"Why does God allow human suffering?" As I browsed the web tonight looking for questions to answer I kept coming across this one. Many people ask this question because it seems like a loving, all-powerful God could end suffering easily. But in today’s posting I will show how a loving God cannot end all suffering at once until the appointed time.
Human Sin Equals Human Suffering
First let’s look at what it would take to end suffering. Human suffering on our planet is a result of human sin. Whether it be collective, corporate or individual, human sin is the root of all suffering. At the time of Adam and Eve, God gave man and woman dominion over every living thing on earth. Since Adam and Eve, men and women have preferred sin to the ways of God and have ignored His law which would — if followed, end human suffering. God’s laws gave dietary provisions which would end human disease brought by eating the wrong kinds of foods. God’s laws gave relational provisions would end relationship strife. God’s laws gave provisions about how we should treat the land which would end all famine and drought. God’s laws gave provisions as to how we should treat those who have less which would eliminate the poor from among us.
Wiping Out Humans
So it seems that the problem is not God; it is us. Were God to eliminate human suffering, He’d have to eliminate humans. This would be the logical solution. However, God operates on the logic of love. He wants every human being to turn from their life of sin to Him so that He can restore love and order on this planet. Wiping out every human being wouldn’t be very loving, would it? Humans have free will. Free will works in such a way that it takes time to come to fruition. The climax of free will must come to pass before God can step in and end the suffering.
Even when God does step in, for the ultimate and final solution (when Jesus comes in the clouds), human suffering will not end because there will still be humans that prefer sin to God. God will, in the meantime, intervene on behalf of His saints. For, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," (Romans 10:3 NIV).
In the End
Since the world has turned away from God, He can only end its suffering when He has obliterated all the forces of evil. At this point, humanity is part of the problem. When Christ comes back He will imprison the dragon, that is the devil, and the saints will be taken up to heaven. The saints will then live in heaven with Jesus as our King for one thousand years. When those thousand years are over the city in heaven will descend to the earth and the dead that rejected Christ will be raised. They will then try to overthrow God’s city but will be consumed with fire balls that fall from the sky. Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? God will obliterate all evil but it will take time because He wants all that could possibly come to Him to come and turn from their sins.
God Is Good
This is how God delivers justice. He gives ample time for everyone to turn from his or her sins and to be saved. He sends His Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die but have everlasting life. When Jesus reigns human beings will follow God’s commands and there will be no suffering or injustice on earth. In its place will be love and peace, prosperity and good health.
In Conclusion
I hope today’s posting has given you some food for thought about why there is so much suffering on our planet and what can and will be done about it. God is not inert and the cries of the oppressed never fall on deaf ears. He hears our prayers and wants every one of us to return to Him and live a life under the influence of the Holy Spirit instead of sin.
