There are people suffering everywhere
all the time. They suffer from pain, illness, loss, heartache, anxiety, fear
and depression. Why must we suffer in this life? Why does evil exist? These
questions have been raised time and time again, when considering the question “Does
God exist?” Many refuse to believe in God simply because, if God exists and if
He is a loving God, why does He allow suffering? They are angry at God. They
ask why God even created evil in the first place.
God did not create evil. He is a loving God whose divine love is perfect,
unconditional and unfathomable. Because He is a loving God, He is not capable
of any evil. Evil entered our realm of existence because God gave us the gift
of free will. The human race is responsible for the evil in this world. We are
free to choose good or evil. Both good and evil acts have consequences. When we
act in love, we spread joy and blessings. However when we commit evil acts, we
cause suffering to ourselves and to others. We are not only affected by the
consequences of our own choices, but our choices affect others, as well. Furthermore, we are affected by the outcomes
of the choices made by our fellow human beings.
True and perfect love is only possible,
if one is capable of choosing to love and give of themselves unconditionally.
Without free will, we would be like robots constrained by our programming. Just
as a robot is not truly capable of making a choice due to his programming, we
would not be capable of choosing to love without free will. We were created to
love. We were created to love God and to love all of our neighbors, our fellow
human beings. When we choose to act in love, we are obeying God’s will. When we
choose to act contrary to God’s will, we are forsaking love. Christ said, “You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This
is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love
your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). These are the only two commandments Christ
gave us because if you love God and everyone, you would follow all of the
other commandments. You would not steal
from someone you truly love. You would not lie or cheat or gossip. You would
not covet things because you do not love “things.” You would not envy others
because you would be happy for them.
When God first created Adam and Eve, He
offered them everything in Paradise, well, everything except the fruit of one
tree. Lucifer, God’s most glorious angel chose to rebel against God and when he
did, he became determined to rule over humans as their god. Therefore, he
promptly began tempting Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. Eve
explained, “but God
said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the
garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for
God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:3-5). The serpent tempted Adam
and Eve with pride, the desire to be like God.
From that moment forward,
the dominoes began to fall. The consequences of evil choices commenced. Through
this first sinful act, death entered the world. It not only affected Adam and
Eve and all their descendants, including us, but it affected the entire
creation. Even animals
and plants die. We are all interconnected in this earthly existence. Therefore,
the evil acts of one can cause suffering to many. Once evil was set in motion,
it continued to affect all human beings even to this day because people
continue to sin. They continue to forsake love. Evil follows the principle of
cause and effect. Like the first domino in a series of events, the first act of
rebellion against God set in motion all events that have led up to this moment.
The darkness of evil spreads like a cancer causing hearts to harden from pride,
bitterness, and unforgiveness, which cause further evil acts.
Continued tomorrow....
© 2017 Helen Kamenos All rights reserved
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