"Look! I Am Making All Things New"

Bad Things--Why Does God Permit Them?

If God's purpose is to build a paradise earthy, how is it that the earth today is so filled with wickedness, suffering, and sorrow?  If God is the Almighty, why has he permitted these conditions for so long? Is there hope of an end to all our troubles?  What does the Bible say? 

The Bible shows that mankind's troubles began when one of the spirit sons of God rebelled against Jehovah's sovereignty, or dominion. (Romans 1:20; Psalm 103:22)  No doubt this angel was among those who had rejoiced at seeing the creation of man. But then covetousness and pride took root in his heart, and he was enticed  by the desire to have Adam and Eve worship him instead of their Creator, Jehovah.  Speaking through a serpent, much as a ventriloquist speaks through a dummy, this angel induced Eve to disobey Almighty God.  Her husband Adam then followed her into disobedience. -Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6; James 1:14. 15. 

That rebellious angel came to be known as "the original serpent." (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 11:3)  He is also named Satan, meaning  "Opposer," and Devil, meaning "Slanderer."  He called into issue the rightness and righteousness of Jehovah's rulership of earth, and he challenged God that now he, Satan, could turn all mankind aside from true worship.  God has allowed Satan some 6,000 years to attempt to prove his challenge, so that the issue over Jehovah's sovereignty might be settled for all eternity.  Man-rule independent of God has failed miserably.   But men and women of faith, among whom Jesus is the outstanding, have kept integrity to God under the severest trials, vindicating Jehovah and proving the Devil a liar.   (Luke 4:1-13; Job 1:7-12; 2:1-6; 27:5)  You, too, can be an integrity keeper.   (Proverbs 27:11) But Satan is not the only enemy that afflicts us. What other enemy is there?

Next time: "Look! I Am Making All Things New"/The Enemy-Death

From the Awake! magazine