Today’s sermon title is, “If God Exists, Why Do These Things Happen?” Before I came to know Jesus, I often asked that very question myself: “If God exists, why do such things happen?” When do we find ourselves asking this? It’s usually when innocent people suffer—whether through natural disasters or tragic accidents. Isn’t that right?

A few years ago, there was a tragedy in which hundreds of students lost their lives in our country. It was heartbreaking—so painful that even now, thinking about it weighs heavily on our hearts. “Why would such a thing happen? If God is alive, why would something like that happen?” We can naturally ask that.

And in the United States, there was the 9/11 terrorist attack. Countless people died there. They were someone’s father, someone’s mother, someone’s son or daughter. And yet, they died without knowing what was happening—suddenly, and so tragically. So again, people ask, “If God is alive, why do these things happen?” It’s really frustrating.

And then, there are wars. In our own country, decades ago, the Korean War broke out. So many people killed each other, and many died not even knowing why. “If God is alive, how could such things happen?” And even before that, there were things far worse.

Likewise, tragedies happen beyond our will. But at times, there are incidents in which those who claim to attend church are directly involved. For example, when the Sampoong Department Store collapsed, I later heard that some people had already anticipated the possibility that the building might fall. That’s why, I was told, all the gold and jewelry stored on the top floor had already been moved elsewhere. Still, they continued to operate the shops. Their thinking was, “Surely it won’t collapse.” But when it came to the valuables on the top floor, it was different. Instead of thinking, “Surely not,” they thought, “Just in case,” or “What if it really collapses?” And so, they removed the valuables—only those. As a result, countless people lost their lives. And the owner of the building was known to be a Christian. When people see something like that, they naturally ask, “If God exists, how could such a thing happen?” Their hearts are troubled. They suffer. And in the end, they say, “Right! There must be no God.” I, too, struggled with the question for a long time.

However, I am now someone who believes in God. But to be honest, even saying “I believe in God” doesn’t fully express it. I have met God. I’m not just a believer—I’m someone who has met Him. I’ve become one with Him. That is what my faith is. How can I become one with God? It is through Jesus Christ, whom God sent. Through Him, I have been united with God. I have been joined to Jesus Christ—I have become one with Him. And in doing so, I have been made one with the Son whom God loves—whom He loves dearly, loves most, and loves alone; Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I am someone who has received the love of the almighty God—the One who created heaven and earth. I bear the name of God. I possess the Spirit of God. And now, I enjoy a favor and blessing I could have never dreamed of. This is an undeniable truth. Even if others do not believe in it, because this experience has a universality, I can help others come to experience it as well. That is why, now, I can speak about where that question goes wrong—that question: “If God exists, why do such things happen?”

The Bible testifies about God. As Christians, we continually read and examine the Scriptures, and through them, we receive our faith. But does the Bible ever say that there is no suffering or evil in the world? In the Bible that introduces us to God, does it declare, “There is no pain in the world! There is no sin in the world!”? Not at all. If you read the Bible carefully, you might actually be surprised. Many expect it to be filled with good stories—but soon realize that’s not the case. Some parts are so raw, you might close the Bible in a panic if someone walked by and saw what you were reading, because many parts make us feel ashamed. The picture of the world written in the Bible is completely uncovered. Those who approach it expecting only clean and holy content will find themselves shocked.

There is even a story like this in the Bible: parents boiling and eating their own children. Yes, that’s actually written in the Scripture. And it wasn’t something done by people who didn’t know God—it was done by those who claimed to know Him. The Bible records how a mother, with her own hands, boiled her child and ate them. But this didn’t happen without warning. God had already said, “If you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, this will happen.” He had clearly told them to avoid such a tragedy, but because they didn’t listen, they ended up in that state. You might think, “Isn’t that a bit extreme? Just an ancient story?” But even in recent times, there have been real reports of parents—driven by hunger and desperation—doing such things. They are still happening. And they are recorded plainly in the Bible.

This world is full of suffering—and that suffering comes from human sin. Many people assume that if God really exists, then His creatures—human beings—shouldn’t be sinning. They think, “If God exists, there should be no sin,” or, “If God exists, there should be no pain.” But just because God exists doesn’t mean that His creatures never sin. People still commit sin. Then, some may wonder, “Couldn’t God move people’s hearts so they don’t sin?” Yes—that would be possible if He had made us, human beings, like robots. If God had designed us to do only what He commands and nothing else, then yes, there would be no sin in the world. But in that case, we wouldn’t be human. We’d be machines. Even artificial intelligence—created by humans—is starting to think for itself, and that alone is enough to make people uneasy.

But God did not create humans as robots. He created us as beings like Himself. That means He created us to have the same kind of understanding as Himself, so that we could fellowship with Him and share joy with Him. He didn’t make us robots. So we, His creatures, can choose. We can choose what God desires—or we can choose what He does not desire. Though God has clearly told us the path to true happiness, human beings have continually chosen the opposite. Because of that, the world has often chosen paths that God never desired—paths that, in His view, lead to destruction. And as a result, countless forms of suffering now exist.

