‘Why is there evil in the world?’
or
‘If there was a God (Who created it all), and if He is good, then why is there evil in the world?’
This is a good question; But the question reveals that there is misunderstanding as to who rules this world. Don’t get me wrong, as illustrated in the book of Job, nothing happens outside of God’s allowance and conditions (and there is reason for this, which I will not be getting into in this message), so yes, ultimately God is the ultimate authority and power, but there is misconception surrounding what ‘God being in control’ actually means, as significant information is left out of that statement.
Let’s go to the scriptures for the truth of God.
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and God said to them, “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
(Genesis 1:27-28)
In from the beginning, right after God created mankind, He hands the world over to us. So we are supposed to have dominion over the world. (Very few seem to be aware of the truth of this and most of these few have taken and run away with it for themselves, even extending it to rule over the rest of mankind, deluding and exalting themselves as gods..but we won’t get into that).
And you were dead due to your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of their world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
(Ephesians 2:1-2)
Ok, a lot in there.
The price of the power of the air? Who is that?
So there is a ruler of the power of the air..? (It sounds like ‘the universe’ that self manifesting people love to talk about and pray to and worship).
What’s in the air? Weather, the internet, electricity, music, ‘energy’ feelings, spirits to name a few.. do these things of the air generally and mostly reflect and promote God’s glory and goodness or do they promote other things, dare I say opposite things?
It says this ruler of the power of the air is a spirit that is operating in the sons of disobedience. Does disobedience operate in good or evil? Does disobedience promote and produce good or evil? Clarity or confusion? Truth or opposition to truth? Benefitting others as well as self or self interest? Integrity or corruption? (I think you get the idea)
It also states that the course of this world is according to this prince who has power, and before we come to God, wthat because of our sin we were dead and while we were dead (spiritually) and therefore we walked/operated/lived in accordance with this prince of the power of the air. So apparently this prince of the power of the air is also prince of the dead and prince of the world.
Is it starting to make sense that if this is who the world is run by.. and why there is evil?
Let’s examine some selected statements of Jesus about the world and relations with it
(These are all recorded in the book of John):
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you and treat you with affection…” (15:18)
If God were the ruler of this world, then the world would love Jesus and those united with Him. But here Jesus is saying that the world hates Him and will hate those united with Him. If God is the ruler of this world, then this statement of Jesus doesn’t make any sense, so God being the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air cannot be. (GOd is also not a prince, He is God the Creator, so that also proves it cannot be).
‘Whomever hates Me also hates My Father.’ (15:23)
Hating what is true is evil. Evil seeks to destroy all that is true and good. Jesus is both of these things; Creation and mankind are loved by God and Jesus therefore evil seeks to destroy them. Hence why there is evil in the world.
‘I will not talk with you much more for the prince/ruler of this world is coming and he has no claim on Me.’ (he has nothing in common with Me, has no power over Me). (14:30)
‘..about judgement because the ruler of this world is judged and condemned and sentence is already passed on him.’ (16:11)
‘Judgement of this world is coming. Now (when this takes place) the ruler of this world shall be cast out (expelled).’ (12:31)
Ok, so if it wasn’t clear before, the collecting words/messages of Jesus have made it blatantly obvious that the ruler of this world is not God His Father, (the Creator of the universe and all that is in it).
(If one previously thought otherwise, i hope they at least find this bit of information enlightening and perspective altering)..
Here is what we can glean and know from the scriptures and words of Jesus concerning the present ruler of the world:
Is not God the Creator
Is a prince of the power of the air
Rules the world
hates God and Jesus
hates and seeks to destroy truth and those who united with God/Jesus
has nothing in common with Jesus
has no power (or authority) over Jesus
has no claim on Jesus (because He is pure; selfless Love and Truth; without sin)
is actually already sentenced and condemned by God.
will eventually be expelled/removed from the world.
Is evil.
So we can conclude there is evil in the world because the one who hates God is operating in and influencing with power within it
We also now know that though God is ultimately in control, He is not the ruler of this world; therefore we can now more accurately conclude that God is neither the source, nor reason for evil being present in the world.
If Jesus Is Who He said He Is; comes from and is of God, and (do some research into Jesus and His words, ways and discover there is no evil in Him) we can conclude that Jesus: Is the Pure and True representative of God in Man and is therefore good; and if the ruler of this world has nothing to do with God and Jesus, and has nothing in common with God and Jesus, but actually hates God and Jesus, then we can also conclude that the ruler of this world is evil, is the source of evil, and is the reason behind evil being present in the world.
We can also then conclude that it is True that God is indeed good!
(and please take my word that it is True, He Is completely Good)!
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