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 Is God Good?
by Ray Starks, 5/1/04
Printer-Friendly Version 
You can’t turn on the TV without some newscaster reporting all the evil that is going on around the world and in our neighborhoods. It seems that we are in a rut of hopeless situations right now—Iraq, 9/11 Commissions, political mudslinging, budget cuts and $2.00 plus a gallon for gasoline. Couple that with our own personal anxieties and it makes one ask, “Why does God allow these things?” Evil and suffering seem to be winning out.
We are not the first generation that has asked these questions. Christians and non-Christians alike have asked them down through the ages. It shows that we have an expectation of God. If He’s so good and loving and powerful, then He shouldn’t allow evil or bad things to happen, right?
The real question is not, “Why does God allow evil?” What we should be asking is, “Is God as good as He says He is?” We look around and what we see makes us wonder. Even people of strong faith wrestle through doubts and fears and if we don’t settle this issue in our own hearts and minds, we can hinder our experience with God and this life. Bottom line, how can you surrender to someone you can’t trust to be good?
Jeannie and I have experienced firsthand ugliness in our lives. Horrible things that happened before Christ was in our lives are seemingly understandable because of us not having a relationship with God. But it’s those things that have happened after we’ve received Christ that often puzzle us. After all, we are God’s children and have committed our lives to His service—shouldn’t He cut us a break? I must admit, I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t want to even try to defend God (whose ways are above and beyond my limited view and experience) but I would like to offer three reasons why God allows evil, pain, and suffering on this earth:
1) The Earth is cursed.
Because of sin, in Genesis 3, the earth is placed under a curse and separated from God. We are blessed and live in a highly developed country and we think life is supposed to be wonderful and convenient. We think that just because we live in the United States of America someone should have better control over our environment, safety, comfort and conveniences. When suffering in any form happens, we act like it’s something strange and undeserved.
God gives it to us straight from the Bible—everything is cursed and out of balance, even the planet. There are violent storms, earthquakes, floods, plagues, predators; all causing suffering. Humanity is cursed. We have imbalances such as fear, hatred, greed, and lust that are forms of suffering. We will suffer the indignity of growing old as our bodies shut down. We will get frail and fragile and possibly contract horrible diseases. There will be suffering, so why would we think we’d be spared? Maybe we’re looking at our Christianity as some kind of a “good luck” charm?
2) Satan is in charge for now.
Satan is lord over the earth (for the time being). Evil exists and has its beginnings based on disobedience to God. It originated with the first rebellion by the fallen angel, Lucifer (or Satan). Lucifer hates everything about God including His children and works hard at trying to confuse, maim, and destroy.
We have an old chorus sung by Christians called “Jesus Is Lord”. Yes He is, but not directly on earth—yet. God is unfolding His plan according to His timing and strategy when Jesus will come back and rule the earth as rightful King. But for now, even Jesus calls the devil the prince of this world. Jesus is Lord, but only through the lives of Christians and even that can be a daily battle. So not only are we fallen creatures on a fallen, cursed world; we also suffer more thanks to the evil influences of the devil as he tries to destroy us and our testimonies.
3) Freedom of choice.
Blessing or curse; humans have the freedom of choice. A cursed earth, an active agent of evil; and now—suffering from our own personal choices. Choice is a sacred right that is adamantly defended. Even God will let us hurt ourselves and others based on our freedom to make our own choices. In fact, God will let us choose to go to hell before He’ll force us into heaven—certainly an eternal suffering.
We have the freedom to chose to drink, or put chemicals in our bodies, or engage in out-of-bounds sexual activities and God will forgive us for these choices. Liver damage, lost families, addictions and AIDS are not so forgiving. It’s no wonder God asks us to choose to obey Him. Obeying God may not solve all our problems, but it doesn’t add to our suffering that disobedient choices eventually will.
The final question we must ask for those of us who have chosen to follow Christ is this, “Will we trust God even if we don’t understand or appreciate the decisions He makes and the things He allows?” Is God good only when things are going well for you, or is He good all the time, even if your blessings are stolen or destroyed by some disaster?
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knows pain and suffering first hand. He understands the reality of evil and what it means to remain loyal to God in a period of intense suffering. Knowing this fact gives me comfort in a God who has been victimized Himself. He has firsthand experience with emotional and physical pain. He sees and He knows and He cares about our suffering.
And remember, we have God’s promise that one day evil and pain will be permanently and completely behind us. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”—Revelation 21:4. Let’s faithfully follow Him; faithfully serve Him in spite of problems and injustices—not because we know or understand everything, but because we know Him and believe that He is good.
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