Ask the Pastor 21

What is the Purpose of Evil?

When bad things happen, the first question one usually asks is why did that have to happen? Any reason for evil is not welcomed at the time a person is suffering through it. However there are at least three reasons for evil or bad things that happen. First, evil is often used to warn us of a greater evil. When my daughter was a little girl not yet walking, we told her often to not touch the oven because it was hot. Sure enough she touched it and it blistered her hand. From then on she understood what the world hot meant. Second, pain keeps us from self-destruction, those who lose their feeling in their fingers, toes or other parts of the body, end up destroying those parts. Pain tells us when something is wrong like a gall bladder or a heart attack so we can do something about it. Third, many times evil brings about a greater good, through the lessons that are learned. Christian maturity comes as a result of trials and persecution, we learn patience through tribulation (Romans 5: 3). The greatest good that came from evil is that Christ died a terrible tortuous death that we might have ever lasting life for all those who avail themselves of it through faith in Him.