Some might also think, “If God really exists, why does He allow such things to happen? Shouldn’t He respond right away?” “Wouldn’t it be better if God immediately punished people the moment they sinned? Like—if someone tried to steal, their hands would go numb. If someone attempted murder, they would drop dead. If someone told a lie, their tongue would become paralyzed. Couldn’t God just make it work that way? But think about it. What would happen if God responded with instant judgment every time someone sinned? If some are thinking this way, it shows something in their hearts. That is, “I’m not a sinner.” They’re thinking, “I don’t commit sin.” That’s why they can think in this way.

However, let’s think about it. What if God did bring judgment every single time someone committed a sin—every time someone did something He didn’t want? Would our hands still be intact? Would our tongue still be functioning? Throughout our lives, haven’t we done things God hates? But we don’t even have to go that far. Can we really say we’ve never gone against our own conscience? Can we claim, “I’ve never broken any moral standard that people consider right”? Probably no one. Of course, we might think to ourselves, “Well, I’ve tried to live with a good conscience!”

But just because we think that way doesn’t mean others do too. In fact, I’ve learned a lot about this through marriage. I used to think I was doing well as a husband. But over time, I realized my wife had let many things go. One day, she told me, “You remember all the good things you’ve done—but you forget the things you didn’t do well.” And she was absolutely right. I tend to remember only what benefits me. I remember the things I did for others—and then I exaggerate them in my mind. So I go on thinking, “I’m a pretty good man.” But when my wife starts pointing things out one by one, I start to lose confidence. And I couldn’t deny it, “Yes, you’re right.”

But what if it’s not my wife who does this—but God? What if God said, “You think you’ve done nothing wrong? You believe you’ve never hurt anyone? Alright then—let’s take a look, shall we?” And as He starts going through things one by one, who could possibly stand? Honestly, there are probably many people who’ve shed tears because of me. And I might not even know it. Someone might still be hurting because of a careless word I once threw out. It’s not hard to imagine. What I’m saying is, from God’s perspective, there is no one righteous.

In fact, during Jesus’ time, there were people who claimed to be righteous and judged others. To them, Jesus said, “Anyone who looks at someone else’s belongings with greed has already committed theft in their hearts.” He also said that if anyone says to their brother, “You fool!” they are just like a murderer. And He said that if anyone looks at a woman to lust for her, it’s the same as committing adultery. They may not have acted on it—but maybe they would have, if the opportunity had come. That makes us sinners. We are all sinners.

But what would happen if God did respond with judgment every time? We would all be destroyed. We would all perish. But here at church, what we’re trying to tell you is not simply that you’ve sinned. We’re here to help you meet God. Yet if you come before God saying, “I’m innocent. I’ve lived by my conscience. I’ve done nothing wrong,” then you cannot meet Him. And if you ask, “If God really exists, then why is there evil in the world?”—as if you yourself have no part in it—then perhaps you’re not yet ready to meet Him. It’s not just that others are evil. I am evil too. We all are. So if God were to bring judgment immediately, we would all have to die. We would all be destroyed.

However, what God desires is not to bring judgment on this earth right now. His desire is not to destroy everyone here and now. Originally, we should all be destroyed—but God’s will is to let people like us share in His happiness. That’s truly good news. Just as God is full of joy, He wants us—full of sin and lacking in so many ways—to enjoy that same happiness with Him. And now, He is showing us the way. It is a kind of happiness that only belongs to God.

It is for very His will that God sent Jesus Christ. Earlier, we mentioned that some people ask, “If God exists, why does He allow such things to happen?” But in truth, there is only one person who ever had the right to ask that question. It is Jesus Christ. He is our Lord. He alone had the right to say, “If God exists, why should I have to suffer like this?”

But the Son of God, Jesus Christ, did not say that. As we read earlier in the Bible, He came to this world as the Son of God—but was sentenced to death by people. And before His execution, He endured another punishment just below the death sentence: He was scourged. Though He had done nothing wrong—though He had only done good—He was unjustly condemned. Simply because He called God His Father and introduced Himself to others as the Son of God, He was falsely accused. And under the Roman law—the most advanced legal system in the world at the time—He was sentenced and executed. He died on the cross. While He hung on the cross, people mocked Him and said, “If God is really alive, then surely God will rescue Him!” “If He really is the Son of God, then God will save Him!” These words came not from unbelievers, but from those who claimed to believe in God. “Jesus? If He’s really the Son of God, then let’s see if God saves Him!” They said it in a mocking way.

God allowed His Son to die. But the important thing is that on the third day—after just one, two, three days—God raised His Son from the dead. Yet God did not raise Him in front of everyone to see. No one witnessed the moment of resurrection. Later, the risen Jesus appeared only to certain people—to those who already believed in Him. And God made this a secret. He limited those who could believe—not just anyone, but only those who repented. Therefore, only those who confess, “I am a sinner,” are able to believe in Him. So God has designed it so that only those who say before Him, “I am a sinner. If God were to destroy all evil, I too should perish,” could meet Him. That is what repentance is.

