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Why
Does God Permit Evil? |
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The
history of the human family presents a dark picture of sorrow, suffering, and death.
Through famine, plague, storms, and accidents, our race has drunk deeply of the cup of
anguish. What is Gods program concerning mans suffering? Why does God permit
evil? What is the remedy? If a man die, shall he live again? (Job 14:14).
For
he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the
earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to
death.Psalm 102:19,20
The
age-old question has been, Why has an all-powerful, all wise Creator permitted pain and
suffering? Why has he permitted the continuing reign of sin and death for more than sixty
centuries?
Perhaps
no difficulty has presented itself more frequently to inquiring minds than this. Could not
God have prevented mans fall? Why does he not deal with the human family as
graciously, kindly, lovingly, as he deals with his angelic sons? Is it just or loving for
God to permit the bringing forth of millions of creatures under these unfavorable
conditions, beset by weakness and a tendency toward sin from their birth and surrounded by
others similarly weak and helpless?
Human
philosophers fail to answer the question because the answer is far too deep for human philosophy. Those who reject the
divine origin of the Bible may as well abandon hope of finding an answer. Only God can
explain his own secretswhy he has done as he has. Truly we read, The secret of
the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant (Psalm
25:14).
The
difficulty in understanding what God is doing arises from our failure to recognize
Gods plan in this world. He could have prevented sins entrance. The fact that
he did not should suggest that its permission is designed for some ultimate good.
Gods plans seen in their completeness will prove the wisdom of his course.
The
Bible shows us that Gods purpose for men is progressive, embracing long periods of
time. If we ignore these periods when they can be seen in their completeness, we are
blinded to the answer to our question. Accepting these, Bible students may look at the
subject from Gods standpoint and may understand the mystery of God. This mystery has
been hidden from ages and generations and has now been made known unto his saints
(Colossians 1:26,27).
What
is this mystery? Simply stated, Gods plan will glorify him through its ultimate
enlightenment of angels and mankind. In the ages to come trials and reverses, sorrows and
tears will be proven to have been a worthwhile part of that program.
Man, A Convict
To
analyze our subject we turn to the beginning of earths troubles. The sacred record
explains that mans fall from life and the perfection in which he was created had
been foreseen by the Creator. Therefore, the penalty of sin, death (Genesis 2:17), was
arranged so as to be gradually inflicted. This happens through mans conflict with
the unfavorable conditions of the unprepared earth (of climate, sterility of soil, storms,
thorns, weeds).
God
foresaw that through our experiences such a
penalty would teach man a lesson about sin and its results. That lesson, thus learned,
would never need to be repeated. It would be an everlasting lesson to all; especially when
Christs reign of righteousness shall show, by contrast, the peaceable fruits of
righteousness. Experiences teach us that God planned for our struggles upon this earth to
be beneficial: our minds are exercised by grappling with earths disturbances and
imperfections, our conscience is exercised by combating our weaknesses, and our harmony
with God is enhanced as we learn to call upon Gods sympathy.
For Thy Sake
There
is deep meaning in the Creators words to his fairly tried and justly condemned
creatures. He sent them out among the thorns and briars, to labor in pain, sorrow, and
disease, as well as to be subjected to the casualties and calamities of natures
unfinished work. He said, cursed is the ground for thy sake (Genesis
3:17); that is, the earth is in its present condition for our profit and experience, even
though we may not recognize this fact.
The
condemned pair had children. These children inherited the curse from their parents. That
included imperfections and weaknesses as well as the ultimate penalty for these, death.
This is verified by Job: Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? (Job
14:4) Mankind has been learning what sin and evil are (and their undesirable results) and
he has been preparing the earth for the later purposes of God.
Labor
and toil were prescribed for mans good. Until this century they have kept man so
busy that he has been unable to plan or perform evil to the extent he otherwise could have
done. With the proliferation of evil, with leisure, man has turned his attention to
plotting and scheming. Under these circumstances, what a mercy our short life span is!
Were the same shrewd businessmen who now accumulate millions in a few short
years to live 930 years (as Adam did), what might we expect? One man, or a syndicate or
trust, could conceivably own every foot of land, control every drop of water and every
breath of air, and have the remainder of mankind as his slaves.
World Redemption Coming
It
is clear that Gods action in exposing his creatures to death, pain, and calamities,
relates only to their present life on earth. He did not give the slightest intimation
of any continuance of life in any other locality. On the contrary, the penalty was
for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (Genesis 3:19). Dying
shalt thou die (Genesis 2:17, margin).
