God's Permission Of Suffering Nears Its End

Everywhere you look, there is suffering. Some people bring it on themselves. They contract sexually transmitted diseases or experience the effects of drug and alcohol abuse or of smoking. Or they may encounter health problems because of poor eating habits. However, much suffering results from factors or events beyond the control of the average person: war, ethnic violence, crime, poverty, famine, disease. Something else that humans basically cannot control is suffering related to aging an death.

The Bible assures us that "God is Love." (I John 4:8) Why, then, has a loving God allowed all this suffering to continue for so many centuries? When will he remedy the situation? To answer such questions, we need to examine God's purpose with regard to humans. This will help us to understand why God has allowed suffering and what he will do about it.

Next time: The Gift Of Free Will