From: Kent Hovind
Sent: January 26, 2009
Subject: Why does God let us suffer?
First read: Matthew 27:54
God: Good morning, son!
KH: Lord? It’s 3 AM!
God: It’s okay, son. You can sleep later. I’m here to answer your prayer. You asked for wisdom about why Daniel 7:21 and 25 and Revelation 13:7 say that I allow Satan to overcome and kill the saints, didn’t you?
KH: I did Lord. Why would you allow your bride (Rev. 21:2, 9) to suffer?
God: Come with me, son. I’d like you to meet a Roman Centurion named Narcissus (Rom. 16:11). He can explain it to you…
KH: Excuse me, sir. Are you Narcissus?
Narcissus (NA): Yes, I am. Welcome to my humble home. I’ve been expecting you. Have a seat please. My servants will bring some fruit and juice… Now, how can I help you, Kent?
KH: I’ve been puzzling over why God would allow His children to suffer and die. It doesn’t make sense to me. He sent me to talk with you.
NA: Well, let me tell you my story. Maybe that will help you understand. I was a Roman Centurion for many years before I retired back here in Rome. About twenty years ago, I was stationed in Israel for a few years. We all hated that place! It was dirty, poor, and the customs of the people there were so strange to us. Those Jews were hard people to govern! Some were always fighting against us. They were called the Zealots (Lk. 6:15; Acts 1:13). Most cooperated, but we know they hated us Romans for occupying their land. I’m sure I would feel the same way.
Anyway, I was in charge of executing prisoners. We Romans invented crucifixion as a means of executing people. I’ve seen hundreds of men and women die in my time, but no death is as slow and agonizing as crucifixion (Phil. 2:8; Heb. 12:2). Sometimes people would hang on a cross for days before they died. We learned how to drive the nail between the wrist bones to hit the nerve, but miss the main blood vessels. That would give the most pain, but make them die slower.
KH: Wow! That is cruel!
NA: I know. We were trying to be cruel. The soldiers’ lives during peaceful times are boring, so that was our entertainment.
Anyway, I had heard about one of the Jews who they called Jesus. He had disciples following him everywhere for a few years. One day, I got a message to crucify him along with two other men, so we went to work. After we scourged him (Jn. 19:1), we led him out to be crucified. At first, the two thieves mocked him (Mk. 15:32) and so did we (Lk. 23:36). Then, we just sat and watched Him (Mt. 27:36).
I tell you, Kent, I’ve seen a lot of people die! I was hard-hearted. I’ve crucified hundreds of people. I loved hearing them scream for mercy or swear at me as they withered in pain, but Jesus…I’ve never seen a man accept pain and death willingly like He did.
We all watched Him hang there for three hours. Then, the whole world got dark (Mt. 27:45; Mk. 15:33; Lk. 23:44) in the middle of the day! After a few hours, He simply gave up the ghost. That’s when the whole earth shook (Mt. 27:51)! The rocks at our feet cracked and graves opened up all over town. Dead people came back to life (Mt. 27:52-53)! It was all a sign from God.
KH: What did you do?
NA: I realized right then that this Jesus we had just killed was the Son of God (Mt. 27:54)! I was never the same. Watching an innocent man suffer the cruelest death known to man and do it without cursing and swearing at his tormenters was the only way God could have broken a hard-hearted sinner like me.
KH: Some seeds only germinate after a fire.
NA: That’s what I’ve heard too. Anyway, after He was buried, I sealed the tomb and posted a guard day and night, so no one could steal the body (Mt. 27:66). Three days later there was another earthquake (Mt. 28:2) and the stone rolled back. We thought it was to let Him out, but He was already gone. The angel rolled the stone back to show us He was not there. My big, strong, brave soldiers feinted (Mt. 28:4). Jesus had risen from the dead! Hundreds of people saw Him over the next forty days (I Cor. 15:6). I didn’t get to see Him, but I met people who did. They were totally changed, as was I. I retired a few years later and moved back home to Rome. Boy was I glad to be away from Israel and back home!
KH: What happened to all those disciples?
NA: They went everywhere preaching about Jesus and the resurrection. Pretty soon there were tens of thousands of believers all over the Roman Empire. Lots of my servants became believers as well (Rom. 16:11).
It wasn’t long until Caesar felt threatened by these Christians who dared to profess that there was a higher authority than him. (He thinks that he is God.) He began ordering everyone to bring a pinch of incense and declare that he is Lord. The Christians wouldn’t do it, so he ordered them killed. Thousands and thousands of them have been thrown to lions and crucified or burned alive right here in this city over the last few years!
KH: What do the Roman citizens think of that?
NA: They normally think it is great sport at first, just like I did, but I can tell it is getting to them. Even those who cheer the loudest in the arena wish they had something to die for like these Christians. No one I know would die for any of his Roman gods.
It is strange, but even the hardest heart is softened by watching people suffer when you know inside that they are innocent. As the believers are being chained to a stake or eaten, they often pray for the persecutors and tell them that they forgive them! It’s incredible!
I’ve seen scores of hardened soldiers and executioners break down weeping, and become Christians on the spot. Caesar then sends out more soldiers to kill both of them. They die singing and praising God! It’s the most beautiful sight on earth!
So, you came to ask me why God would allow His children to suffer and die.
KH: Yes, I did.
NA: God wants everyone saved (Jn. 3:16; II Pt. 3:9) even the cruelest, meanest, and most hard-hearted people on earth. He knows that His children have forever to rejoice and celebrate with Him and that a few hours or days of suffering down here will be quickly forgotten when they get to heaven (Rom. 8:18-23). So, even though I don’t claim to know all the reasons God does what He does, I do know that watching an innocent person suffer without threatening his persecutors (I Pt. 2:21-23) caused my hard heart to soften as well as many tens of thousands here in Rome. I don’t know how long God will allow his followers to suffer at the hands of heathens like me, but I’m glad He does it. I wouldn’t be saved today any other way. Neither would most of my household or neighbors. The blood of the martyrs makes the church grow!
KH: I think I’m beginning to see it now. Thanks, Narcissus!
NA: You’re welcome.
KH: Lord, are You using this court case and prison time for my wife and me to win souls for your Kingdom?
God: Yes, son. More than you can know right now.
KH: I need Your grace to endure this prison time (Heb. 4:16). Help me please, and my sweet wife.
God: Now that’s a prayer I love to answer, son! You will meet people up here that you would never dream. They may seem hard-hearted, but they are crying out to Me on the inside. Just suffer a little longer, son (Rev. 6:9-11). It will all be fine (Rom. 8:28). Go back to sleep now, son. I’ve got your back!