If God is good
– Why is there so much evil in the world?
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By Lars Hyldgård
Short answer: Because God created humans with a free will. Can you imagine a world without the free will? Without our free will we would have been robots. The free will is the what makes love and creativity possible – along with many other possibilities in life that you can enjoy every day. But at the same time the free will makes hatred and harmful things possible in humanity. The free will can be both wonderful and destructive. But especially true love is so amazing and lifegiving that God did not want a world without the free human will. The Bible explains: The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. (Psalm 115:16) You see, God has given us humans the responsibility for the earth. We need to know that we are responsible for the way we treat the earth and each other. In this life we can choose to listen to good or evil, and we can affect the world with good and evil. What we choose has great consequences for ourselves and for our surroundings. And when we die we will all be held accoutable by God. God who created us and trusted us by giving us this life will hold us responsible. Therefore it is for our own best that we judge ourselves now in order to change – so that we will not be judged by God one day. How do we use our free will in the best way? We do that by listening to the One who created us. He desires that we learn to walk in love. By doing that we can help make this world better. We are called to love like Jesus. What about people who suffer? God does care about people who suffer. The tears of God are flowing down over the suffering and the terrors that people on the earth are going through. Maybe someone has even put sufferings on you? And maybe you have put sufferings upon others by what you have said or done? The good news are that God one day will make an end to all suffering for those who recieve Jesus Christ as their Savior. Small innocent children who die far too early will go directly to heaven, because Jesus said the Kingdom of God is theirs. Without light we end in darkness It is the fellowship with God that our lives come into the harmony we are created for. In union with him righteousness, life and joy is released. Jesus said: I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk darkness, but have the light of life. (John.8:12) That is a powerful promise. But if we don’t choose the light, when we have the opportunity for it, then another force will have easier access to us. Namely evil itself – the Devil and his demons. If we don’t believe that the Devil exists, it can be difficult to understand the world we are living in – and maybe also the fight we can experience in our own soul. How can human beings in some cases develop such an evil heart? Why for instance is there a regime like North Korea? There people are sentenced to death just for owning a Bible or for watching television from South Korea. People live in extreme poverty and suppression, because the regime has banned God and the free will. It looks like a country that the Devil has oppressed so much that regime is trying to make people robots – contrary to what we are created to be! Will God just continue watching precious people being oppressed? No, the Bible tells us that one day Jesus will surely come back and make and end to all evil on earth. He will come again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and every knee will bow to him. He will transform our ruined planet to the most wonderful paradise again. But first the gospel must be preached to every tribe and tongue on earth. (Mathew 24:14) Through his Son God will prove that love is stronger than hatred, and that good can overcome evil. God is good. He did not leave us alone. He sent his only Son so that we can be forgiven – and get another chance. Another chance – by his help – to overcome evil with good! |
“Socially and politically our world is a mess. |