Why Does Evil Exist?
Why does evil exist and why does GOD allow it to continue to exist? To understand this
we must understand the purpose of our existence. What is the purpose of
our life? GOD gives
us the answer in “”the
only place where man can choose between Good and Evil is in a place where
both Good and Evil exist side by side, and that is here on earth. Refer to
the ‘Creation
of Man’
article if you have not read it yet. So why does evil exist?
Evil exists in order that we may be able to
choose, for without evil, there would be no choice. So
evil plays a crucial role in that it provides the alternative choice.
OK then, let us assume we have chosen Good. Why does evil continue to
exist once we have made our choice? Evil continues to exist for several
important reasons:
* To demonstrate the absolute Love of GOD. “...
for
He (GOD) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45. If
GOD destroyed the wicked the moment they sinned, they would never know the Love
of GOD. More importantly, if GOD destroyed Sin the moment it occurred, no
one on earth would be left for every person has sinned. So why should GOD
destroy the wicked when they Sin but spare the righteous when they Sin?
That would be duplicitous.
* To give us the
opportunity to emulate GOD. “But
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you
may be sons of your Father in Heaven, for He makes His sun rise on the evil and
on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love
those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors
do the same?”
Matthew 5:44-46.
The wicked give us the opportunity of doing “selfless”
good for they will not return the good we do to them.
* To bring to
perfection that which is imperfect. “...
of
whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn
not to blaspheme.”
1 Timothy 1:20.
Satan will beat the crap out of you until you either let go of Sin or let go of
GOD, for you cannot serve GOD
in sin, so one of them has to go!
* To test the righteous. “I
will bring the One Third through the fire, will refine them as
silver is refined, and
test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name, and I will answer them.”
I will say: “This
is My people”,
and each one will say: “The
LORD is my GOD.”
Zechariah 13:9.
“But,
O LORD of Hosts,
You who test
the righteous, and
see the mind and heart.”
Jeremiah 20:12.
How do you know a sword is good quality unless it is tested in battle? How
do you know a rope is strong enough unless you tie a weight to it? How do
you know a person is of GOD unless he comes face to face with evil and is given
the opportunity to reject it?
Why Do Bad Things
Happen To Good People?
Every time I hear a
person ask this question, I think to myself what a lame question! Why not
ask instead: Why do GOOD things happen to BAD people?
But why shouldn't bad things happen to good people? And who is “good”
anyway? Is there really such a thing as a “good”
person? Even the “good”
do wicked things and even the wicked do “good”
things, so why shouldn't they all have a share in good and bad events
alike?
Bad things happen to good people for basically 3 reasons:
* Stupidity. All acts have consequences. Imprudent acts have
adverse consequences.
* Bad choices. People suffer
because they make BAD choices and BAD decisions, and then they blame GOD for all
of their misfortune when in fact they should be blaming themselves.
* The greater providence of GOD. Sometimes we may be suffering for
no apparent reason when in fact we simply cannot see the providence of GOD at
work in our lives.
When
will Evil Cease to Exist?
Evil will cease to exist when there is no longer a need for it to exist. That day will be when every person in Creation has made their choice between Good and Evil, and when the people of GOD have been perfected and tested. So you see, evil exists, not for itself, but for the sake of the righteous. “And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