True,
God promised that at some time a son of the woman would deliver mankind (Genesis 3:15),
but it was an indefinite hope. Yet, God showed that although he dealt severely with men,
according to laws and justice, he was also sympathetic. He would relieve man without
violating his own character.
Humanity
was created with morality, the sense of right and wrong, and the liberty to use it. The
law of right and wrong was written in his constitution. It was a part of his nature, just
as it is a part of Gods character. But, this image or likeness to God, this law
originally inscribed in the nature of man, has lost much of its clarity through the
degrading influence of sin. It is not, today, what it was in the first man.
The
ability to love implies the ability to hate. Therefore, we may reason that the Creator
could not make man in his own likeness, with power to love and to do right, without
the corresponding ability to hate and to do wrong. This liberty of choice is termed free
moral agency, or free will, and is a part of mans original endowment. This, along
with the full measure of his mental and moral faculties, is what made him an
image of his Creator. After six thousand years of degradation so much of
the original likeness has been corrupted by sin that we are not free. We are bound by
sins results. Sin is easier and more agreeable to the fallen race than is
righteousness.
St.
Paul tells us that God permitted the entrance of sin and death for mans training and
education. God adopted a method for recovering our race from that original sentence of
death which would show the justice of his sentence and the unchangeableness of his decree.
However, it would also permit those who were sick of sin to use their experience to return
to harmony and obedience to their Creator and his just and reasonable laws and
regulations. This plan is stated by the apostle in Romans 3:24-26.
Briefly,
this plan provides that another man (by proving his obedience to the law of God and hence
his worthiness of eternal life) might sacrifice his life and redeem the forfeited life of
Adam (and of his lost posterity); it is written in Adam all die
(1 Corinthians 15:22), and it follows then that . . . the result of a
single transgression is a condemnation which extends to the whole race (Romans 5:18,
Moffatt).
Since
condemnation was upon all and since another newly created man would have been equally
likely to fall, God planned the transfer of his only Son from the spiritual to the human
nature. In this God was providing a man fit for sacrificethe man Christ Jesus
who gave himself a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:5,6). For our sakes, he who had been
rich (possessing glory, honor, wisdom and power) became poor (humbling himself to a lower
naturethat of a manbecoming faithful unto death) so that we through his
poverty might be made rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
The Redeemers Sacrifice
To
redeem man would cost the sacrifice of Gods sons life as the ransom price
(with all of the implied suffering and self-denial which would be necessary to bring that
sacrifice to pass). To restore this life (to those who would prove
worthywhosoever will as stated in Revelation 22:17) would require a
double exercise of Gods power: first to open the prison house of death by a
resurrection of the dead and second, to give to the redeemed a full opportunity to decide
whether they love good or evil, righteousness or sin, truth or error. He will destroy all
who love or work iniquity. He will develop and perfect those who love and choose life upon
its only condition righteousness.
Our
Lords mission at the first advent is stated by the apostle Paul. Jesus was to die
for the race so that he might erase the results of Adams transgression and secure
the right to resurrect it and restore it (cf. Romans 5:6-12,16-19,21; 1 Corinthians
15:21-24). He wills to restore all who shall prove worthy. This period of
proving who is worthy of everlasting life is his Millennial Reign (1 Timothy 2:4; 2
Peter 3:9).
Christ
will establish righteousness in the earth through the kingdom of God. It is this kingdom
which he has promised that shall be inaugurated and for which he has bidden us wait and
hope. He taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven (Matthew 6:10).
The Worlds Glorious Hope
Paul
states that the first man (who was a sample of what the race will be when perfect)
was of the earth, earthy. In the resurrection his restored posterity (with the exception of the Gospel Church) will still be earthly. That is, they will be human, adapted to the earth
(1 Corinthians 15:38,44). David declares that man was made a little lower than the
angels and crowned with glory, honor, dominion (Psalm 8:4-8). St. Peter, our Lord, and all
the prophets since the world began declare that the human race is to be restored to that
glorious perfection. Once again man is to have dominion over earth (Acts 3:19-21).
This
is what God planned to give to the race. And what a glorious plan! Close your eyes to the
scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that prevail on account of sin, and
picture the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace
of a perfect society; not a bitter thought nor an unkind look or word; love meets a
kindred response in every heart and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be
no more: not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decaynot even the fear of
such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and
feature that you have ever seen and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing
loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every
radiant countenance. Such will earths society be; and weeping bereaved ones will
have their tears wiped away when they realize the resurrection work completed (Revelation
21:4).
