PROOF: Why The World Is So Evil

A heavy gray curtain veiled the morning sky. Then, in a mere heartbeat, between leaden skies and lofty mountain top a small sliver of light appeared, bursting forth in all is glory, illuminating the dark morning.

Isn’t it comforting to know that no matter how dark it gets, how stormy it seems, the sun is still there, temporarily hidden from view, still shining its light, day after day after day?

The same glorious effect can be noticed in a dark room. It can be so dark that you literally cannot see your hand in your face, but one tiny flame breaks and dispels that darkness.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we?

At some point in our lives, the happy bubble we lived and played in as children breaks, and suddenly we are very much aware of dark and foreboding evil. Sometimes it gets so dark we wonder if the light is still there, if we’ll ever escape the darkness.

One of the first (and biggest) questions we get from unbelievers is this: If there really is a God, and if He really is good and loving, why does He allow evil to exist?

My hope and prayer for this blog post is that I can lay forth some evidence that will help us understand this present darkness we live in. I hope to prove that the sun is still there, that all we see is temporary and fleeting, that beyond this is everlasting day, much like what we experience when we soar via airplane above the dark clouds.

Before I get to that part of the post though, let me lay the groundwork by reminding everyone about the first two posts in the series. These two post heavily influence my argument here, so they must necessarily come first.

First we learned that there is indeed proof that a being higher than ourselves exists. The proof lies in the innate moral code that lies within each human being regardless of culture, socioeconomic status, and upbringing. The second evidence is creation itself. It is far too complex and diverse to have evolved or just happened by two heavenly bodies colliding.

The second thing we learned is that the Bible is true and God’s revelation to us of who He is and what He is doing. No book has been more scrutinized beneath the microscopes of men throughout the ages. No book has had more of its prophetic utterances come to pass. No book has held the power to impact millions of lives. No book has so much archaeological evidence supporting it. No book, written by forty men over several hundred years–all from different backgrounds, cultures, and educational levels–has been so consistent in its message. The Bible is Truth and God’s message to man.

Before Evil

All that God created was good. Early on in the story of creation, we see God–that great Power behind the moral code that exists within each of us–exerting His power and speaking our current world into being. After each day, God proclaims His work to be “good.” The only exception to this pattern is the sixth day, the day God created mankind. Instead of just good, He declares His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). In other words, it was perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

We can learn a lot about the nature of God in this early account of our world. We don’t see Him haphazardly slapping a few ingredients together to make the universe. Nor do we see Him tossing man to the ground and saying, “Okay, let’s see if you can survive.”

Instead we are treated to a master artisan weaving an intricate and complex tapestry, making man in the image of Himself, breathing His very life into man, placing Adam and Eve in a paradise that would provide all they needed, and walking with them in the cool of the day (in other words, in a one-on-one relationship with them). Even when the two “mess up,” we see God seeking them out from their hiding places and lovingly creating clothes to cover them.

The Background of Evil

Before we get to the interaction between forces of evil and mankind, I think it’s important to realize where evil started. Besides this created world, there is also God’s dwelling place in heaven and an angelic army at His disposal.

One of these angelic beings–overcome by pride in his own personal beauty and his desire for power–was cast to the earth. Demoted. You can read about it here: Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Luke 10:18). As you can well imagine, this cherub who once enjoyed the splendor of heaven isn’t at all happy about his demotion. He knows full well his time is limited, so he is doing all he can to make earth a miserable place to live and to deceive as many people as possible into taking his side in the conflict.

The Advent of Evil

In Genesis 3 of God’s message to the world we see this fallen creature–Satan, the devil, the embodiment of evil–begin his attempt on earth to bring man under his power. And he succeeds. Through lies, trickery and an appeal to man’s free will, Eve and Adam both succumb.

That one compromise, that one seemingly tiny event, changed the course of human history. Evil entered the world, and all succeeding generations became genetically disposed to sin, which simply put, is rebellion against God and His goodness.

The Course of Evil

From then on out in the Bible, we see God’s attempt to put things right and Satan’s equal determination to keep the power on his side. In other words, we are in the midst of a civil war. There is a spiritual war going on around us and inside us–yes, in case you haven’t noticed, evil isn’t confined outside us–it’s also within.

But there is great good news: God sacrificed His only Son–Jesus Christ, God with skin on–to take care of our sin problem once and for all. All we have to do is accept the gift by faith and hand our lives over to His control.

For now, we still live in enemy-occupied territory. Our faith and relationship with other believers is the insurrection against evil, the revolution if you will, that will one day culminate with a battle in which our Savior reclaims what is His once and for all and throws the enemy of our souls into a pit from which there is no escape.

How to Live in the Midst of Evil

Until that final battle, we all have a choice to make. How will we live in the midst of this fallen world? We must take sides. There is no middle ground. The choice not to be on God’s side means that you are choosing the enemy and evil. If that sounds too simplistic, so be it. It’s the Truth.

But you should also know this. If you turn your life in faith over to God, He will provide all you need: help, encouragement, a growing faith, forgiveness for your sins and the evils you commit, spiritual armor, companionship through His Spirit, an Advocate in heaven who states our case before God Almighty, and so much more!

The choice is yours. Which will it be? God and His goodness or the enemy and his evil? For the love of all that is good, don’t let the enemy deceive you into taking his side.

Oh Father, we see evil everywhere we look–in wars, famine, pestilence, corporate greed, corrupt government–and in the mirror. Thank You, Lord, that You haven’t left us alone as we dwell in the midst of evil. Instead, for those who willingly lay down their lives to make You Lord and Savior, You and Your kingdom dwell within us, creating heaven on earth. Jesus, we pray for those that have been deceived, especially those that once professed You as their King. Help them to wake up. Remove the scales from their eyes. Help them to see You. And as Your people, may we stand up as readied soldiers in the heavenly battle against evil. In Your holy, precious, and powerful Name we pray. Amen.

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