Why do bad things happen? Death and suffering surround us–is it God’s fault? Once again, the Bible offers answers. It teaches us that God created a perfect universe–a world without suffering or death.

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

But man’s sin brought death and suffering into the world.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 (ESV)

It’s an intrusion upon God’s creation–an intrusion God sent His own Son to earth as a man to pay the penalty for and to redeem man from.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.” Romans 5:6,15,16 (ESV)

The good news is that if we’ve repented of our sin and placed our trust in Jesus Christ, then one day we will get to live forever in a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no sin, suffering, or death.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Revelation 21:1 (ESV)

For Further Reading…

• Why Does God’s Creation Include Death and Suffering?