I. THE PARADOX: A LOVING GOD IN A BROKEN WORLD
“God is love”
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:8-11 (KJV),
β¦yet creation groans under violence, disease, and injustice.
How do we reconcile this?
Scripture reveals a profound tension:
– Godβs nature:
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19 (KJV)
– Earthβs reality:
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1 John 5:19 (KJV)
Central Question: If God is all-powerful and all-good, why does He permit evil?
II. THE GIFT OF FREE WILL: WHY LOVE REQUIRES RISK
The Divine Dilemma
Imagine a father who forces his child to say “I love you”βis it real love?
God crafted humans in His image (Genesis 1:27), which includes:
– Moral agency:
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)
Note: This might just be the most obvious thing a loving father would do⦠after giving you free-will, he tells you: Freedom of choice (free-will) has in the end two categories which is LIFE and DEATH.
For the sake of Love he goes ahead to advice you to choose LIFE, the only thing that can help youβ¦
– Consequences:
Adamβs rebellion against God brought forth a spiritual separation called SIN (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12).
Satanβs Rebellion: Evilβs Origin
Before humanity fell, “war broke out in heaven” (Revelation 12:7β9).
Lucifer, once an angel of light, chose pride:
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:12-14 (KJV)
God permits this struggle temporarilyβlike a surgeon allowing infection to surface before excision.
Why Doesnβt God Override Our Choices?
– Analogy: A judge could prevent all crime by imprisoning every citizenβbut at what cost?
– Scripture: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not, sin crouches at your door” (Genesis 4:7).
III. GODβS RESPONSE TO SUFFERING
He Enters It – Incarnation:
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (KJV)
The Word of God as human ( Jehoshua ):
Christ wept (John 11:35), was betrayed Matthew (26:14-16) , and crucified John 18 and 19.
Note: After His death and resurrection He gives LIFE to those those who accepts Himβ¦
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (KJV)
Promise & Redemption:
- Premonition of Trouble, Assurance of Overcoming:
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (KJV)Note: This verse shows that your new nature after accepting Christ Jesus (John 1:12β13) will conflict with Darkness ( 1 John 5:19 ) and itβs agents on earth causing them to hate youβ¦
And as your command from the Lord Jesus the Christ is for you to Love them (Matthew 5:43β47), it becomes more difficult for youβ¦ - God’s Redemptive Power: The story of Joseph’s enslavement (Genesis 50:20) illustrates how God can transform harmful intentions into good outcomes, saving nations.
- Modern Parallel: A drug addict’s recovery and subsequent ministry serves as a contemporary example of redemption from a low point.
The Resolution:
- The text implies a transformed end to suffering and evil through God’s ultimate victory.
He Will End It
– Prophecy:
β4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 (KJV)β
– Justice:
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psalms 37:9 (KJV)
IV. WHY DELAY?
DIVINE PATIENCE VS. HUMAN SUFFERING
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
– Analogy:
A teacher extends a deadline so failing students can correct their mistakes/repentβthough others groan at the wait.
V. HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
Move for the great Commission:
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
FINAL WORD
Darkness and Evil are but names given to the condition you find yourself in when separated from the Light of Godβ¦
God by the Cross proves Heβd rather become man and die than abandon us in the darkness.
Till tomorrow:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV)βvoluntarily or not.
RESOURCES
The Life and Ministry of the Lord Jesus the Christ. English (Video)
Muslim Woman Gave Jesus Christ One Week to Prove Himself. Watch what happened.
Scientists present Evidence tor God
# ProblemOfEvil #FreeWill #DivineJustice #Theodicy #HopeInChrist #adminLRC
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