Why is there evil in the world?

The ramifications of our sin go far beyond this. Mankind's choices have affected all of creation. (Rom. 8:19-22) The death of
plants and animals, sickness and disease are all part of the ramifications of the sin of mankind. Still in our warped way of
thinking we blame God because there is consequences for rebelling against his loving kindness and infinite wisdom. Consider
the child who runs away from a loving home when he does not get his way only to find hunger, cold and despair is what he ran
to. Should he blame the parents that he is now cold, hungry and desperate?

Which of us can say that we have not added to the problem by rebelling against God in some way or another? Which of us can
say we have never wronged another person? Should the line of judgment from God only be drawn where we have not been as
bad as another? Would God be correctly dealing out justice by turning a blind eye to our sin and not another's?

Let there be no mistake no sin will go without answering to perfect justice. The only way any of us can survive is through God's
grace and mercy provided through Jesus Christ. As long as we live on this earth we will see sin and the consequences of it
because mankind has a free will and with it constantly makes wrong choices. We are extremely fortunate that God is willing to
delay his judgment so that we have the time to repent and turn to him for forgiveness!

God because he is loving does not force himself on us. He allows us to reject him even though he knows it is a poor choice.
We ourselves experience love from others and we cannot force that love. Why should we expect that God would be pleased
with a bunch of robots that loved him only because they had no choice in the matter? It would be wrong for us to try to force
someone to love us. It would seem wrong if God forced us to love Him. We love him because he first loved us. (1 Jn.4:19)

Some have mistakenly misquoted scripture saying God is guilty of allowing us to go through hardships that are more than we
can bear. They point to the one who committed suicide saying it was obviously more than they can bear. That is a misuse of
what that particular passage says.

1 Cor 10:12-14 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is
common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will
provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

This passage is saying that God will not allow "temptation" so great that you cannot handle it without also providing a way to
escape the temptation to sin. It is not God's fault that we choose to sin rather than fleeing from it. God did not promise that we
would never encounter some extreme difficulties in our life! Scripture does show that he would be there to help us through them.

There is sometimes purpose in suffering that is good.
2 Cor 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but
the sorrow of the world produces death.

This godly sorrow resulted in salvation. Often you hear of testimonies where people who are broken finally turn to the Lord. Thus
gaining salvation and an eternity in the future with no more tears or pain.

2 Cor 1:8-10 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened
excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in
order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and
will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

This despair caused them to no longer trust in their own strength, but rather to trust in God instead. By trusting in Him instead of
our own strength we are far better off.

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Here we are told trials produce endurance making us more complete. Kind of like the old phrase for exercise "no pain no
gain". Well it seems to work spiritually as well.

2 Cor 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who
comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.

Here we are told what we deep down already know. We can be of more comfort to others who are suffering if they know we
really understand because we have gone through the same thing.

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.

I mentioned earlier that people like Paul could have easily said that life had dealt them a bad hand. Yet in spite of all of the
suffering and injustice that was dealt them they maintained an attitude of praise and worship. Why? I believe it is because they
had real insight to the nature of God and the final outcome of things in eternity. God takes a radically different view of things
than most of mankind. It is in this view that I believe we can find peace and comfort during our hardships. It is beyond our
own strength and a perspective on eternal things instead of the storm around us. Much like when Peter walked on water he was
fine until he focused on the storm instead of the Lord. The moment he took his eyes of the Lord and focused on the storm he
sank. (Mt.14:24-33)

Remember all of the bad things that happened to the Apostle Paul that you previously read about in 2 Cor. 11:23-28. Well
consider what this same man said in the following passages.

Rom 8:16-18 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of
God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that
the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Cor 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day
by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

Phil 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,

Wait a minute Paul they threw rocks at you until they thought you were dead! They beat you several times with a whip! Made
you a prisoner for speaking the truth. You were shipwrecked more than once. One of these times you spent 24 hours floating in
the sea. Another time of being shipwrecked and you get out and gather wood to help warm the survivors only to be bitten by a
poisonous snake. You call that momentary light affliction that has no comparison to what awaits in glory? You compare your
losses in your former prestigious position in Judaism as nothing but garbage in comparison? WOW!!!
What kind of insight must this man have concerning God and heaven to make such a radical statement as this!! What would
cause this former non-believer and persecutor of the church to feel this way? Consider what Paul said in the following
letters!

Gal 1:11-13 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For
I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my
former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;

2 Cor 12:2-10 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not
know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart
from the body I do not know, God knows-- was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not
permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my
weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that
no one may credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. And because of the surpassing greatness of the
revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to
buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And
He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast
about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul definitely had some insight that most do not. He was not taught by man, but received revelations from the Lord himself. He
actually got to see for himself what people only wonder about. This same man suffered far more than most of ever will in our
entire life. His view of it all is that there is no comparison to losses, suffering and injustices here on earth when viewed what
awaits in the life to come!!! I don't know about you, but I find great comfort in that! Now that is a solid reason
to maintain hope in spite of the storm!

The Lord has a different way of looking at things!
Mark 12:41-44 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the
treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which
amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the
contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to
live on."

Try to place yourself there at the scene. We get impressed with large sums of money. What great giving! The lady that put in the
least amount of money we might figure why bother it won't help anything. Yet it excited Jesus so much that he called his
disciples over and then seemingly with pride gave her great praise.

