God Allowing Evil 3

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It is easy to think that God makes decisions based on one reason. The truth is that every decision God makes impacts many, many people. And to think that every person is being impacted in a way that benefits himself or herself in the greatest way. When people ask why God does this or that, it is because those acts of God are the best way to impact hundreds, millions, or perhaps billions of people, each person receiving personal treatment. Wow! God is big!

Let’s go continue with “Why does God allow evil. We have looked at 14 misunderstandings. Let’s continue to see the next seven.

Misunderstanding #15: Mankind is inherently good!

The truth is mankind is not inherently good. Jesus point blank says you are evil (Matthew 7:11). Elsewhere God says, man’s heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it (Jeremiah 17:9)?

Isaiah records, For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away (Isaiah 64:6). The word translated filthy garment actually refers to something worse than a dirty diaper. From God’s perspective there is no way a person’s good deeds will outweigh the bad deeds, if the absolute best is as wonderful as a dirty diaper.

Misunderstanding #16: No one deserves to be abused!

This misunderstanding is actually true. No one on earth deserves to be abused. So now we come to a truer question, “Would you rather receive what you really deserve from God?”

The truth is we all deserve to be cast into a lake of fire and burn forever—not after we die, but right now we should go there.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ... For the wages of sin is death, (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10).

It is highly recommended that you never say “I wish God would give me what I really deserve!”

Misunderstanding #17: God should force people to do right!

The truth is God gives everyone the freedom to choose. How easy for people to get upset with God and want Him to force others to avoid sinning. But here is the silly part, that is, the sinful part. People want God to control others, but they want the freedom to make their own choices. They want God to give them the freedom to choose so they can sin as often as they desire, but they want God to restrain everyone else from sinning. Kinda hypocritical, huh? God does give everyone freewill.

Misunderstanding #18: Since God is sovereign and in control of everything, then God is responsible for all the violence and evil in the world!

The truth is mankind is responsible for the evil in this world. When Adam sinned he brought death into this world.

This misunderstanding is the primary reason people curse God. They know deep down inside of themselves that God is in control of everything and allows pain to exist. Instead of seeking the good things God is accomplishing, they curse God for not getting what they selfishly want.

Misunderstanding #19: My environment/circumstances are responsible for my pain!

In the book of Job Satan tormented the main character in only two ways: with physical destruction and with lies.

The truth is circumstances in life do not affect emotions. Very often people are abused and don’t know it. Perhaps they were in a coma or perhaps they were asleep. Perhaps they were paralyzed and did not feel anything taking place. These abused people go on in life as if nothing bad has happened. Then one day they find out the truth and they are emotionally messed up. Why?

The abuse did not traumatize the victims emotionally. The abuse likely damaged the person physically, but not mentally or emotionally. The only way a person can be traumatized in the soul is for that person to believe lies. Job’s behavior changed while his so-called friends pummeled him with lies and he gradually changed his beliefs.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

When you know the truth you know that every trial you experience produces in you a far greater glory.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9)

You can count it all joy when you fall into multi-colored trials.

Misunderstanding #20: Nothing good comes out of suffering!

Actually, everything God allows can be used for good. The absolute worst event in all of history was when people put the Son of God on a cross, and God used that event to bring salvation to all of mankind.

Joseph, the son of Israel, was sold into slavery and falsely accused. When his brothers begged for forgiveness he replied, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive (Genesis 50:20).

What about Job? When the trials ended His understanding of God intensified. His possessions doubled. And his reputation and example multiplied.

By the way, when have you grown up the most in life? Yes, during the most difficult days of your life.

Misunderstanding #21: This pain has nothing to do with my purpose in life!

Truthfully, your purpose in life is that God wants a very close relationship with you, and pain is one of the greatest motivators to help you draw close to Him. C.S. Lewis wrote in The Problem of Pain, “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Pain moved Job to draw closer to his purpose in life. In the first two chapters Job suffers tremendously and then sits quietly for seven days. In chapter three he opens up and starts grumbling. Over the next 30+ chapters he argues how he is not wrong while his friends feed him lies. In chapters 30-31 Job’s viewpoint of God has changed, and he is ready to challenge God.

Amazingly God did not say the first word to Job until chapter 38. That is a long time to go without hearing God. Then again, did Job ever cry out to God before then?

When God does come on the scene in Job’s situation all the Lord does is ask questions—about 70 of them. Each question caused Job to remember and realize how big God is. After the multitude of questions,

... the Lord said to Job,

"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who reproves God answer it."

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

"Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;

Even twice, and I will add nothing more."

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm and said,

"Now gird up your loins like a man;

I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

Will you really annul My judgment?

Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? (40:1-8)

In these verses Job huffs and puffs saying, “Ok, ok. You are God! I’ll just shut up and say nothing.” But that is not the response God desires. So God gives two more illustrations of animals Job apparently feared (Job 40-41).

After these two illustrations the light bulb came on for Job to which he said, I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6).

Through all these difficulties Job came to a greater understanding of God and realized in a real and relational way how wonderful God is and how he, Job, was not worthy of the wonderful life of suffering. His view of God was forever made more magnificent.

Misunderstanding #22: All your suffering comes from your sin!

Eliphaz, one of Job’s so-called friends, believed this misunderstanding. In Job 4:7-9 he said,

Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?

Or where were the upright destroyed?

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity

And those who sow trouble harvest it.

By the breath of God they perish,

And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.

Later in the book Eliphaz said, Yield now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you (Job 22:21). Do you see it? In essence he said, “Get your act right and your problems will end!”

The truth is suffering may be a result of sin, but sometimes it comes simply because it is a part of life. Jesus suffered, and He did not do anything wrong. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

Misunderstanding #23: God does not deserve to be the center of the universe.

This is the last of the misunderstandings, yet it is one of the first chronologically when people experience pain. Remember Eve’s conversation with the serpent? The first words from the serpent were, “Has God said?” placing doubt in the mind of Eve. Moments later the serpent added, “You will surely not die” (Genesis 3:1-3). Once the demonic can get you to doubt the sovereignty and love of God you will take matters into your own hands and things go bad after that. This is how the demonic treats everyone, and we have all fallen prey to their deception.

The truth remains. God is truly in control of everything and He truly loves you infinitely. By the way do you know what an item in a store is worth? It is not worth what the price tag says. It is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. The price God paid for you is the actual price and value of His Son Jesus—infinity. That is the worth God sees in you and it shows how desperately God wants a relationship with you..

Summary

The True Big Question

This booklet has tried to answer the Big Twisted Question, “Why does a loving God allow evil?” As we come to the end you should be able to see more of life from God’s perspective. The Big True Question is “Why would a perfectly holy, pure, clean God allow His Son to take the punishment that you deserve and allow you an opportunity to enjoy Him forever?”