Feature Article: Why Does
God Permit Evil
Current Events: Israel Celebrates
Her 50th
Future Prospects: The Desire of All Nations
Editorial: Hope for a
Fear-filled World
Why Does God Permit Evil?
We read in Genesis 1:31: "God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it
was very good." But everything is certainly not "very good"
today. What happened to change the situation? Why did God permit evil to get a start in
the world and develop to the extent that it has? And why doesn't He put a stop to all this
madness?
A Basic Foundation of Faith and
Trust
Evil is a reality. "God is
love" is a reality. How can we find harmony in these two statements? To believe in
God, one must have faith that He is loving and wise, and providing all
things for man’s ultimate good. God, whose character is supreme love, would not have permitted
6,000 years of evil to reign over His creation without an ultimately useful purpose and
grand outcome. It would truly be a horrible thought that a God who claims to be love would
create billions to live on earth in sorrow, only to send them to a future of eternal
torment. We know that God is just and good, and hates evil of every kind. "Thou
are not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with
thee..." Psa. 5:4
To understand why God permits evil, we must first realize the difference between permitting
and causing. God has permitted man to have a temporary experience
with evil, so that all will come to know firsthand the contrast between living
righteously, or selfishly in disobedience. And, by faith we trust that God would not
permit this experience with evil to last forever.
Satan, His Lie, Disobedience and Death
The cause of evil is
sin—not only personal sin, but inherited sin. "Dying, thou shalt die"
was our inheritance from father Adam. Gen. 2:17 Fellowship with God having been cut off, man’s distressed
mind affected his physical health, and soon disease permeated the perfect organism.
Man lost his dominion over himself and his dominion over nature. Yes,
the calamities in nature are the result of disobedience, as well. God said, "Cursed
is the ground for thy sake." Gen. 3:17 Man must endure an unfriendly earth as part of the penalty for
disobedience.
God purposely made the test upon Adam simple, plainly stating; "Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt
surely die." Gen. 2:16-17 If it had been a difficult thing the Lord required of him,
Adam might have been excused, because obedience would have been beyond his capabilities.
No, Adam was simply forbidden to eat of the fruit of only one of the many trees of the
garden.
Here, Satan found an opportunity to carry out his prideful scheme. He had concluded
that if he could convince mother Eve that God was withholding something beautiful from
her, he could slowly win the confidence of the first couple. Eventually, Satan thought the
whole dominion of earth would be his. Little did he know that his lie, "Ye shall not
surely die," would plunge the entire human race into a spiral of mental,
moral and physical disease, and finally, death. Satan did gain the fruitage of his pride!
Paul titles him "the god of this world." 2 Cor. 4:4 Yet, Satan’s rebellion
has cost him not only the lives of all who have ever lived, but his own life. Embodied in
the curse to Adam and Eve, is the curse to Satan that one day, the seed of the woman will
cast a fatal blow to the serpent’s head, and he will surely die. Gen. 3:15; Rev. 20:10&14
Experience the Best Teacher
Beside intuition, observation, and information, the only other way to learn is by
experience. Why did Eve believe Satan, when God said plainly, "Thou shalt
surely die"? Because of Eve’s innocent inexperience, she was childlike and
naive, and was easily deceived when the crafty Adversary said to eat the forbidden fruit
for it would make her wise.
Thus, without the benefit which we
now have of experience, Eve believed the first lie, and Adam, in turn, knowingly disobeyed
his Creator. The death penalty was enforced, Adam began to die, and all his descendants
have been born dying ever since. "...as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12
Soon, by benefit of experience,
mankind will have learned to hate evil and to desire obedience and its resultant rewards. "This
sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith." Eccl. 1:13 Experience
has truly been the best teacher.
Man’s Right to
Choose
God could have prevented sin from entering the world by programming man to be
blindly obedient. But man would be no better than a robot, without true happiness. No, he
was created in God’s image with the ability to love and obey by choice. Because of
the vivid lessons provided by the cruel consequences of disobedience, man is learning why
obedience to God is the most beneficial option. Man will choose to love and respect
his fellow man and environment. More importantly, he will render to God the love, respect
and obedience He desires and deserves.
