When I adopted Buddy nearly eleven years ago, I promised to love and take care of him, to give him a forever home.
As humans, we cannot understand why an omnipotent God, Who is supposed to be perfect and loving, allows great suffering. Not only do animals chase down, tear apart and eat those weaker than themselves, but humanity suffers from sickness, warfare and all sorts of evil.
People often refuse to come to Christ because they cannot understand why God allows children to suffer cancer and die. Why didn’t God prevent the Holocaust? Or even today, prevent the Communist Party in China from bulldozing hundreds of Christian churches? Or prevent children from being maimed during their Cultural Revolution? Why do famines occur because of drought, causing the poorest to suffer even more greatly? Or Ebola to ravage Africans?
Dr Michael Youssef, in his excellent book, “Counting Stars In An Empty Sky”, has an interesting perspective on the suffering of Job.
God declared Job to be the best of all people at that ancient time: “For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil (Job 2:3).” In fact, God listed Job as one of his all time top three people, along with Noah and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:20). Yet, He permitted Satan to kill Job’s children, thieves to steal his livestock and murder most of his servants, and afflict him with a disfiguring and painful disease. On top of that, his angry wife wished Job dead and well-meaning friends accused and discouraged him with false accusations. Basically, Satan was permitted to destroy Job’s family, relationships, wealth and health.
Totally unfair treatment for an honorable and god-fearing man.
Dr Youssef postulates that Job, by refusing to turn away from God despite suffering hellish treatment, was an object lesson to Satan and his demonic followers. “If a mere flesh-and-blood man like Job could remain obedient in the face of so much suffering and the silence of God, then the rebellious angels who had seen God face-to-face were without excuse (Page 123).”
The pastor makes a great point.
But poor Job was totally left into the dark as this supernatural lesson was in play.
Many persons over the centuries have postulated and mused over the problem of evil. I’m not claiming to be more intelligent, or as brilliant, as those who have gone before me. But after many years of consideration concerning the problem of evil, I’ve come to a conclusion that works for me.
I could be correct—or totally off base. But this is my perspective.
Satan and the demons had the very best God had to offer—not only life in heaven, but the ability to communicate face-to-face with the Lord. Life with no disease, no war, no tears, no suffering at all. Every need was perfectly met. Satan also had a top leadership position, being one of the three archangels with Gabriel and Michael, just below the Trinity in authority.
Satan was also beautiful and favored: “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…You were the anointed cherub… (Ezekiel 28:12, 14).”
Satan had it all.
Yet it wasn’t enough. He wanted to be his own god, not obey and trust the Lord. And for some odd reason, he was able to convince a third of the angels to follow him into rebellion.
Because of evil, we don’t have it all. We are suffering on this planet because people rebel, and have rebelled, against God. Human greed and selfishness cause horrendous suffering, such as the Holocaust, warfare and poverty. Jealousy, self-righteousness, sexual immorality, envy, covetous and other sins cause unnecessary suffering.
Because the first couple rebelled against God’s authority, the Holy Spirit left the human race. All of Creation was subjected to the result of our Fall and rejection of God’s indwelling presence. Sickness, pain and murder entered the world.
Because we’re living in Hell now, we can appreciate heaven. Those who choose to accept Jesus as their Lord, will enter His presence one day with great rejoicing: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain…There will no longer be any curse (Revelation 21:4, 22:3).”
Because we’re suffering now, we will realize how blessed we are to be in heaven under the Lord’s rule in His presence. We won’t reject God’s best because we will have suffered a lifetime of what life is like in a world in rebellion against Him.
Those who receive Him as the Lord now have an eternity of joy and bliss to look forward to.
The Apostle Paul wrote the following two passages, a man who suffered greatly to tell people about salvation through faith in Christ Jesus in Roman times:
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).”
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).”
That’s the best that I can do, to explain the problem of evil.
Is it fair that some suffer so terribly? No. Life is not fair. God never promises a problem-free life.
Ultimately, we’re commanded to trust in God’s ultimate plan, His goodness and to submit to His authority.
“Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He Who made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3).”
Hope you find my solution helpful—or a jumping off point for your own contemplation on the problem of evil.
God bless you. Love, from Dawn and Buddy
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Heaven is God’s house. To live in His house, which is Heaven, you have to submit to His authority. No one who rebels against Him will be permitted to remain in His presence after the Great Judgment.
Please consider making Him your Lord so that you can join with millions, perhaps billions, who will enjoy a future of His very best.
If you’re ready, please pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I call on Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Forgive me all of my sins. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I give my life to You. In Christ’s name, Amen.
If you prayed sincerely, congratulations. You’re born again. Please find a Bible-based church or Bible Study group to grow in a knowledge of God and His word. If that’s not possible right now, the following are three great ministries, which also have podcasts: http://www.LTW.org (Leading The Way with Dr Youssef’s teaching), http://www.InTouch.org and http://www.BasicGospel.net.
See you in heaven!
Meditations About God and Buddy 