I hope that you meet God. But He allows only those who admit this to meet Him: “If God really removed all evil—if He brought instant judgment on every sin—then I should have already been gone!” To people like us, God has granted His grace so that we may possess His happiness. That’s why I’m thankful to Him—He is the One who saved my life, and He is my Lord. So from now on, I don’t live, saying, “I’m righteous!”—I live with Him as my Lord and walk with Him. This is my life. This is what it means to be a Christian. And not only me, but all who have been united with Jesus Christ throughout history have held this same faith.

So even now, though evil and suffering still exist in this world, God does not immediately remove them, because His will is not ultimately to be fulfilled here on earth, but in another place. It is not here—it is in heaven. God’s perfect plan is completely fulfilled in that place called heaven. As the Bible says, there will be no more mourning, no more suffering, and no more tears.

But those things still remain in this world. We cannot say that God’s will has been fully accomplished here. What kind of place is this world? It is the place that judged the Son of God. This is the world where human beings condemned the One most beloved by God, calling Him a “sinner.” That is what sin is. This world judged God. Though God is full of joy, it was this world that judged Him. Though God came to give us life, it was here that people judged and condemned Him to die on the cross. That’s why we cannot expect anything perfect from this world.

It’s the same even for those who attend church. Does going to church mean that all believers in Jesus live perfectly? No, it doesn’t. There are people at church who have believed in Jesus for ten years, others who have believed for one year, and some who just came for the first time last week. So, expecting everyone to act perfectly is unrealistic. Even someone who has attended church for thirty years does not necessarily do only what seems right in your eyes. We human beings always have the potential to do things that God hates—and I am no exception. Just because I walked rightly until yesterday doesn’t guarantee I’ll do the same today. Temptations keep coming.

For that reason, I don’t think, “Oh, I’ve sinned, so I can’t come near to God!” We can sin. We can do things that God hates. It’s better not to sin, but I might. Even so, I still come before God. Why? Because when I first came to Him, it wasn’t because I was blameless. From the beginning, I had no right to approach God—but He accepted me anyway. He paid the price for all my sins and allowed me to be united with Jesus Christ so I could come before Him. So when God looks at me, He sees me as part of Jesus. That’s how He sees my spirit. Even if I do something He hates, that truth doesn’t change. I can sin again due to the weakness of the flesh. It can happen. However, God gives me another chance—He tells me not to do it again. And so I make up my mind once more to live according to what God desires and keep moving forward.

God has spoken to us humans in this way: “If someone wrongs you, forgive them.” Have you ever heard how many times we’re supposed to forgive? Jesus said, “Up to seventy times seven.” That’s 490 times, right? But He didn’t mean we should forgive only 490 times and then stop at the 491st. What He means is this: forgive endlessly. Keep giving them another chance. That’s hard to do. But before we ask, “Can I really do that?”—we need to consider why God said it. The reason God tells us to forgive like that is that’s exactly how He is treating us. Even when we sin, He keeps giving us another chance—even seventy times seven. People might say, “I forgive you,” and then add, “But I can’t trust you anymore. I won’t give you another chance.” But that’s not true forgiveness. When God forgives, He does so—fully knowing we might fail Him again. Even when we say, “Just give me one more chance—I won’t disappoint You this time,” and we’ve already disappointed Him 490 times—He still gives us one more. That is who God is. And when we are united with Jesus Christ and receive the love of God, that’s when we can truly meet Him in peace.

And from now on, we begin doing what God desires. What is it that God desires? Some people have fallen into despair and completely given up, abandoning their own spirits. The problem is, the result of that is eternal punishment—hell. But God does not want that. No matter how great a sinner someone is, no matter how many times they’ve failed, God wants them to receive the same love He has for His Son—by being united with Him.

There are times when I regret what I’ve done that day—so much that I cry out by myself, “Aaargh!” My wife often asks, “What happened today?” There’s just so much suffering. But still, because God gives me a new chance, I can always start again. And one thing never changes: the fact that I am loved by God. I never doubt that. No matter what mistake I make, the reason I’m loved by God doesn’t start from me—it’s because I’ve been united with Jesus Christ. That’s when I began to be loved by God. And this truth never changes: “I have become one with Jesus Christ!” That happened when I was baptized.

Beloved, be baptized. The Bible says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Baptism means becoming one with Jesus Christ. So when God looks at me, He no longer sees someone who is always making mistakes or someone who is lacking—He sees me as someone united with His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the One in whom He is well pleased. That is what our faith is. “I have been united with Jesus! I am someone who has become one with Him!” No matter what I do, no matter what my conscience says, this truth does not change. Salvation belongs to such a person. Eternal life is given to such a person. And to such a person, God also reveals His power. So He makes us take part in His work.

All these amazing things are hidden as a mystery. As you begin your faith life, I bless you in Jesus’ name to become one with Him and gradually come to know this incredible mystery. A happiness beyond imagination is waiting for you.

I will pray.

God our Father, we thank You for sending us Jesus Christ, Your Son. You allowed Him to suffer the punishment of the cross, and through this, You paid the full price for our sins. We also thank You for letting us be baptized in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ—so that by becoming one with Him, we may receive Your love. Please help everyone here to truly enjoy this happiness and joy that come from You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!