This is probably the most commonly asked question today about God… and not an easy or a quick answer. More often than not, the person asking the question is seeing life and existence solely through the lens of “this life”, in other words, “this temporal life… on earth”… with the lifespan of 80, 90 or even 100 years.  Their perspective is limited to what happens here… and stops at the point of death.  

However, the truth is that this life, as important as it is, is only a tiny fragment of our ultimate existence in eternity… which lasts “forever”.  If this temporary life was “all there is”, then it is true that for many, life would seem totally unfair, since some would have such an easier life than others… but this is not the case.

We are the ones who see through that lens… but our Heavenly Father, the Eternal God, sees things perfectly… from an eternal and Heavenly perspective.  He sees the way things will play out in the future… and that makes all the difference in the world.

We know and understand God’s “ultimate” intentions through the promises He has given us the scriptures. As a matter of fact, the last two chapters of the Bible reveal a brief description of our eternal home in Heaven… one where God Himself will live “with us”. Biblically speaking, this temporal life here on earth was never meant to bring total fulfillment to us. It is merely a shadow of the glorious things God has prepared for us in Heaven.

Here are just a few scriptures which relate to this question and answer: 

“And we know that in all things, God works FOR THE GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person WILL RECEIVE the CROWN OF LIFE that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

And concerning our resurrection in the future… 

‘So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown (this body we have now) is perishable, it is raised (the body we will have) imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

So you see, whatever events happen in this life, good or bad, whether sickness or health, a short life or a long one, blessings or hardships… ultimately God will make it good… more than good… unbelievable good… for those who love Him and follow Him.

The apostle Paul, after he had miraculously visited Heaven, says “I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the GLORY that will be REVEALED IN US.”

We must also answer with the importance of TRUSTING IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD, regardless of how things appear here.  God is good and everything he does is good. He cannot and will not act otherwise. He does not just KNOW the future, but He HOLDS the future in His hands. Whatever He has promised, He will do. Again, our answer must always fall back upon the loving arms of our Creator, who paid such an incredibly high price for us… that forever, we will always know how much we are worth to Him.

This question draws us to the very definition of faith.  The natural mind says “Show me… and then I’ll believe, however God basically says in the Bible “First believe, and then I’ll show you.” 

One illustration might be the “wind”. We can’t see the wind literally, although we surely see the “effects” of the wind.  We can see that the wind exists by how it affects the things around it. Of course, no intelligent person questions the existence of the wind, yet it is not directly visible. God says in Romans 1, that He has clearly revealed Himself through what He has created… even to the point where He says that man is “without excuse”. 

God expects us to understand these things when we observe beautiful sunrises and sunsets, majestic mountains, crystal rivers, singing birds… the vastness of the universe as we gaze up in the night sky… the miracle of birth… eyesight, hearing, touch… love between two people… and a myriad of other wonders of this life. God has clearly revealed Himself through these.

The scriptures show us story after story that God loves faith… and how much it “pleases” Him (Hebrews 1:6). One verse, 2 Corinthians 5:7, says it clearly, “We walk by FAITH, and not by SIGHT”. This is how God in His great wisdom chose to distinguish one person from another. It is in fact the deciding factor in where a person will spend eternity. In one place, Jesus simply says, “Don’t be afraid, only believe”. Mark 5:36. We must become as little children, Jesus said… and simply trust God’s word that He is who He says He is, and that the future will be just as He says it will be. 

Lastly, another great answer is to share our own personal story… our own testimony of what God has done for us.  There is little that can be as powerful as our own personal testimony!

This is a question that has probably been asked by just about every person at one time in their life. Life has its low points, no matter who the person is. We think to ourselves, “Couldn’t God have just overruled the circumstance and prevented it altogether?  And of course, He could. Being omniscient, He knows all things past, present and future.  He sees things before they ever happen. So, both the logical and the biblical answer must be that whatever God wills or allows, He knows ultimately will work out according to His eternal plan and for our absolute best.  Again, this requires faith and trust in God and His word.  Specifically, in the many promises of His word which tell us how much He loves us… how valuable we are to Him… and how He plans to bless us in the future… in Heaven.

There are several ways you can approach this question. One is to come back with a question. “Really? Well, suppose you’re wrong? They may say back to you… “Suppose you’re wrong?” You can then say, “If I’m wrong, and you’re right… then we are both in the same boat… it ends the same for both of us” “But if I’m right and you’re wrong… then you have missed the boat”.  “It will NOT end the same for both of us”.  Because God’s word says that there ONLY TWO places that a man will go after death… either Heaven or Hell”. “Are you willing to gamble with your eternity?”

Another good answer goes like this… “Man, you have A LOT OF FAITH!” Then they may say something like, “What do you mean… You are the religious one?” Then you can say, “No… you have MUCH MORE FAITH than I do”  “For me, all I have ever known is living… is existing… All I can ever remember is being here… being alive.” It doesn’t require much faith for me to believe that I will just “keep on existing… keep on living”.  Now you, on the other hand… You believe in something that you or I have never seen or experienced. You believe that someday, you will not be alive… even though you have never experienced that.  You see, your way of thinking requires much more faith than mine does!”