Why do Innocent Children die?
Children die every day all over the world. The number of deaths is particularly high in countries in Africa or Asia that are affected by great poverty. In some cases the children die before or shortly after their birth. The suffering and death of small children particularly affects us very much. Accordingly, many people ask themselves, without understanding, why God allows something like this and what happens to these young people after their death?
Even if this sensitive topic is very emotional - especially for affected parents and relatives - it is important to also deal with this question. In this context, we must understand that suffering, illness and death are part of this fallen world. While God originally created the earth as a paradisiacal place without suffering and death, as man turned away from his Creator, it increasingly became a place of indescribable misery. The death of children and infants is just one of many tragic consequences of this development, which we humans have caused ourselves by violating God's commandments....
On the other hand, we must understand that our life in this world is fleeting and that every person - whether old or young - must die sooner or later. Given this fact, a person who dies at an old age has no advantage over another person whose life ends earlier. In this relatively short earthly life, the only question that matters is whether we will receive eternal life or not. That - and only that - is what matters. The precondition for being saved is faith in Jesus and turning away from our sins.
However, there are people who are unable to willfully choose Jesus and who also lack awareness of sin. These include, among others, infants, children of legal age and people with mental disabilities. Since God is just, we can assume that God will not exclude these people from eternal life. This means that they too - like everyone who believes in Jesus - will be resurrected to imperishable life when he returns. In other words, an infant who dies at a young age and is saved has lost nothing. Because real life lies before him. On the other hand, a person who enjoys a long and carefree life on earth and ends up in damnation has lived in vain...
However, there are people who are unable to willfully choose Jesus and who also lack awareness of sin. These include, among others, infants, children of legal age and people with mental disabilities. Since God is just, we can assume that God will not exclude these people from eternal life. This means that they too - like everyone who believes in Jesus - will be resurrected to imperishable life when he returns.
Even people who live in fear of God are not generally spared from suffering and persecution. But their firm trust in God and his promises gives believing people strength and courage to live, and helps them to endure painful experiences such as the death of their own child and to withstand all adverse circumstances in this world. Through Jesus Christ, God gives us the hope of an end to all trouble and the prospect of a future in a world in which no one will ever have to suffer or die again.