God Knows the End From the Beginning
Because
God is love, He will not always permit evil to reign over man. Knowing Adam would
disobey, God lovingly planned for man’s redemption. Jesus was the lamb "slain
before the foundation of the world." 1 Peter 1:19-20 God’s gift of
salvation was the greatest demonstration
of fatherly suffering in history–watching His only begotten Son suffer the agony of
being vilified and crucified. Is there any doubt what great love God has for the human
race? "God commendeth His love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8
Yes, God’s plans include a
merciful escape from our suffering and death: "As by the offence of one judgment
came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free
gift came upon all unto justification of life." Rom. 5:18 Just as Adam
willingly forfeited his right to live in perfection, Christ willingly gave up his
perfection to pay the penalty for Adam’s sin. This corresponding price guarantees
every descendant of Adam a resurrection and a fresh opportunity to live his life in
righteousness. "As in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made
alive." 1Cor. 15:22
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will Be Done on Earth
The
prophecy of Hosea 13:14 will soon be completely fulfilled, "I will ransom them
from the power of the grave." Isaiah confirms this saying, "And the
ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon
their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee
away." Isa. 35:10 God’s Kingdom to come on earth, with Christ as King, will
bring to mankind a time of restoration and renewal. Satan will be restrained during this
thousand year Kingdom, and righteousness will be the rule rather than the exception. Isa. 32:17; Rev. 20:2
This will be the first real chance for man to know their loving Creator under ideal
circumstances. Everyone will then have a fresh start in life; a new life. If obedient, they will live forever, and having
learned by experience the truth that "the
wages of sin is death," they will want no more of sin but will gladly follow
righteousness. Rom. 6:23
Those Who Choose
Righteousness Now
Only a few in this present evil world escape the corruption that is in the world
now. 2 Pet. 1:4 Jesus called these his "little flock," and Paul called them
"the Church." They have not only received the invitation to the "high
calling of God in Christ Jesus," but they have answered this call. Phil. 3:14 This small
company of Jesus’ followers who choose to live righteously now are counted worthy to
share in Christ’s sufferings and are rewarded to sit with Christ on his throne. "Unto
you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer
for his sake." Phil. 1:29
The scriptures are clear that the suffering of the little flock of
Christ will be rewarded: "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him;"
"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life;" and
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection... they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:10 & 20:6
The Everlasting Lessons
If there is, then, a "first
resurrection," by implication there must be a second resurrection of the dead.
This is the purpose for which Christ and his Church reign a thousand years–to bring
the resurrected world of mankind up the highway of holiness to perfection. "...when
thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness." Isa. 26:9; 35:8
Oh, what a marvelous God we have! "In our affliction He is
afflicted" (suffers). God’s "compassions fail not!" Lam. 3:23 This is our
assurance that His chastenings are rehabilitative so that His "beloved"
wayward children might be restored to the bosom of His favor. Yes, God chastens to heal!
The permission of evil will have been a useless torment unless man is given an
opportunity to use his experience to make positive choices. To return to the days of
one’s youth is to begin again! All the troubles and tribulations of the past, instead
of being worse than useless torments, will be valuable guides. Death is not the
irrevocable end of human existence; it is the final experience of an everlasting
lesson.
Future Prospects:
The Desire of All Nations -- Haggai 2:7
All people in every nation desire a
benevolent and stable government with wise and just laws. But, where on earth can we find
true justice and liberty for all? Ironically, the desire for these qualities has actually
resulted in countries going to war for the sake of peace. We know the Scriptures speak
that one day, under God’s Kingdom, there will indeed be peace, harmony, and liberty
for all. But, we cry, "How long, O Lord?"
"I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall
come..." Haggai 2:7 What is meant by the phrase "shake all nations"?
When a new building is being constructed on a sight where an old, condemned building
exists, the contractor must tear down the old first. God, through His faithful Son Jesus,
is shaking the old order to usher in this righteous Kingdom for which we pray: "Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven." Matt. 6:10 God is
clearing the way for this glorious prospect. "Nevertheless, we, according to His
promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
2 Pet. 3:13
It is not only a universal human longing, but God, too, desires life, health, peace,
and joy for all. 1Tim. 2:4 Think of the memory that never fails, of the judgment that
never errs, of the wisdom that plans for eternity without the possibility of failure, and
of the power and skill which can harness even every opposing element and make them all
work together for the accomplishment of His grand designs. Think of one whose eye never
sleeps, whose ear is ever open, and who is ever aware of all the necessities, and active
in all the interests of His broad domains.
Now, close your eyes to the scenes of
misery and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mind the
glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect
society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love, welling up from every
heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart. There, sickness shall be no more;
not even the fear of death. Think of all the pictures of health and beauty that you have
ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. Mental
and moral perfection will stamp every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society
be; and all tears will be wiped away, when thus the resurrection work is complete.
