gave us freedom of will. We don’t have to believe in God, or love him, or follow him. We don’t have to go to his Word to learn who he is or seek him first. We don’t have to trust him. We don’t have to do anything. And the god of this world, Satan, prefers it that way. The god of this world doesn’t want us to know the truth, because he knows the truth will set us free. The god of this world blinds minds and prefers we never come to the light.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

God doesn’t cause people to suffer. That is a lie from the father of lies, the devil. The truth is that when people are suffering, God wants to help. God can heal and deliver and cause his people to be triumphant. But God has to be invited to get involved. And not just invited, but you must believe and trust him before he can do anything. It goes back to that freedom of will he values so much.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [believing] it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Check out Hebrews chapter 11 sometime. Look at all the wonderful things God brought to pass for those that believed Him. It isn’t enough to believe in Him. You have to BELIEVE HIM. It is amazing what can be accomplished when one truly believes God’s Word. It is amazing what can be accomplished when you trust God.

We may be sad for a season, but only for a time. We may hurt from the injustice and injuries, whether directly or indirectly, but it will not always be this way. We just don’t see the whole picture right now. But some day…

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Someday, the Devil will be seen for who he is and the God and father of the Lord Jesus Christ will stop being blamed for what the Devil does.

Someday…

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Then my friend asks another question, December 30, 2014 6:03 PM

Everything you said makes sense. But a little overwhelming. One thing I don’t understand is the part about no more death. Does that mean that there will be no new life, like babies?