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Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?
Question: Why do Good Things Happen to Bad People?
Answer: There are several reasons good things happen to bad people:
- God loves bad people. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and that this is loving like God the Father loves. He sends life-giving rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45-48). We sometimes call this “common grace.” God gives grace, undeserved favor, to people who are spitting in His face. He still loves them. They are made in His image and matter to Him.
- The image of God in us expresses itself in doing powerful and good things for others. God created and so do we (in our limited way, of course). We are driven to make a positive difference in our world, and the benefits of that coming from all those who use their gifts from God for good are that good and bad people experience good things.
- God shows kindness to bad people to lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4). Gratitude is a pathway to repentance. If they resist such kindness they will experience His judgment in the end. He compassionately reaches out to those who may yet reject Him.
About the Author Randall Johnson
A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.
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