We were swimming at the house recently (we’ve done that lot more this summer – has it been hot or what!)  During a pause in the fun, Beka Powers (age 7) said:  “Pastor BJ – can I ask you a question?”  I figured she’d ask something about swimming, diving, or where our dogs were.  However, her mind was thinking of something much more significant.  She asked:  “Why would God make someone He knows is going to go to hell?”   Her dad, Alan, was sitting on the steps of the pool near us, so wisely I told her – “That’s a question, you’ll have to ask your dad.”   Alan smiled and swam to the other end of the pool…..(actually he didn’t – he stayed there – smiling!) 

I answered her as best I could – trying to communicate in a way I felt she could understand.  After a few minutes, with her asking a few more related questions, and me trying to answer – we all went back to swimming and playing in the pool.  It was a reminder to me to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that’s within me, and to never underestimate the mind of a child. 

Later that evening she gave me an incredible picture she had drawn for me of our church.  On the drawing was a wall with a speaker mounted on it.  Words were coming out of the speaker – the words said “God Is Good – All The Time”.    I’m not sure my answers for her that day were sufficient, but the picture she drew was a reminder of her simple child-like trust – her simple faith in the great big reality of the sovereignty of God.   And even when we don’t always understand answers to our honest questions we can still trust our loving heavenly Father; knowing that “God Is Good – All The Time!”

By the way – how would you have answered her question?