Re: Question!!

The problem of evil started when satan entered the garden and Adam did nothing to stop him, or to keep Eve from being tempted. That episode started this thing that we humans see as such a wonderful thing, choice.

As humans we've "fallen from grace", or in other words, sin as entered our nature. But God had given us free will, a gift that He is not about to take back. He already had the angels, but they did as told, they had no will. He wanted companions that were in a relationship with Him based on their willingness to do so. He wants our life with Him to be an actual relationship, a thing we are willing to enter into.

But that doesn't stop satan. We humans have kept our relationship, and our willingness to participate in that relationship. That means that the devil didn't win. He lost, dispite getting Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden. So evil remains, not out of God wanting to hurt us but rather out of His love for us and the gift of free will given to us. Satan wins on the one on one basis, like a rapist. The rapist chose to take sides with evil, and the idea that the devil would help him get away with it. Never mind that God will stand over him in judgement. So there's this war for souls going on. The devil trying to take humanity from God and God loving us to the ultimate so that we stay in the relationship that we have.

GOd didn't cause or allow the evil, like rape, to occur. Rather the devil "stole" the man away from the relationship with false promises. God is there to mend the wounds and care for the weak and hurt. He will get rid or evil in the world, but it will be a huge battle known as the last days. And many will suffer because of that battle. It can be said that the battle has already been engaged. The key factor is whether we, with our curse called choice, chose God to be on our side so as to save our souls.

It is hard to accept, but if He just "did in" all evil then a relationship based on love would not exist. And if that loving relationship didn't stand we'd actually end up with nothing in the end. And God doesn't want nothing for us, He wants all things good and pure. Love isn't always easy.

God bless.