If God is good, why is there so much evil?

Bikers Church Cape Town

IF GOD IS GOOD, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH EVIL Pastor George Lehman Genesis 6:5-7 – 5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. 6And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. 7So the Lord said, “I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground – not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air- for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them.” God did deal with evil once before. In heaven God will reveal what on earth He chose to conceal. Deuteronomy 29:29 (Amp) – The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law. Psalm 34:8 (Amp) - “O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. There is no question that evil exists, and it is getting worse. Anyone who denies this is living in a cave or on another planet. The word evil used is: - “Ponéros” = Hurtful, calamity (ramp), bad, harm, to degenerate from the original virtue. As Christians we say God is Good and He is all-powerful. So, why doesn’t He do something about it? (You need to bear with me on this one). Could it be that God is not that good after all – or maybe He is not all powerful as we believe He is? So, what is the answer? Is God capable of destroying evil? If so, then why doesn’t He do it. I’ve heard so many say: - How can I believe in a God who allows children and women to be molested and raped? Innocent people suffer from famine and drought. Why does God allow terrorists to strap bombs to themselves and kill innocent people? Senseless murders, and on and on evil soars Why does God allow this? These are tough questions. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, or even understand everything, but I hope to give some answers that will begin to untie this deep mystery. Firstly, I would suggest to understand why there is evil in the world, is to: - Realise that God is Good and He is all-powerful. When people see or even experience evil, they think God can’t be in control, He can’t be good or all-powerful. On the surface it sounds good and logical but, until we realize the standards we use to measure the ability and will of God is faulty, and mostly it is just about everyone’s opinion. People get so focused on the hurts, the bad, the calamities, and the horrors of what’s happening that they begin to wonder if God cares at all – some believe there is a cosmic plot against them. Psalm 34:8 - “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” The bible is full of verses telling us about the Goodness of God in dealing with man – even though we don’t deserve it. Psalm 145:8 - “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving kindness.” After all, why would God bother giving us scriptures and promises if He wasn’t Good and all-powerful. Isaiah 40:25-26 - “25To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing.” (God is Majestic comes to mind) I’d say the Creator of the universe is plenty powerful … Did you know there are some things God cannot do? God cannot lie Numbers 23:19: - “God is not a man that He should tell a lie.” God cannot change Hebrews 13:8 – He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God cannot recall our sins after we have asked for forgiveness. God cannot be the author of confusion. God cannot go back on His word or promises. God cannot be unjust. In other words, God cannot do anything out of His character! So, God is Good and all-powerful, why then all the evil? We need to recognize the source of evil. How many times have I heard it said that: - God is all-powerful and since He created everything, He must have created evil. God did not create evil – He created the possibility of evil. Peter Kreeft, a philosopher, and author of numerous Christian books said: - “It is not logically possible to have a free will and have no possibility of moral evil.” Moral – conduct, choice between right and wrong. (Evil – sleg, kwaad, boos, onheil, sonde). In other words, Once God chose to create human beings with free will, it was up to them, rather than God, as to whether there was sin or not. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 - 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. You see, that is what free will means. Evil is the result of man’s free will choice, therefore: all the suffering that results. People are free to love and worship this awesome good God or they are free to hate or ignore Him. It is when people act outside the will of God, we see great evil and suffering as a result. You see, the source of evil is not the devil but our own free will. James 1:13-14 - “13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted from God”, for God is incapable of being tempted by (what is) evil and He Himself tempts no one. 14But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).” The question is, why does God not destroy evil? Because, to do so, He would have to destroy you and me. Evil is a part of us – because of our fallen nature. You see, one day God will triumph over evil, but He will not destroy it while it inhabits us. God’s ultimate remedy for evil was the death of His Son. Listen to what Isaiah 55:8-9 says. 8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher that the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” From this statement we have to believe a good and all-powerful God is in control. We need to reach out in faith to a God who is truly Good and all-powerful, a God who has your best interests at heart, a God who sees the bigger picture. Romans 8:28 (LB) - “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.” No matter what the trial, the evil or hardship that may have come your way. God is a Good God and more than able to protect, comfort and give you peace in your storm. 2 Peter 3:9-10 - 9“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. You must understand, God also understands what it is like to: - Experience grief Experience suffering The loss of relationships that are dear to Him He knows what it is like to lose a loved one at the hands of evil men Matthew 26:53 - “Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my FATHER and He will immediately provide me with more than twelve (12) legions (more that 80 000) of angels?” Psalm 29:11 - “The Lord will give (unyielding and impenetrable) strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” For evil to increase is for a few good men to do nothing. Jesus cried: - “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” When people experience the love and saving Grace of Jesus they have a greater understanding and attitude towards evil.