We who at the judgment day would like to hear the Lord say "Well done my good and faithful servant would do well to
remember that the Lord weighs things quite differently than the world around us. If the Lord gave this widow great praise over
the religious leaders and the wealthy that were there at the time don't you think he will be consistent and give her great praise
and reward in heaven? In their time it would seem that this poor widow was at a great disadvantage. I suspect she is not at any
disadvantage now! The hand we are dealt with here has no bearing on our ability to be rewarded in heaven. God discerns the
thoughts and intentions of the heart! (Heb.4:12)

Matt 26:7-13 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He
reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? "For this perfume might
have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother
the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. "For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have Me.
"For when she poured this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. "Truly I say to you, wherever
this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her."

In this scene we see the disciples are upset. What a waste of money! Yet the Lord praised her for the motive of her heart!

Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you
will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Love your enemies? Lend and expect nothing in
return? Now that will go over good in our culture and our business world. Still the Lord tells us our reward for this will be great!

Matt 10:41-42 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a
righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. "And whoever in the name of a disciple
gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."

Now giving a child a cup of cold water might seem pretty insignificant by our standards. Yet Jesus says such an act will not go
without reward! Yet remember he was not impressed with those that were giving great sums of money in the verse mentioned
earlier.

Now tell me if this next passage does not sound exactly the opposite of what the world will tell you.
Luke 6:20-26 And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say,
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
"Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of
the Son of Man. "Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their
fathers used to treat the prophets.
"But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be
hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same
way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.

Heb 10:32-36 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly,
by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so
treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for
yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

This passage here hardly sounds fair. They experienced conflict and suffering. Yet they showed sympathy to prisoners. Next
their possessions are seized. Then there is reward? Yet the reward is unknown to the world because it happens in a realm that
is beyond their grasp!

The point of all of this is simple. Do not judge your situation just by what you see around you or what abilities or resources that
you think you have. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers! Joseph later ended up being in charge of all of the land.
Joseph later told his brothers "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result,
to preserve many people alive." (Gen 50:20) What was seemingly a terrible injustice God turned completely around!

Daniel was also a prisoner with seemingly no hope for his future! God placed him in charge of the kingdom under
Nebuchadnezzar.

Esther was a nobody who became Queen and saved the Jewish people in her day. Haman who tried to have Mordecai killed
and even built the gallows upon which to have him hanged ended up being hung himself upon the gallows that he built. (Book of
Esther)

Jonah who rebelled against God surely thought there was no more hope when he was swallowed by the great fish. Yet that was
not the end for him.

When we think things are too late think again. When we think there is no hope think again. Nothing in our life today is based
solely on our circumstances or abilities when serving a God who has no limits. What seems to be at great disadvantage
here or wrong suffered here may lead to blessings and comfort beyond your imagination in the life to come. What we see as an
injustice or an unfair advantage by some will not necessarily end in what we see in this life. The final outcome may take place in
this life or in the life to come. But make no mistake God is not fooled by people's clever cover ups. He will both judge and
reward by the actual thoughts and intentions of our heart. We are all guilty, but can be declared righteous through Jesus Christ.
The rewards of the Christian depend upon what they do with what God has given them. Those who have more in this life are
accountable for more in the life to come. There are no disadvantaged ones when it comes to Gods realm of Justice and
Rewards.

God also seems to be consistent in rising up the lowly. Jesus sought out the most unlikely to be friends with and to use to
spread the gospel. Many of the religious leaders that were looked up to and respected are the ones that Jesus harshly
rebuked! When Jesus was born the announcement was made to Shepard's not Kings. Those that society rejected are the ones
that Jesus chose to hang out with. Jesus praised those who seemed like nobody's or rejects and he often rebuked those whom
others looked up to. In Jesus' day a woman's testimony meant nothing in a court. Yet he first appeared to women when he
rose from the dead. Jesus is God and also the final judge. He views things differently than our society does!

John 5:22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

Isa 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Prov 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing
to your body, and refreshment to your bones.

I would like to share with you a short story. There was a little boy who was poor. His clothes were clean, but they were tattered
and worn. He went to a Christmas party where there were many rich kids whom were well dressed had money in their pockets
and appeared to be having lots of fun! It came time that everyone there was to open presents. The little boy watched with wide
eyes and jaw dropped as all of the well dressed kids opened one huge present after another. Each gift was wrapped in pretty
paper that sparkled and had huge bows on them. The little boy was amazed at the tremendous gifts that the other kids were
getting. Sailboats, cars, trucks, if you can name it then it was there.

Finally it came time for the little boy to receive his presents! He could hardly wait! He was handed one small package wrapped
in plain brown paper. He stood in disbelief and great disappointment as he looked back at all of the wonderful gifts the
other kids had received. He could not bear to even open the present because of his disappointment.

Then I could hear God tell me to open the box. As I looked around at all of the other wonderful gifts I still did not want to open the
box. God repeated again "Open the box!" I finally tore open the plain brown wrapper and lifted the lid off of the tattered little box
and much to my amazement GOD was in the box!!!!!! He had given me himself!!!!!

Then I realized the other kids had nothing and I had everything! No I am not a little boy, but the Lord used this to show me how
rich I am! As I write this by the worlds standards I am a complete failure! A looser! I am a bald middle aged man and living in an
old 12 ft. Travel trailer. I own nothing, but the trailer, a broken old truck, a yellow dog and some debt. Yet I have something that
many will never have or understand. Furthermore I have high hopes of being in the ministry someday and perhaps
someone beside myself will actually read this. Just the same I am blessed! I am reminded of the prayer of the Unknown Soldier.

THE WAYS OF THE LORD
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve....
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for help that I might do greater things...
I as given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy...
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for all things , that I might enjoy life...
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for...
but everything I had hoped from.
Despite myself, my prayers were answered.
I am, among all men most richly blessed.
Author unknown