Having said that, I return to the atheist's question of how can God be sovereign if he can't protect an innocent child from this fate? God, through the Holy Spirit, protects us daily. I don't have the answers to why bad things happen to good people. What I do have is an experience. in 1994, my eldest brother was taken from us. Not due to gun violence, but from a sudden and massive heart attack. He was 36. My brother was a great guy, a career Air Force officer, physically fit. Was he perfect, no, far from it. Yet he was a great guy. Talented, handsome, brilliant, creative, a good son and brother. Yet, God saw fit to take him from us. Why, I raged.
For a long time, I questioned God as to why the good ones were taken. You see growing up, there were the good guys (like my brother) who pretty much stayed out of trouble and those who did everything they were raised not to do. Why would a good God take the good ones like my brother and leave the others here to continue lives of drugs (using and selling), alcohol, and violence? In particular, every time I would see a neighborhood guy (a troublemaker from childhood), I would cry out "Why is he still alive and my brother is dead". Real talk. After years of raging and tears, I've come to this conclusion. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. In His sovereignty, God touched the lives of the troubled ones left behind. Now, three of them are saved and preaching the Gospel. Sharing testimonies of the ones taken.
This is not an easy thing to wrap one's head around; Why do bad things happen to good people?. It is an age old question. We won't know the answer until we get to the other side (and there is an other side). Why do parents who prayed fervently for a child have to watch that child die of cancer? Why does a solider survive war only to come home and be killed by a random bullet? Why does a mother die giving birth to a child? Why, why, why??? God if you're real, how can you allow these things to happen. No answers come to mind, nor can they because of the sovereignty of God.
We look at the world through finite human eyes. God CREATED the world using infinite divine vision. We don't know how all of these things work together, but God has a plan. I know personally, the void left by my brother's death cause numerous beneficial things to take shape. I still mourn his death, tears come at unexpected and sometimes inconvenient times. Yet, I know his death pulled our family closer together and planted a seed in my other brother's salvation. GOD IS SOVEREIGN, He makes all things work together for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose.
Know this, God is even using your unbelief to draw people unto Himself. We can't convince you of the existence of God. We don't have to, God himself can convince you in ways you can't even imagine. I thank God for the privilege of being able to question Him. Job questioned God. Paul questioned God. Jesus questioned God. Job said, thou He slay me, yet will I trust Him. God told Paul after denying his request, "My grace is sufficient for you". Jesus said to God, Nevertheless, not My will, but thine be done". I say, I trust and rely on your sovereignty God. I have faith that in Your time and Your way, you will reveal the answers to our questions.
I pray you open your eyes, heart and mind; that you let God soften your hardened hearts before its too late.
