We all see death and suffering in the world. Unfortunately, it is too easy for people to look at the death and suffering in the world, and just expect GOD to take it away. When HE does not they assume HE does not care, or does not know, or even that HE just does not exist at all. But HE is here, and HE does see.
Psalms 139:7-10 ASV
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
So we must reconcile what appears to be a contradiction: a good GOD, and suffering in the world.
1. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING
The first question that must be asked is, ‘Where does suffering come from?’ It was not there in the beginning! There was no death, no sickness, no crime or abuse. Everything was very good.
Genesis 1:31 KJV
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
GOD had also given a law, one law: do not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (1). Naturally, if there is a law, then it is possible for the law to be broken. Men were created very good, but not unchangeable. In other words, we have the ability to take GOD’s “very good” creation, and deface and destroy it.
This is exactly what we did. Breaking GOD’s law is the same thing as destroying HIS creation. Through the sin of rebellion against GOD, human nature was changed. Each one of us is now born selfish, and evil, and hating GOD. This is called The Fall. All of the death and suffering in the world is a result of the Fall. So, suffering comes from us!
Romans 5:12 KJV
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
We brought sin into GOD’s creation. And we brought death into GOD’s creation.
GOD is right and just to give the sentence of death in response to sin. We know this intuitively. If a government were to make a law which no one obeys, and which the government cannot enforce, then the government is seen as weak and irrelevant. Eventually that government replaced. This cannot be the case with GOD. A good GOD, infinite and perfect in all HIS ways, cannot allow sin in HIS presence. A transgression against HIS law must result in consequences for the transgressor. It is absolutely necessary. IF not, GOD would not be GOD.
Therefore, the perfect, very good, no death, no suffering, “Garden of Eden” state could not continue. Because of our Fall, we are now subject to death, and we have a nature that is evil.
Romans 3:10-18 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
In a world full of men like that, why would anyone blame GOD for what goes on? We broke HIS law in the first place, and brought the sentence of death upon ourselves. And since that time, we have continued to cause suffering by fighting and destroying each other.
2. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL MEN
The simple answer to this question is, if GOD removed all the evil men, there would be none of us left. Not one.
Psalms 53:2-3 KJV
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Everyone would be ok with GOD removing the murderers from the face of the earth. It’s as if we say: “Thou shalt not kill, they broke the 6th commandment (2), get rid of them”. But what about the other Commandments? (3) Do not commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. And that’s just our duty toward men! What about worshiping GOD alone, honoring HIS name, and keeping HIS Sabbath? All of those commands appear right beside each other.
If GOD cleansed the world of all evil, what argument could you make to convince HIM to let you stay?
3. WHY DOES GOD NOT REVERSE THE FALL
The greatest news ever reported is that HE is! This is the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus Christ; GOD has made a way of salvation for sinners. But HE cannot simply ignore the sin, and pretend it did not happen. HE cannot be a good GOD if HE does not punish sin. That would either make HIM powerless (he can’t punish sin) or unjust (he doesn’t punish sin).
HE is both just and powerful, and so the greatest problem in the world is:
“How can GOD forgive sinners?”
Paul answers this question directly in his letter to the Romans.
Romans 3:23-26 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
This means that GOD can forgive sinners because CHRIST was punished in their place. On the cross, CHRIST carried the sins of men and bore the wrath of GOD. Justice was executed fully, the penalty was carried out, and GOD is righteous.
If we repent and believe in JESUS CHRIST, GOD will count CHRIST’s suffering as our payment! And HE will count CHRIST’s righteousness as if it were our own. This is GOD’s plan of redemption. This is the hope for sinners.
CONCLUSION
There is suffering in the world as a result of sin. We broke GOD’s law and brought the sentence of death upon ourselves. We have a fallen nature and therefore we fight and destroy each other.
There is not a single one of us who is not guilty of evil. GOD does not cleanse the world of evil because HE is offering space to repent; a time of mercy!
GOD is not distant or un-caring. HE loves the world. HE is restoring HIS creation and offering salvation to all who repent and believe. To demonstrate his compassion toward us, HE designed a plan of salvation that took HIS own SON to the cross! CHRIST suffered with us on this earth, and bore the wrath of GOD in our place! Even though it is our fault, and we deserve the suffering we experience, GOD has chosen to suffer with us. HE didn’t have to! That is compassion!
Instead of asking GOD, “why do you allow all this suffering”, we should be repenting for causing all this suffering, and thanking GOD that HE endured it with us when HE did not have to.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
REFERENCES
1. Genesis 2:16-17
2. Exodus 20:13
3. Exodus 20:1-17