Reminders: The Seven Wonders of Faith
by Ardith Hoff
Most thinking people can’t help but wonder why we exist, and what it all means. Rev. Charley Reeb, preacher and author, has compiled a list of seven questions people want answers to: “I wonder if God Exits. I wonder why bad things happen to good people. I wonder why my prayers go unanswered. I wonder about God’s will for my life. I wonder about the miracles in the Bible. I wonder about the end of the world. And finally, I wonder about life after death”.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the answers to all of those questions? It would help us understand how God works, and how we fit into the big picture. Pastor Reeb has prepared a series of sermons on those questions. He bases each of the sermons on Bible verses that speak to each of the questions. He does not promise to provide complete answers to all of the questions above, but he gives reasons for hope now and eventual clarity. You can find his sermons online by Googling, “Rev. Charley Reeb’s sermons” and selecting, “Day1.org.”
In one sermon Rev. Reeb says this: “What does the Apostle Paul say happens to Christians when bad things happen to them? Not only did he say that we will never be separated from God's love, but in Romans 8:28 Paul wrote something truly remarkable: ‘All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.’ This means that evil and pain is never the will of God, but God can take evil and pain and use it for good. Over and over again in life we see this. When evil attacks with pain, God uses it to build character. When evil shows resistance, God uses it to build strength. When evil cripples with tragedy, God finds a way to victory. When evil destroys with death, God restores life. God is in the transforming business. God can turn our trouble into triumph!”
Bad things will happen, and we have no control over that. We do have control over how we respond. We can complain and try to find someone to blame, or we can look for the good God will make of it.