The attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, still fresh in our minds, have thrust us all into a new
and seemingly more ominous world, one that is less safe than we
had imagined it to be. Besides over 6,000 killed, hundreds of
companies wiped out, thousands of jobs lost, tens of thousands of
jobs lost in related industries, 40-60 billion dollar insurance
loses, the devastation will ripple. It is estimated that 10
million people worldwide will be forced into poverty. A depression
is looming. More terrorism is predicted—perhaps biological,
chemical or nuclear. Violence is bound to increase with a
corresponding threat to the economy.
What is this
world coming to?
The Bible foretells that the hate and greed in
the human heart would escalate into the devastating worldwide
violence and economic distress of our day. And though the threat of
terrorism is not over, there is a ray of hope through the clouds of
trouble.
The Scriptures not only
predict the trouble—but also offer substantial hope beyond the fire
and terror. God's Word predicted that a great increase of knowledge
would be accompanied by an unprecedented "time of trouble"
(Daniel 12:1,4). During this unprecedented trouble, "the weak
say I am strong" (Joel 3:10). Just so, a few
—"the
weak"—
have terrorized The Superpower of the world. During the
20th Century, 175 million were slaughtered by the "politics of
insanity." Yes, we are living in this unparalleled time of
trouble and peoples' "hearts [are] failing them for fear, and
looking after those things which are coming ..." (Luke 21:26).
As a loving Father, God
is deeply grieved with man's inhumanity to man. But man's extremity
will be God's opportunity. Psalm 76:10 states that the "wrath
of man" shall one day praise God. Divine wisdom is overruling
man's vice, graft, corruption, power politics, discrimination and
exploitation to shake all nations. Finally God's Kingdom will
fulfill the legitimate "desire of all nations." Haggai 2:7
Because Jesus died a "ransom for all"(1 Timothy
2:6)-peace, life, economic security, vigorous health and freedom
from fear are some of the blessings God's Kingdom will bring to all
peoples. Just as the trouble and terror of today were prophesied,
the raising of all the dead is also assured in prophecy. That means
all those who perished in the bombings will be reunited with their
loved ones (1 Corinthians 15: 22).
Why Does God Permit Evil?
If after all of humankind's suffering God is
going to bless them abundantly
—
why the need of suffering in the
first place?
To fully understand why
God permits evil, we must go back, back to when God dwelt alone. God
desired to have a family, to be a parent
—
a father or life-giver
—
The
Heavenly Father. The most loving parents are not overly protective.
They are willing to permit their children to endure difficult
experiences, realizing it will cost themselves as parents dearly in
pain, as they watch their children struggle to maturity.
God knew his children
could only be happy individually and collectively if each one loved
and obeyed God's laws for the well being of all. Therefore, God
created Adam and Eve in "His own image"-free will and
moral discernment. God could have programmed the ideal man and
utopia would have been inevitable, but man would be no better than a
robot, nor would he be happy. But free will has a built-in dilemma.
God told Adam that if he obeyed he would live. If he disobeyed he
would die-"dying thou shall die." Genesis 2:17 Death would
be a process of sickness and suffering. Because of lack of
experience God knew Adam or anyone of us would disobey.
A parent will tell a
baby not to touch the stove because it is hot. But what does a baby
know about pain? Inevitably the baby will touch the stove. A wise
parent will lightly and quickly touch the child's hand where the
heat is not too severe. Likewise God is giving mankind a controlled
experience with sin.
Knowing man would
disobey him, God planned for man's redemption before he even created
the earth and man. First Peter 1:19-20 speaks of Jesus as slain
"before the foundation of the world." God lovingly planned
the best for His future human children. This meant a plan that would
deeply grieve His fatherly heart as He watched man trampled down
into death by the machinations of evil while learning the
consequences of sin. Further, it would cost the ultimate in fatherly
suffering-watching His only begotten son suffer the agony of being
vilified and crucified. God's gift of Jesus was the greatest
demonstration of fatherly suffering in history.
When Adam and Eve
disobeyed, God withdrew His fellowship. Loneliness, stress and
depression engulfed them. The latest scientific research confirms
the Biblical account of man's "Fall" into sin. Loneliness,
stress and depression render both the mind and the body prone to
disease. Fear, hostility and aggressiveness became the norm.
Exploitation, crime and violence were the inevitable consequences.
The body's immunity to disease soon broke down. The dying process
had begun. Yes, Adam's children, the human race, were born sinners
(Psalm 51:5) worthy of death. Romans 6:23 This is "the sore
travail God hath given to the sons of man to be exercised [learn
lessons] therewith." Ecclesiastes 1:13; 3:10
After Adam and Eve
disobeyed, they were cast out of their Eden paradise into the
unfinished earth, where the components of nature were yet
unbalanced. Man is learning by experience the bitter consequences of
sin and evil, which results in death.
A parent who disciplines
their child by sending him to his room for the evening often has
loving thoughts of their continued relationship. God has remanded
His human children to their room-the unfinished earth. In their
affliction He is afflicted and He has wonderful loving
thoughts-recorded in Bible prophecies-concerning their restoration
to His favor. Yes, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:22, "as in
Adam all die" but he continues, "so in Christ shall all be
made alive." Why? Because Jesus died "a ransom for
all." 1 Timothy 2:6 and Hebrews 2:9
A Suffering Savior and Suffering Christians
But before all are made alive in God's
Kingdom, God has been training Christians-a "little flock"
(Luke 12:32), by contrast with the billions of mankind. Why? That
they might reign with Christ in God's Kingdom as priests and kings.
Revelation 20: 6 Like Christ, they are being made sympathetic
priests through suffering. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 The minds of men are
scarred and twisted by tragedy. Christians experience the same
disasters (1 Corinthians 10:13), but by the power of the holy Spirit
their hearts are healed and made compassionate. Why? They will be
able to heal the minds of their fellowman when mankind come forth
from the graves (John 5:28-29, NASV, NRSV) to their probation or
trial time in the Kingdom. Mankind will have a vivid remembrance of
the bitter effects of sin and evil. Then they will learn the joyful
rewards of living righteously with their fellowman and make their
choice for eternity. Jeremiah 31:29-31, 34
Many scriptures reveal
that the majority of mankind will share the joys of eternal life.
God's willingness to endure fatherly sorrow proves that the
permission of evil is a necessary experience for man's eternal
welfare. God's fatherly sorrow contains no anxiety like a human
parent. With Divine serenity, He knows the end from the beginning.
Isaiah 46:10 All the forces of evil are overruled for man's eternal
welfare. Psalm 76:10 By faith we can have this same peace of God.
Philippians 4:7 The present sufferings are but a moment compared
with the joys of eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18
There is a logical and
faith-inspiring answer to the two questions
—
Why does God permit
evil? and What is this world coming to? Both are answered in our new
and entirely revised edition of the booklet, What Is This World
Coming To?
