Skeptics and scoffers love to stump Christians with this question: if God is good, why does evil exist? Philosophers have framed the problem like this:
- If God is able to prevent evil, but not willing to do so, he is evil himself.
- If God is willing to prevent evil, but not able, he is impotent.
At first blush this paradox seems impossible to answer. But take a second look at the Bible and you’ll not just make sense of this difficult question… you’ll find an answer that can change your eternity.
We’re going to find today’s answer in 2 Peter chapter 3, and we’ll get to that by the end of the lesson (I promise). But let’s frame this whole question with this verse:
2 Peter 3:3 (NLT) Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
- A “scoffer” asks the question without really wanting to know the answer. They’ve already made up their mind, and they simply want to disprove.
- A genuine seeker is different. They ask the question in good faith, and have a heart that’s willing to submit to God. I hope this is the attitude you have as you approach the question.
So let’s start with the first part of the question: God is good – this much we know for sure! From The Pursuit, Lesson 1:
- Jesus shows us the truth: God is for you, not against you. Through his life and teachings, Jesus shocked the religious world with his attitude toward the lost and irreligious. He invited lowly fishermen and despised tax-collectors – not religious experts – to be in his inner circle. And then he went around rubbing shoulders with drunkards, healing the demon-possessed, and touching the untouchables. Jesus didn’t avoid the broken and the lost, he sought them out. Here’s a perfect example:
- Matthew 8:2-3 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
- The leper knew that Jesus had the ability to heal – he just didn’t know if he had the willingness to do it. For most people, it’s easier to believe that God is powerful than to believe that he is good. But here’s the truth: he is both!
- And consider how Jesus healed the leper: he touched him. That was unthinkable in Jesus’ day.
Now to the second part of the question: why does evil exist? This will take some explaining. But consider this: God does eradicate some evil.
- Genesis 6:5-8 (NLT) The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the LORD.
This is the culmination of sin on the earth. Started with Adam and Eve, then Cain kills Abel. Sexual perversion described at beginning of ch 6. Evil abounds!
God said “Enough!” Note: this brings up an interesting theological debate: God was sorry? Is that regret? Does this challenge his sovereignty?
But Noah found favor (would YOU have?)
Genesis 18:20-21 (NLT) So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
Genesis 18:23-25 (NLT) Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Genesis 19:24-25 (NLT) Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.
- Q. Is this what God should always do?
- Q. Would you be spared like Noah and Lot?
- Most of us draw a line on sin and ask God to deal with the sinners on other side of the line!
Romans 5:12 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
- We’re all on the wrong side of the line; we all deserve God’s judgment.
The point:
- 2 Peter 3:5-7 (NLT) …God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
Here’s what Peter is saying: God’s word is powerful enough to create everything. That same word is powerful enough to judge everything. Evil will someday be definitively dealt with!
Sit with that for a minute. As sure as God created everything, God will judge everything. Vengeance is the Lord’s. If you’ve ever been hurt, used, abused, etc – God will someday make it right. He is just. Justice will prevail.
Note: God is the author of creation AND justice. But he’s not the author of evil.
Q. So why doesn’t God put an end to all things evil?
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
- The word in Gk for “some” and “anyone” is the same pronoun. Peter appears to be saying that God doesn’t even want the scoffers (some people) to be destroyed!
- (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Unfortunately, it is often the culture that co-ops the followers of Jesus into sharing their national and cultural hatreds and rejoicing the destruction of people whom God wished would have repented. The day of the Lord may indeed come, but the desire of God and of his people is that it finds no one whom God has to judge (even if there is little hope in scripture that will actually be the case).
2 Peter 3:15 (NLT) And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
Evil exists because people exist. Sin is what broke the world, and God is being patient with people to give them a chance to repent.
- He could eradicate evil again, but what would happen to YOU?
The truth is, God dealt definitely with evil at the cross.
Romans 5:6 (NLT) When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
