GOD, EVIL AND HELL

Question: Why does God allow evil in this world?

(Malachi 2:10a) Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?...

Malachi teaches us that God is the Father of all creation. We are His children through creation, and just like natural parents, God has laid down laws and commands for us to live by.

God created us with a right of choice. He could have made us without a choice, thereby, us being nothing more than robots. But God wanted us to serve Him out of love, and since love is something that is freely given and freely received, He allowed us the right to choose how we want to live our lives.

But couldn't God have given us a right of choice and still prevent evil things from happening? Yes, He could have. But picture this, everyone in this world has the right to live their lives exactly how they want it and no matter what anyone does nothing bad happens. Ever.

How does God do this and still teach us that there are consequences for our actions?
When God gave us a right of choice, He also created a law called sowing and reaping.

(Galatians 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Through this law, we learn that what we do has an effect upon others, not just ourselves. Through this law, God teaches us that we need Him.

Question: Will God "send" people to hell? In a word, no. It is our choice.
A natural parent will sometimes say to their children, "If you do this (or don't do this), you will be grounded for a week (or spanked...have privileges taken away, etc..)" In other words, some type of punishment will be meted out.
Now, a GOOD parent gives there child a right of choice. (I say good parent because there are parents out there who will beat there child senseless, molest them, etc...) However, the good parents let their children know that there will be consequences for his/her actions.

Just like a natural parent, God has said, "These are my laws, my commandments. If you do these things, there will not only be blessings for you on this earth, but you will also receive eternal life. If not, then you will spend eternity in a lake that burns with fire."

God has told us want the punishment will be if we disobey. He has now left the choice up to us. A child knows that if he/she obeys their parents, they will have their approval and be rewarded. Similarly, God will approve of our obedient faith and will reward us with eternal life.

There are parents out there that have very stubborn children. They have done everything that they can think of to get that child to obey. Doing their upmost best to raise the child to be a productive member of society, to teach them right from wrong, to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Yet, no matter what they do, that child will stubbornly refuse to listen.

No matter how much God prods, leads, entices people to live for him, they will stubbornly refuse. Believing the devil's lies, that they have plenty of time. That a loving God will not have them thrown into a lake of fire - forever.

We choose where we want to spend eternity. God doesn't "send" anyone to hell. We choose to go there. Our destiny is in our hands. Through creation we are His children. In order to saved, we must become His spiritual children.

ARE YOU HIS CHILD? IF NOT, HERE'S WHAT YOU MUST DO TO BE SAVED:

(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

God Bless,

Douglas