We all know that sometimes very bad things, tragic events, terrible things happen to people who nearly everyone considers to be "good people." God-fearing people. Church goers. But why is this? 

    Simply put, for many people it is because they forget, or have never learned, the truth of God's Word, accurately understood. How do I know this?  Because God explains this truth in His Word:

Hosea 4:6:  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

    God laments that His people are destroyed because of their lack of knowledge of Him.  God wants us to live a life full of peace and prosperity. 

    That is why God sends Prophets to teach His people the truth, and to call all people into repentance from their sins. That is why God gave us His Word -- to learn about Him and His will. Some people, knowingly or unknowingly, chose to reject God's Truth. Some folks have simply never bothered to read, much less study God's Word.  Their parents did not teach them God's Word. Many people have not and do not heed His prophets. So be it.  God gave us free will, even freedom to reject Him. For these additional reasons, bad things happen to "good people."

    But these are not the only reasons. Other folks are so full of themselves, so proud of their worldly knowledge, so convinced that their way is the best way, that even though they have read the Bible they knowingly go against God by rejecting His Truth.  They lean upon their own understanding and reject God's wisdom. Or, they're too full of pride to bend to God's will. Well, pride goeth before the fall, as the Bible says.  Sin and iniquity, pride and stiff necks, and bad things happening to "good folks." It fits like a hand in a glove, doesn't it?

    When any people set their hearts upon doing iniquity, upon rejecting God and His Truth, rejecting and departing from His ways, becoming full of themselves and their might, full of man's knowledge, rejecting God's wisdom, then they become, eventually, eaten up with their sins.  Sin changes even a believing people from God's glory into their shame.  Then ... they are destroyed.

Hosea 4:6-8:  ⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. ⁷ As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. ⁸ They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

    There are other reasons too. Other "good people" are simply fooled into believing that their good fortune, their "fate" in life, their "blessed" life, is so good, so comfortable, such a good lifestyle that they do not really need God. In other words, these people are living in a false sense of security.  They do not realize that they do need God.  They think their wonderful life will just go on, forever, regardless of their lack of a personal relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why God has sent and continues to send messengers to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ -- to make such people awaken to God.  

    Be they Old Testament Prophets, or John the Baptist, or modern-day teachers, pastors, prophets and evangelists, many messengers at first are welcomed by the "good people" and the "common people" -- but are really feared, and eventually despised, by the powerful elite who are living such comfortable lifestyles.  Many powerful men and women, "good folks," "salt of the earth," pillars of the community, deacons of the church, profess to delight in the coming of a prophet. They too wonder at the signs of power and authority such men and women of God utilize. The genuinely admire the miracles performed, but all the while they secretly plot to rid their lives of this perceived threat to their status quo.  Like Nicodemus, they recognize that no man can do such miracles except that God be with him, John 3:1-2, but they nevertheless reject any real change in their comfortable lives.  They simply fear change, especially what they consider to be radical changes. But consider, has God given us a spirit of fear?

    No.  He has lovingly given us a spirit of power and the ability to think whole thoughts. II Timothy 1:7.  But make no mistake, God's messengers can be and usually are a threat to the "powers that be," the princes of this world, the workers of inequity.  For this reason "good people" do wrong. Then bad things happen to those "good" people.  Why? Because they reap what they sow.

    For even the devil and his minions know of a truth that the Lord Jesus Christ shall surely come again to purge this world of its sin.  His swift judgment shall surely come, as day cometh after nightfall.

Malachi 3:1-6: ¹ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. ² But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: ³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. ... ⁶ For I am the LORD, I change not; ... ⁷ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹² And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

    God does not change.  God's matchless Word does not change.  God's Truths shall never change.  God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should change His mind. Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29. Neither a jot nor a tittle of His Word shall not come to pass except exactly when and as God Himself ordains. Matthew 5:18.  

    So, what is the answer then? If for all of these reasons bad things happen even to people who natural men and women, seeing only with their five senses and not spiritually discerning, consider to undoubtedly be "good people," then what can we do to prevent bad things from happening to us? 

     The answer is for all of us -- you and me -- to keep God's ordinances.  Which ones? All of them! For example, give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shall God and man give unto you.  Luke 6:38. You want to be blessed in the midst of a dark and perverse world?  Give cheerfully to the movement of His Word, and to the aid of His people.  II Corinthians 9:7-8. Then, challenge the Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth,  to prove Himself, to prove His promise to open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing so large that there is not room enough to receive it all into your life. Ask Him to give you a super abundance to share with your fellow believers, for the glory of God.  Ask Him to rebuke the devourer, the Devil and his minions, and -- if you are faithful to His Word -- He will surely do it.  

    Want to be blessed?  Want to live in a delightsome land?  Obey God, not men! Acts 5:29.

    This simple commandment, the first of the ten, was the basis of Jesus Christ's teaching on the first and greatest law upon.  Matthew 22:34-40. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Yet, merely a few decades after he had arisen, corrupt doctrine had already crept in to the church.  By 57 A.D. another "good" news, another "gospel," one that contained false and perverse teachings sent by the father of all lies, had troubled the body of First Century believers. False doctrine robs us of God's peace.  It robs us of our God-given power to be more than conquerors, to be super conquerors. False doctrine robs all believers of their spiritual power even to truly believe what God can make available to men and women. 

