And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)
Every detail of every man’s life who has ever walked on the earth has not impacted the world as much as the few recorded details of Jesus’ life. Jesus was not just a man; He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16).
In Acts 10:38, Peter gave a brief yet descriptive summary of the life and ministry of Jesus. He was anointed with power and with the Holy Ghost. He used this power to do good, not evil. This is one of the main characteristics of God and is one of the easiest ways to discern what is from God and what is from the devil. God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil. If it’s bad, it’s from the devil; if it’s good, it’s from God.
Tragedy can come from three sources: God, Satan, and natural law. God’s wrath rests upon unbelievers only (Rom. 1:18). Believers will never experience His wrath (Rom. 5:9). New Testament believers are exempt from the punitive judgment of God since Jesus bore it for them.
As for natural law, as mankind violates the laws of God, in both a natural and moral sense, they will reap what they sow. If a person drives recklessly and kills themselves and others, it is not God or the devil that killed them. They violated natural law and thus paid the price. Unfortunately, the devil often steps in to accuse God of being behind all tragedy. But our God is a good God. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
It is incorrect to believe that God controls everything and has some redemptive purpose in tragedies. This type of thinking will lead you to ignore the devil and give him a free hand to destroy your life. It will also cause you not to use wisdom concerning natural laws. You will think nothing can happen unless God wills it. But today you will decide to either walk in the Spirit by the Word or to go your own way. It will be a lot easier to go with God when you know how good He is.
