Why God?

I realized something about an hour ago. I realized that I often find myself asking God why. And there is a sweetness in that question that I’d like to share.

Now, perhaps you are expecting me to say that it is good to question why bad things happen. I am not immune to asking God “Why” in bad situations (like Japan), but that is not the point of this writing. Scripture is clear that the world is fallen and bad things are going to happen.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoptions as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:22-23

This groaning is good because it points us to our desire to be redeemed. Groaning is a means of God’s grace to us. I want to direct this groaning upwards to Christ and allow God to use it to give me an eager longing for His Kingdom.

The question that I find myself asking is not “Why do bad things happen?” so much as it is “Why does anything good happen to me, a man who stood condemned by a holy God because of my rebellion against Him until Christ gave His life as a ransom for mine?”

It goes against every fiber of my being to believe that God would be kind to me. I am undone by His glory while considering my wicked heart. It is not a human ability to gladly and freely give grace to another. In our fallen condition, the best we can hope for is an external presentation of grace. Our stone hearts won’t allow us to freely give with right motives. Knowing this, I find myself routinely asking God why He has been good to me. It is beyond me to understand the reason He showered me with love.

His ways are much higher than mine. And I am so glad that He is able to give the free gift of grace. Christ is my anchor, not because of works done by me, but because the salvation accomplished by His crucifixion is a gift of God and I have received Him as Lord of my life. I understand this.

I am just awestruck by His ability to freely give. And I pray that I never grow cold. I pray I never stop being undone when I consider the sacrifice of Christ and the free gift of God’s grace. And I pray that God might sanctify me in this truth and allow me to give increasingly more freely to others as He has given to me.

Which are you more inclined to ask? Asking “Why me?” can be a good thing if the reason for asking is because you are overwhelmed by God’s goodness to you in Christ. Asking “Why me?” can be a bad thing if you are grumbling in your heart like Israel did in the wilderness wanting to know why God isn’t living up to your expectations of Him.

One requires confession and repentance. One makes less of us and much of Christ.

Am I asking the right question? Are you?