James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”
When things happen that we consider to be bad, or that causes suffering, it is normal to ask why. Everyone I know has had bad things happen to them.
Some of these things are permanently life-altering like my 21-year-old niece who broke her back last year and is now confined to a wheelchair or my son-in-law Paul whose life was taken with cancer at such a young age. Some are long term like my prison sentence. Some trials are of unknown duration.
People have no idea when, if ever, the suffering will end. Some, like being sentenced to hell, will be eternal. Why does God allow His creatures to suffer?
The question of why God allows suffering has been asked since man was expelled from the Garden of Eden. When my wife and I were convicted and I was sentenced, yes it caused us to ask the “why” question again.
Many books have been written and thousands of sermons preached on this topic. I won’t add anything new I’m sure. I won’t pretend to know the why in my situation, but here are my thoughts.
*Some suffering is simply part of being human. Jesus was tired (Matthew 8:24), hungry (Matthew 4:2), thirsty (John 19:28) and even died yet had no sin.
*Some suffering is allowed by God as a purifying grace (Job 23:19, Hebrews 12:1-12).
*Some is a result of our disobedience or sin (I Peter 4:15).
*Some, like military boot camp, is to prepare us for greater service in God’s kingdom now or later when He sets up His kingdom on earth (Matthew 25:21).
*God may allow some to suffer in order to help others (II Corinthians 1:4).
*God may allow some to suffer to “show them off” to Satan (Job).
So why did this happen to Kent Hovind?
God may have sent me to prison:
*To reach people here that need the gospel (Acts 8:26, Phillipians 4:22).
*To be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14).
*To prepare me for greater future use in the creation science ministry.
*To help prepare someone else for future use (Genesis 50:20).
*To give me a taste of the coming New World Order to enhance my preaching.
*To help motivate others to Christian service.
*To better understand the multitude of people in jail. Since over two million Americans are currently incarcerated (the highest per capita in the world!) God may have wanted to open my eyes to the great injustices being done and to let me, like Ezekiel, see the plight of these people in order that I might more effectively minister to them.
*To be an advocate of returning to more Biblical forms of punishment. When the judge ordered punishment in the Bible, the judge himself had to witness the punishment. Few judges today ever actually see the consequences of the sentences that they hand down to the offender and his family. Maybe all judges should be required to visit both the ones that they incarcerate and his family several times each year?
*To understand the trial of faith that comes from taking a stand for righteous issues as Daniel did concerning eating meats.
*To understand the consequences of taking a stand on issues that were right, but could cause a weaker brother to stumble.
Above all, God is still in charge. I willingly submit to this chapter of my life in order that I may become a more profitable servant for HIS glory.
Kent