Some people say couldn’t God have foreseen all of the evil and suffering that occurs in our world today? And if He could, why does He allow it to happen?
First, the best way I have heard to bring this understanding into human terms is to view this in terms of being a parent. Lee Strobel, in a message he delivered on why does God allow evil and suffering, two days after the movie shooting tragedy, several years back in Colorado, summed it up well when he shared: “Even before you had children, couldn’t you foresee that there was the very real possibility they may suffer disappointment or pain or heartache in life, or that they might even hurt you and walk away from you? Of course — but you still had kids. Why? Because you knew there was also the potential for tremendous joy and deep love and great meaning.”1 We know that there is a chance our children may grow up to do evil things and even totally deny us and God. But we take the risk for the potential joy they can bring us and the chance for a unique and loving relationship which we covet so much – and in a similar way God gave us free will because He wanted a loving relationship with us.
The second point I would like to make concerns what I consider the ultimate answer to suffering – and it isn’t an explanation – it’s the incarnation. Suffering is a personal problem and it demands a personal response not some deep theological explanation. Fortunately for us we serve a God who isn’t distant or disinterested in our pain – in fact He is so concerned with our pain that He hurts when we hurt because He lives inside of us! Jesus came into this world in order to go to the cross to make sense of all the pain, evil and suffering that we see and experience all around us.
Just as we are often broken, despised and betrayed so was Jesus – and more so than we will ever know. Jesus warns us that because sin is in the world we will have to endure suffering for we read in (John 16:33): “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” But Paul tells us in (Romans 8:18) that in the end we win big time for he shares: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
At the incarnation God set into motion His master plan of reconciliation. And no matter how bad a shake you may have been dealt in this life, it will seem so utterly insignificant compared to the eternity of joy and bliss that awaits us in heaven – our real home!
1 Lee Strobel: Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering? (churchleaders.com)