Galatians 1:6-12:  ⁶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. ¹⁰ For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. ¹¹ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹² For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    Jesus Christ based his teachings and his doctrine upon God's eternal Truth, with a capital "T". There is no other gospel worthy of being taught.  Any man or woman who knowingly perverts the Word of The Almighty is accursed of God. Yet, foolish man is too easily bewitched by Satan. For this reason too, bad things happen to "good people."

Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

    The truth positive of the God-given revelation of Jesus Christ is not by the fulfillment of all of the prophecies about his coming crucifixion, but by the truth of his resurrection!  How do we know his teachings are true?  By the manifested, unspeakable power of God -- God in Christ in YOU -- holy Spirit within each and every one of those who chose to believe in their hearts that Jesus was the Christ, born of a woman, the only begotten son of the one true God, who was crucified for our sins and raised by God from the dead after three days, ascended into Heaven, and is now setting at the right hand of God, his Father. God, who is Abba, our Father! Romans 10:9; Acts 2:14-36, 38-39; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6.

    What am I speaking about? Why, power from on high, pneuma hagion, holy Spirit, manifested any one of nine ways into the five senses realm, is proof positive of God's seal upon us, in truth and in fact. Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; I Thessalonians 4:8. Given as a sign to unbelievers. I Corinthians 12:3. Given for our perfect personal prayer life with God. I Corinthians 14:2. Given so that we can manifest power, move mountains, and be free. Given so that we can understand with whole thoughts spiritual matters. Given so that we can believe, and plan, to succeed, then do so. Given so that bad things wouldn't happen to good people. 

    But, if you don't believe in power from on high, then your believing limits God. In other words, bad things also happen even to really good people when they fail to believe in what God has already promised them, and already given them.  Bad things happen to those who do not plan and do not believe to succeed. Or, to put it another way, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Those who refuse to believe, don't receive. Those who doubt, shall do without -- especially if they deny themselves the full grace and power of God. 

    And, if they don't know that they are already made free, then they fail:

Galatians 5:1:  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

    Knowing these truths, know ye also that the teachings and accomplished believing of Jesus Christ have already made us -- all believers -- free.  Free at last.  Free indeed!  John 8:36. Therefore stand fast, hold onto, believe in and stand boldly upon your precious liberty, for it was bought at great price.  Do not let the adversary trick you, or bewitch you, or preach you out of an accurate knowledge of any of God's eternal truths. Do not let those out of fellowship trick you into following them. That is a trap for the unwary. And Christ's doctrine is given to us for reproof and correction, for restoration of right believing. II Timothy 3:16. Thereby we protect ourselves.

Galatians 6:1, 7-8 - ¹ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ... ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

    If you see a man or woman in sin, call it sin! Then restore the sinner by putting her or him on God's path.  How do you recognize sin?  How do we restore a sinner? By knowing God's judgments, as set forth in God's Words.  By reading the Bible.  By praying daily. But, be very careful here.  Make sure that you judge rightly according to God's judgment, not your own.  

    When's the last time you prayed to God, in the name of His son, to send His angels down to watch over you and protect you throughout the day, and night?  To protect your family, your children, your home? Failure to pray for God's hedge of protection, daily, is yet another open door for the devil to make bad things happen.

    Bad things also happen to genuinely good folks who sin.  Big sin, little sin -- God cares not.  All sin is sin to Him; there is only one unforgivable sin. And the wages or consequences of all sin is destruction and death. Remember, the thief cometh not but to kill, steal and destroy. Now, don't get this wrong ... God's grace covers a multitude of sins. But you must be faithful to go to God and confess your sins, and genuinely repent from your sins.

    But, knowing all this gives any believer an "edge," a warning by foreknowledge. Forewarned is fore armed, as they say. Therefore refrain from sin in your heart or by your body. Romans 6:1-2, 15; I Corinthians 6:15.  

    How do you know what is sin, and what isn't?  God's judgment on that, the only judgment that counts, is found in His Word. By reading the Word we have the knowledge of what sin is, and isn't.  Romans 7:7. 

    So, what's the answer?  Read God's Word! Read it daily. Think about it. This is God's commandment.  Why? Because there simply is no substitute for an accurate knowledge of God's Word. As Christians we are accountable for what we know. We are also commanded to study the Word daily, think and/or reflect upon its true meanings, and then apply it in our lives. II Timothy 2:15.

    Finally, those who accurately know God's Word, who believe that Word and who are born again of holy Spirit, should freely take upon themselves -- without guile, deceit or hidden reservations -- the God-appointed task of teaching the good news, the gospel, and the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.  Acts 1:8. We should all educate ourselves in the truth of God's Word, so as to be able to stand before God at the judgment seat of Christ, being workmen approved unto to Him.  A believer's failure to do this leave him or her open for bad things to happen. We are accountable for what we know.

    And, as to those who knowingly or willfully pervert the Word, well ... be not deceived, for God is not mocked.  You too shall stand before God and His son, accounting for every last word and evil thought. And what you have sowed, ye shall surely reap. Yep, bad things will surely happen!

    But, until then, until Christ's second coming, we who are righteous, justified, sanctified, born again of holy Spirit, and set free are to stand fast in the body of true Believers!  Be at peace, for the teachings of Christ Jesus have made you free!  And he who the Son has set free is free indeed! 

    You are more than conquerors through Him who loves you!  Truly each of you shall reap the blessings of Heaven in this life, as well as life everlasting with our Lord and Savior. Know this ... I mean truly know this, and believe it, and then you are well on your road to making sure that bad things don't happen to you!