Under
the rulership of Christ as king of all nations the evil tendencies inherited from Adam and
those which have come from six thousand years of degradation will be restrained by
super-human wisdom, love, and power. With all men brought to a clear knowledge of the
truth in its every phase all will be fairly and fully tested. Lovers of righteousness will
be perfected and given control of a then
perfect earth. Those who love unrighteousness when they fully understand the penalty for
unrighteousness will be destroyed in the Second Death (Revelation 20:6) as
followers of Satan. The first death is the destruction to which all were
subjected by Adams sin, the death from which all will be recovered by the Lord
Jesus sacrifice. The second death is the destruction of those who,
though redeemed by Christ from the first death, shall by their willful conduct receive the
penalty of death again. This death means final destruction, without hope of redemption or
resurrection, for Christ dieth no more. No good reason for any further trial can be
imagined. The trial granted during the Millennial Age under Christ will be thorough, fair,
and a final individual trial (1 Corinthians 15:25).
Our
Lord Jesus pointed out that death was the penalty against all who do not flee sin and lay
hold upon the Redeemer and life-giver (Luke 13:1-5). Destruction (perishing), is the
penalty of sin taught in the Scriptures. Only by faith in the Redeemer, repentance, and
reformation can the gift of God (eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord) be obtained.
Whoever hears the offer of life is responsible to the extent that he understands it.
According to Gods promise all mankind shall, either during the Gospel Age or the
Millennial Age, be brought to a clear appreciation of these conditions and privileges,
with full opportunity for repentance and life.
Mankind Learning the Lesson
Calamities are
temporary. Some are the result of human imperfection and lack of experience. Others result
from the preparation of the earth for its Sabbath (or Millennium). During that thousand
years (or millennium) under Christs direction earth shall be given its
finishing touches and be made ready for the redeemed race. His reign shall prepare the
people to properly use, enjoy, and rule the completed earth.
Man
is exposed to calamities and accidents. He is not specially protected by his Creator. Man
is a sinner condemned to death, he is not to be spared from death, but must be allowed to
pass through it. By experience with trouble and sorrow and pain, all of which are but
elements of death, mankind is learning experiences with sin which will be valuable in that
kingdom. Each shall then be required to choose between good and evil. The evil they
learn now; the good, and its blessed results and rewards will be displayed then
during the Millennium. Only a few profit by their lessons in this life and these are
chiefly those called to the heavenly calling. The majority of humans are learning to know
sin and evil. Gods plan for the future of mankind is obscured from the masses.
The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them (2 Corinthians 4:4). With the dawning of Messiahs kingdom, the light of
the knowledge of the glory of Gods character will shine everywhere. Then the
eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped
(Isaiah 35:5). Messiahs gracious reign, the manifestation of Gods mercy, will
be for the uplifting of our race. During the thousand years of Messiahs kingdom, the
world will learn the desirability of righteousness, just as they now have the opportunity
of learning the undesirability of sin.
But,
if Gods plan for redeeming the world was by the death of his son (justifying and
restoring all who believe in and accept him, obeying and loving righteousness), why did
not the Millennial reign of Christ with its favorable conditions and powerful restraints
begin as soon as Christ had given the ransom price at Calvary? Why are those who would
follow righteousness compelled to sail through bloody seas, as the poet said,
and suffer for righteousness sake? God has been calling and drawing a special class of
humans. They are to be his elect, the bride class that are to be
joint-heirs with his son in his kingdom of glory. Christ and his bride will vanquish sin
and Satan.
The Narrow Way
This
special class is required to walk by faith and not by sight. They walk in the footsteps of
Jesus: a narrow way (Matthew 7:14) of self-denial and opposition to the world, the flesh,
and the Adversary. It seemed wise to our heavenly Father that our Lord Jesus should learn
obedience through suffering and be tested in respect to his willingness to endure
suffering for righteousness sake. How appropriate that the Father should make similar
arrangements for the Church whom he will receive from among the race of Adam to be members
of the Royal Priesthood under Jesus, the High Priest of our order! God is preparing a
Royal Priesthood for the Messianic Age. It is a priesthood that is to heal, to teach, to
uplift all the willing and obedient.
During
this age sin and evil have been further made use of for the discipline and preparation of
the Church. Had sin not been permitted, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and of his Church,
the reward of which is the divine nature, would have been impossible. The Revelator
exclaims: Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? . . . all
nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest
(Revelation 15:4).
Eventually,
every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth shall be heard to say,
Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever (Revelation 5:13). This will be after the reign
of evil, sin, and death. The key is found in the Plan of the Agesshowing the work
which each age is to accomplish and the grand eventual overthrow of evil.
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