Knowing that God is eternally good and that He holds the final authority on every event that is allowed to touch our lives, why is evil a component of life on earth? It is hard to wrap finite human minds around the juxtaposition of God's goodness, man's sinful nature and the enemy's evil schemes.
Though theologians from every historical juncture have endeavored to explain the dilemma of good vs. evil, there may be issues that are unanswerable this side of eternity. That is why it is imperative to default to the fact that God is eternally, perpetually and generously good whenever one is confronted with evil.
The fact remains, however, that evil exists and has set many horrific fires for those who live for Christ this side of eternity.
Evil is opposition to God and to His plan and is utterly and completely dissimilar to all that He is. God never shows compliance or tolerance for evil. There is not one drop of evil in God. Not one cell. Not one atom.
"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongddoing" (Hab. 1:13, NIV).
God has no evil in Him and will never change to accommodate evil or sin. His plans are for good and not for evil. His heart abounds with the goodness of heaven, and He sits on His throne in anticipation of sharing all that He is and all that He has with His children.
Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone. ... Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change or shadow of turning" (James 1:13, 17, MEV).
Your God is a perpetual goodness machine! He never stops being or doing good because He knows of no other way to be than completely, utterly and eternally good. If God's goodness were stunted or even paused by our compromising behavior, He would not be totally good and would at least have some "neutral" in Him. However, because His goodness is never determined by our behavior, it is impossible for God to ever be anything but unconditionally good.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good" (Jer. 32:40a).
The words of God to the prophet Jeremiah confirm that He has no intention of ever being anything but good. God has made a covenant with His children that He is continually following them with His goodness.
I don't know anyone else like this! God's goodness is chasing you down, regardless of your past or your sinful choices. God's goodness will not leave you alone today or tomorrow. It is His unalterable promise to you—and that is amazingly good news!
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written five books: No More Ordinary, Holy Estrogen!, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart and Defiant Joy! Her most recent book, Refined: Finding Joy in the Midst of the Fire, will be released on Aug. 1. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman's Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming.
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