Why Does God allow bad things to happen?
Many wonder: why didn’t God destroy the devil when he sinned this way humans would not have to experience bad things? The answer to this question, lies in the freedom of choice. God created angels and humans with the freedom to choose good or evil (Deuteronomy 30:19). Although Lucifer was a brilliant angelic leader, he chose to rebel and spread lies about God. His lies deceived one-third of the angels and they joined in the rebellion (Revelation 12:4).
If God had destroyed Lucifer immediately, some angels who did not fully understand the devil’s evil motives may have begun to worship God through fear. They would fear that if they rebel against God they too would be destroyed. But the only devotion, from His creation, that God would accept is a voluntary worship motivated by love (John 14:15). Obedience for any other reason is not accepted. Satan claimed that He had good plans. So, God allowed him to live and demonstrate his principles and plans (1 Corinthians 4:9).
The Fall of Man
Sadly, humans chose to believe the devil (Genesis 3:6) and thus allowed him to demonstrate his rule in our planet. And the result is the suffering and destruction we see around in our world today. The Lord could not cancel man’s choices of doing evil (Joshua 24:15). Therefore, we cannot blame the Lord for our wrong choices. We must take responsibility for our wrong decisions (Ezekiel 18:20).
The Plan of Salvation
But God, in His infinite mercy, took upon Himself the burden of saving us from the consequences of our bad choices. He offered His innocent Son to die instead of us. Jesus died so we can be set free from the power of the devil (Romans 6:7). And all those that accept God’s plan and receive His free gift of salvation through Jesus will be saved eternally (John 1:12).
So, the only One that truly suffered is God Himself. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
God does not tempt humans with bad things (James 1:13). Humans have brought this condition of affairs upon themselves by their disobedience (Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:15–19; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 6:23). Nevertheless, God uses these bad trials to develop the human character for the better (1 Peter 4:12, 13). For the Lord “works all things together for good” for those the love Him (Romans 8:28).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
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