Have you ever wondered why there is evil in the world?
If God is sovereign…and God is good, why is there evil?
What is the connection, if any, to God and evil?
If you are like me, you have wondered these same things. That is why I’m really enjoying reading the book Spectacular Sins ~ and their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ by John Piper. I shared a quote with you awhile back from the first few chapters of the book. Now that I’m all the way up to chapter 4 (ha!) I thought I’d share another portion that I really appreciated. As you may know, John Piper always backs everything he says by sharing the Scriptures that his view comes from. This is important to me. Sometimes something sounds good to me, but if it isn’t backed by the Truth, then it’s NOT truth.
Eight Things to Do with Evil
1. Expect evil. (1 Peter 4:12.)
2. Endure evil. (1 Cor. 13:7, Mark 13:13.)
3. Give thanks for the refining effect of evil that comes against you. (Eph. 5:20, 1 Thess. 5:18, Rom. 5:3-5.)
4. Hate evil. (Rom. 12:9)
5. Pray for escape from evil. (Matthew 6:13.)
6. Expose evil. (Eph. 5:11.)
7. Overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:21.)
8. Resist evil. (James 4:7.)
Four Things Never to do with Evil
1. Never despair that this evil world is out of God’s control. (Eph. 1:11)
2. Never give in to the sense that because of seemingly random evil, life is absurd and meaningless. (Rom. 11:33, 36.)
3. Never yield to the thought that God sins or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way He governs the universe. (Psalm 145:17.)
4. Never doubt that God is totally for you in Christ. If you trust him with your life, you are in Christ. Never doubt that all the evil that befalls you – even if it takes your life – is God’s loving, purifying, saving, fatherly discipline. It is not an expression of his punishment in wrath. That wrath fell on Jesus Christ our substitute. (Gal. 3:13, Rom. 8:3) Only mercy comes to us from God, not wrath, if we are his children through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. (Heb. 12:6)
When we renounce the designs of the devil and trust the power and wisdom and goodness of God displayed in the humble triumphs of Jesus Christ, we fulfill God’s purpose in letting Satan live a little longer. We glorify the infinitely superior worth of Jesus. So I invite you to trust him and to stand in awe of how he saves you and defeats satan in one great sacrifice of love.