Why does God allow evil?

Why does God allow evil?

Murder, wars, enslavement and perversity are rampant in the news. People struggle to understand why humans commit such callous, evil acts. Is there a reason for this? Why is there such violent depravity on a global scale that touches every culture, race and belief? Why is there evil?

To explain the spiritual dimension of evil imagine this scenario of an extremely wealthy person, a billionaire with a worldwide empire. Their personal philosophy is motivated by the desire to give and share what they have amassed. The empire they run is noted for its philanthropy, and ethics which are expressed as outgoing love and concern for customers, employees, and extends to communities where the firm does business. They have no children to share or pass on this legacy.

An arch competitor was once an employee, in fact he was one of three key individuals who ran one third of the global operation. He became jealous of the owner’s empire and made a power play to take away the company & run it his way. In the process one third of the employees were subverted to this new organization which ran business in the exact opposite model. Theirs was one of competition and strife best described a “get”. They wanted to get their former employers customers, get their employees, in an ultimate take over the business.

Since the owner has no heirs with which he can share his possessions he decides to adopt young children to become like him, with his values, to pass his wealth & assist him in running the company. If you were in this position how would you teach your principles to a child? What would you want them to know before you empowered them with worldwide power and influence to be able to do great harm if managed with evil intent? Would you want them to wind up like your trusted confidant turned enemy? In a way this is the position God is in only with a far different motive.

God’s motive is to add to his family of which there are only two known members, God the Father, and his son Jesus Christ. For his own reasons this family will be increased to include those whom he chooses. This is made plain in 1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Becoming a child of God will elevate that child to the spirit dimension which God inhabits and John explains this in the next verse, 1 John 3: 2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” The statement, “as he is”, shown in Rev 1:12-16, as a magnificent & powerful being who radiates power with a breathtaking visage which John depicts in human terms. In order to share unlimited power with someone there needed to be a way for them to learn the consequences of evil without becoming evil. To do this God used a defector, an angelic being who began life as a perfect created being. A member of God’s inner circle who turned against him, and who now personifies evil.

In the book of Ezekiel we see the transformation from loyal servant to bitter enemy. Ezekiel begins talking about an earthly king but the rhetoric becomes clear that a supernatural being is the subject, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezek 28:15) This being served God but decided to stage a takeover of his realm. Isa 14:12-15 explains the attitude of wanting to replace God. In attempting this he took one third of the angles and corrupted them into demons. (See Rev 12:3-4) Once this rebellion occurred the entity ceased to be the “morning star” or Lucifer, his original name in the Hebrew, to adversary or Satan as he is now named. Satan’s motive of evil desire instead of love personifies an outlook opposite to Gods. He is the god of this age (2 Cor 4:4) and a living example of where following evil will lead.

This physical temporal life is kind of training program with specific rules, penalties and a desired outcome. The rules are the Ten Commandments which define love. (Mark 10:17-21) with a penalty of death for lawless acts (Rom 6:23). The outcome is to qualify for eternal life, not earn it by law keeping. Immortality is a gift which the Father gives without charge. Ephesians 2:8 “You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. vs9 It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” (CEV) The “saved” part is saved from the death penalty or “wages” earned by ignoring the statutes created for our happiness & conversion to God’s way of thinking.

We disqualify being eligible for adoption as a child by not following the rules of love, the Ten Commandments. God gives us a time limit, our life span, to see good & evil and to always choose good. Contrast this with life in his realm, a dimension without limits a kind of spirit universe. We are here to understand that there are right and wrong life styles so that if we become his child we know what the family expects of us. God’s lifestyle leads to happiness and productivity while Satan’s leads to misery, evil and death (Prov 14:12). This is clearly stated than in Deuteronomy 30:15. In addressing the nation of Israel God made it plain the two paths of good or evil they could choose with clearly defined consequences. Free choice is what is significant. We are not forced to follow good any more than was ancient Israel. Their failed example of trying to live the right way, even under pain of death proves it is impossible without Gods help; his spirit. (See 1 Cor 10:11) By not tapping into the spirit universe we stand alone against a being from that realm who has had millenia to perfect his subversive evil tactics.

Evil is allowed to exist to illustrate the stark difference of life apart from God who is the essence of love (1 John 4:8). It is used to train future sons & daughters that there is a way of living that personifies the family of God in preparation to inheriting everything. Notice Revelation 21:7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Anyone invited into that family needs to fully understand and practice love, the way of giving and sharing, plus they must recognize evil and what it can do to destroy happiness and contented satisfaction. The Messiah came to settle the score against us for ignoring his Fathers law Galatians 4:5 “...to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Knowing this - isn’t now the time to understand & prepare for adoption as a child of God?