Sunday, Aug. 21 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Why do the righteos suffer?
By KNOX HERNDON There are several age-old questions that have nagged the Christian mind and community since the beginning of time. Why gnats, mosquitoes, and poison oak and roaches? Why hurricanes and killer tsunamis? Why are totally innocent babies born without a seemingly dogs chance of a normal life? Why auto accidents that take the mother, or bread winner, or worst, both parents leaving a house full of children? Why cancer, and a host of terrible, horrific diseases that rip into our daily lives and kill and maim without warning? I remember when I was at Emory doing a clinical pastoral education quarter (CPE). I was assigned to Eggleston Childrens Hospital here in Atlanta. If you know anything about Eggleston, it specializes in serious childrens medical needs. It seemed to me during my student time there that I was assigned to the worst ward because I had the children from birth to three years old. The whole hospital was not a fun place to be, to say the least, but the mission and attitude of that heroic staff defied the human mind. My ward seemed the worse because the parents of these brave children were dealing with the joy and total sadness, despair and disappointments of their new born baby, all at the same time. You could scream, laugh and cry at any time going into a room with these medically challenged babies there with their parents. I shall never forget the worse case that I dealt with was a baby born with no abdominal covering for any of her abdominal organs. She was a beautiful little baby girl struggling to stay alive. They had put gause bandages over each one of the tiny organs to attempt to keep them sterile. I saw one of the many nurses that were ministering to this child and asked her, Is she going to make it? I shall never forget her answer with tears in her eyes she said Well, we are going to do this, and this, and then we are going to try this. She answered for me, Why do the righteous suffer? If someone tries to give you a definitive answer to this age old question, smile, thank them and walk away. Last Saturday I witnessed one of the saddest funerals I have ever attended. Pastor Terry McDaniel went to be with the Lord. He was the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fairburn. He was a personal dear, dear friend and colleague. At the funeral, the church had standing room only. He was 58 years young. He died of a heart attack. He left a wonderful wife and two grown sons. He will be sorely missed. Why do the righteous suffer? Why do radical Islamic extremist attack the United States and kill 3,000 innocent Americans going to work one morning? All I know is that there is a loving God on His throne and that there is a plan for mankind as seen in the unfolding life of Jesus, His sinless son. I also know that through Him and Him alone, can you and I, have eternal life. I know that He created the earth and all that is in it. I know that he is love. I have seen it in the face of my wife and children and friends. I know that His ways are not our ways and that our ways, are not His ways. When some one confronts me with these age old questions, I answer with, Well, we are going to do this, and this, and then we are going to try this. We are building a church and are turning souls to Christ. Why do the righteous suffer? I dont know. To God be the glory, great things He has done. Terry, say hello to my mother and father and tell them I love them and miss them and that the church is holding its first revival in September. (The churchs Web site is under construction and will be up and running shortly.) |
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