Why does God allow evil in the world?

Perhaps the main reason some people are atheists is they cannot satisfactorily reconcile a good God and an evil world. Julian Huxley wrote that the existence of evil "is a challenge to God's moral character" (Religion Without Revelation, 1957, p. 109), concluding that divine revelation and a divine Revelator do not exist.

In our supposedly enlightened society we've relegated Satan, the Devil, to the status of myth. (Image source: Envato)

English theologian Edwin Hatch queried: "How did a God who was almighty as well as beneficent come to create what is imperfect and evil?" (The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages Upon the Christian Church, 1995, Peabody, Massachusetts, p. 194). While physicist Paul Davies asked why God, if He truly is all-powerful, does not simply intervene and stop all evil: "Is God free to prevent evil?...If he is omnipotent….Why then does He fail to do so" (God and The New Physics, 1983, p. 143).

In our supposedly enlightened society we've relegated Satan, the Devil, to the status of myth. Through the centuries, people's belief in his existence has waxed and waned. Europeans devoutly believed in him in the Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, but in modern times the idea of a deceiving devil went out of style. On this subject, however, the only information that really matters is what the Bible provides, which tells us the devil exists as a powerful, evil being. But if Satan is responsible for evil, why doesn't God stop him?

The Devil is a created angel who rebelled against God and became His—and mankind's—adversary. (See Bible Insights Issue 136: The Origin Of Satan And His Demons for more information.) Once Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they immediately began to experience life on Satan's level. Where God's focus is love and peace, Satan's is hate and violence. His primary purpose is to destroy humankind by enticing them to follow his way of destruction, abuse and murder. Through thousands of years of recorded history, Satan has influenced human beings to perpetrate the unimaginable against each other and, in wartime, against whole nations and peoples.

Jesus confirmed the Devil seduces people into committing atrocities, clearly identifying the source of the evil motivations of those who wanted to kill Him: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the Truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44).

God's gift to us "is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). This is why Jesus Christ came and died. But before we can inherit eternal life, we must resist and overcome the temptation to do evil with the help of God’s Holy Spirit: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12). (See the following article in this issue: Salvation Is Creation.)

God is all powerful. Yet He allows Satan to carry out his deceitful and destructive activities—within certain limits—for a purpose. God tests the character of every human being. Paul wrote, "We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NIV). God’s desire is for mankind to learn the only way of life that will work is the way of life He reveals in His Word, the Bible. He wants humanity to learn that "the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23) and that Satan's way leads to misery and suffering.

When Jesus Christ returns to earth, He will immediately expel Satan from his position of influence and deception, and restrain him (Revelation 20:1-3), preparing the way for the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.

• Source:

  The Good News Magazine (Nov-Dec, 2010)

• https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/did-god-create-people-evil

 

Every second counts

There are 24 hours in a day but, for many of us, it sometimes feels like that is not enough. We all have control over how we spend much of our time. The Apostle Paul advised: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Time is such a precious commodity (Image source: Envato)

Three factors may be influencing our decisions relating to how our time is spent.

 

Overcommitment

If we are just too busy and overcommitted we may miss some important opportunities to draw closer to God. Consider Martha, the sister of Mary of Bethany, who was unable to listen to Jesus because she was too involved with food preparation. Her well-intentioned actions denied her the opportunity to learn directly from Christ (Luke 10:38-42).

Distraction

Becoming distracted from what we should be focussing on can also take up our time with less important issues. For example: It’s easy to spend too much time on television, social media, the internet or some hobbies.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explained various reasons why some failed to follow Him, describing the third of these groups as follows: “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19 NKJV).

Some people hear God's Word but get distracted by worldly concerns which can decrease the time we spend studying God’s Word and "choke" our spiritual growth.The writer of Psalm 119 asked God to “turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me [give me life] in Your way” (verse 37).

Priorities

Because time is such a precious commodity, we should ask ourselves, "Is there something else that should be given higher priority at this time?" Sometimes writing a list can help us concentrate on what is most important. At the top of our time priority list should be prayer, studying God’s word and meditation, i.e. reflecting on our studies (Psalm 119:15). We also need to see things from God’s perspective and spend time applying what we are learning. One reason we spend time with God in prayer and study so that we will begin to think as He does. Moses knew that taking each day and making it count for good was man’s real purpose and exclaimed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Colossians 4:5 tells us:. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." We must always remember that we can never get back or replace a day that has passed. Our lives on this earth don’t last forever. King David knew this when he wrote in Psalms 103:14-16, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” I Chronicles 29:15 expounds the same truth: “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.’”

The key to redeeming our time is to remember the purpose of our life as Solomon concluded: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Although our years of life are few, Jesus assures us that this life is not the end, but the beginning. Jesus said to Martha, before he raised Lazarus from the dead, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….” (John 11:25-26).

• Source:

  Beyond Today British Supplement (Jul-Aug, 2025)

• https://ucg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Supplement-July-August-2025.pdf

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The unforgiving heart

We have all sinned (violated the laws of God), and are therefore worthy of death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Christ assumed the penalty for us when we repent and ask for forgiveness (Acts 2:38; Matthew 6:12). Without forgiveness, we cannot enter into eternal life.

We are to extend forgiveness to others.

God offers us release from the consequences of violating His laws, which is death. In return, He instructs us to extend that same benevolence to our neighbor: "... love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Proverbs 19:11 tells us it is to our “glory to overlook a transgression.” This attitude is diametrically opposed to the human proclivity to seek revenge when we, or our loved ones, have been hurt.

The clear message from God is that we are not to take revenge. God sees all and knows all, and it is His responsibility to avenge wrong deeds : "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19). We are to do the opposite of seeking revenge and, with God’s help, return good for evil: "Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing" (I Peter 3:9).

Many wonder if an individual needs to express sorrow or attempt to reconcile with us before we forgive him or her. The Bible is clear about this. Even if the person who has offended you does not repent of their offence toward you, you are still obligated to love and treat him or her well. Their failure to repent is an issue between them and God. We are not to hold grudges, seek revenge or speak evil of those who have offended us. Instead we are to extend our love and goodwill.

There are at least two biblical examples of individuals who sought God's forgiveness for others, even when repentance from the offenders was not yet present. Stephen, while being unjustly stoned, asked God not to charge his accusers and murderers with this sin (Acts 7:60). While Christ, during His crucifixion, made the following statement: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Proverbs 24:17 also instructs us not to rejoice when our enemy experiences misfortune, and Proverbs 25:21 states if our enemy is in need, we should provide those needs. This type of response to evil will invariably produce good and verse 22 states the "Lord will reward you" for this action. If we do not forgive others, then our own forgiveness is in jeopardy: "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15).

The ultimate example of forgiveness was Christ's on the cross. He was asking for each one of us to be forgiven because each of us played a part in His death. Jesus Christ has forgiven us for our part in His physical abuse and death, should we not forgive the trespasses of others?

• Source:

  United News (Dec 2015)

• https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/united-news-december-2004/unforgiving-heart-and-its-role-human-suffering

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