Many believe the book of Revelation is filled with fearful foreboding,
but, the preceding is the theme of its concluding chapters. "And God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Rev. 21:4-5
Just as an architect should not be judged by his unfinished work, so God should not be judged by His unfinished work
with mankind. Like any contractor, God has an optimum time table for accomplishing His
master plan. When the population of humans has filled the capacity of earth, and man has
had his fill of the evil consequences of sin, God will provide His Kingdom on earth. Those
who died without hearing "the only Name
under heaven whereby one might be saved" will come forth to learn and to live. "The
inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness... They also that erred in spirit shall
come to understanding." Isaiah 26:9;
29:24 "They shall not hurt nor destroy in
all my holy mountain, saith the LORD." Isaiah
65:25 Praise God that His desire is man’s
desire! Soon all mankind will live in perfect harmony, when God’s will is fully done
on earth even as it is done in heaven!
Current Events:
Israel Celebrates Her 50th
May 15, 1948. The world looked on with awe at the establishment of
Israel, a nation they helped to create through the United Nations. Never in history had a
people, dispersed throughout the world, been regathered to their original homeland. And
yet, God promised: "I will gather you from all nations, and from all the places
whither I have driven you…" Jer.
29:14 His people have been gathered from
the land of the North, yea, from every direction. Jer.
3:18 Isaiah states: "I will bring thy seed
from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the
south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the
earth." Isa. 43:5-6
But why regather Israel? Is it really God’s favor returning to His people? Paul
explains that Israel was cut off for a time due to unbelief. This period of disfavor
became a special season of blessing for the Gentiles, for it gave them the opportunity to
become God’s spiritual people. But this cutting off of Israel was not to last
forever. Eventually, God’s favor would return to Israel, and when that occurred, a
great blessing would be in store. "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the
world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their
fullness? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the
receiving of them be, but life from the dead." Rom. 11:12, 15
Yes, favor returning to Israel is a sign of the
nearness of God’s earthly kingdom when through Abraham’s seed, spiritual and
natural, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Even Sodom and her daughters will
return to their former estate. Ezek. 16:53-63 The people of all nations will "take hold of the skirt
of him that is a Jew" because they have heard that God is with them, and they
will go year by year to Jerusalem to worship. Zech.
14:16 & 8:23 God’s New Covenant will be
established with Israel and Judah, and its blessings will reach unto all. Jer. 31:31-34 "The
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Isa. 11:9 "For
the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own
land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of
Jacob." Isa. 14:1
The 50th year to the nation of Israel
has historically been for them a year of dedication to the Lord. This Jubilee year
meant the restitution of all things. We are told that there will be a grander fulfillment
of this Jubilee: "the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ… Whom the heaven must receive until the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began." Acts
3:19-21
The 50th anniversary of Israel is truly thrilling from this, God’s
perspective. Rejoice and be glad for it means God’s kingdom is at hand. Prophecy has
been fulfilled before our very eyes, and we now look on in anticipation that the best
is yet to come! Pray for it, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Editor’s
Notes:
There is Hope for a Fear-filled World
We all know of the recent tragedy where two young boys killed a
teacher and four little girls. A young mother was reported as saying, "I am so thankful that God sent his angels to protect
my child." We can understand the comfort she takes in this, but, what about the
parents who lost their children? Where were God’s angels for them? Did God
love her child and not the others? Of course not.
As stated in our feature article, there is a difference between
permitting evil and causing it. God did not instill a lack of compassion for human life in
these two little boys. Perhaps endless hours of violence and conflict in children’s
programming, rewarded by millions of advertising dollars, planted the seeds of this crime.
A recent study on television violence concluded that children are experiencing a condition
known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome: the same illness which plagues soldiers of
war. Children have had to numb their senses to violence in order to survive the amount of
violence and hate they witness every day. No, God is not the author of evil, although He
permits it for a time to teach us all to hate its painful results.
Paul states that the last enemy to be destroyed will be death. 1Cor. 15:24-28 The first
enemy was pride, the second was disobedience
and the result was death. All three were the weapons of God’s arch enemy, Satan. In
this same order, pride will be the first enemy to be destroyed when mankind has had enough
of sin and humbly turns to God for help. The second enemy destroyed will be disobedience
when all will desire to learn obedience in God’s kingdom. Isa. 26:9 The last enemy will be destroyed when Christ will
have corrected all unrighteousness. Then, death, the grave and all who choose evil
will be eternally destroyed in the second death. Rev. 20:2-15
For parents who are grieving over the
death of a child, it is written, "Refrain
thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears... they shall come again from the land
of the enemy." Jer. 31:16 The present evil world, under Satan’s rule, has
been "the land of the enemy." The grave, to which sin has led, is also "the
land of the enemy." Having learned their lesson with sin, and then being obedient
to the rule of righteousness reigning in the earth, mankind will attain human perfection,
and continue to live on in joy and peace with those they have loved and lost. "…Say
to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come...
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing... And an highway
shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall
not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not
err therein. No lion shall be there... but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed
of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their
heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
Isaiah 35 |
