When bad is good and good is bad
I say, “When bad is good and good is bad” with tongue in cheek. Bad is always bad and good is always good.
This is really about the good that can come out of bad and the bad that can be brought forth out of good. Let me explain.
When the Israelites were about ready to go into the Promised Land, God warned them about forgetting him.
Deut 31:20 NIV “When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.”
Conversely, whenever bad things happen, it seems to drive or force people closer to God.
Psalm 18:6 NIV “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”
It seems that the more prosperous we are, the less concerned we become over the things of God. Since in this country we have many material blessings, good income and possibly good health, the necessity of having God in our lives tends to take a back seat to the pursuits of materialism and pleasure.
At the very least, our needs and much of our wants are satisfied so we incorrectly and subconsciously live as if we don’t need God. Or we give him a wink and nod as we smugly live our lives with him as an afterthought. Even if we believe in God, our dependency is winnowed down and scattered.
Our prayers become dry and brittle, lacking the dynamic that embraces desperation and brokenness. Closeness and intimacy with God usually gets traded for social media and relaxation. Our participation in church life becomes swallowed whole by days off and other things to do.
Why is God the go-to person when bad things happen when he should always be that person? When good things are happening we unfortunately end up subtly shifting our thoughts and actions in the direction of that source, not recognizing or affirming that all good gifts come from God.
James 1:17 (NIV)” Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”.
But we instead supplant Jehovah Jireh (The Lord God our Provider) with a false narrative of the origin of blessings. So the good is bad when it displaces our relationship with God.
How many of us find a newfound respect and dialogue with God when bad things come into our lives? Consider how many churches saw an increase in attendance immediately after 9/11.
Look at our attitudes and orientation whenever a bad thing happens. The Doctor has really bad news, a pink slip has been given, an unexpected death or accident has occurred or the opportunity of a lifetime is at hand and you need a breakthrough.
Suddenly, God is not over there, but you want him as close as possible for the support, comfort and hope he provides. Sometimes bad things are the only thing that pushes us to get closer to God. That’s unfortunate for us and God.
Thankfully he doesn’t cop an attitude and snub us when we (re)turn. Our motivations too often determined by our fortunes and circumstance. God’s motivations are determined by his compassion and love. Thank God, literally…
So the issue in a nut shell boils down to this, when good things happen in our lives, do we tend to fall away or forget our relationship with him? That is the bad that comes out of the good. Opposite that of course: when bad things happen to us, do we purposely draw closer to God? That would be the good that can come out of the bad.
Bad is bad and good is good in and of itself. But where do we let it lead us? That includes other relationships.
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Blessings.