The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Q: Why doesn’t God do something about the evil in the world? Sometimes I wonder if God even cares about the bad things that happen to people today. I don’t understand why He doesn’t just destroy everything that’s evil.

A: I suspect almost everyone reading this has asked themselves the same question, because evil is real, and at times our world seems completely in its grip. And to be honest, we don’t always know why God allows evil things to happen. The Bible talks about “the mystery of iniquity”—and that’s what evil often is: a mystery (2 Thessalonians 2:7, KJV).

But the Bible tells us two important truths about evil that we need to remember. First, evil doesn’t come from God; He didn’t create it, and He doesn’t cause it. Evil comes instead from the Evil One—Satan—who is absolutely opposed to God and His goodness. It also comes from within our hearts, as we turn away from God and live only for ourselves. Jesus said, “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22).

Second, the Bible assures us that God has already done something about evil! He sent His only Son into the world to defeat it—and He did. When Jesus died on the cross and then rose again from the dead, He confronted the powers of death and evil and Hell—and He defeated them. Some day the final battle will be fought, and He will come again to destroy all evil.

Don’t put your hope only in this world’s solutions; they’ll always disappoint you. Instead, put your hope in Jesus Christ, for He is with us, and one day His victory over evil will be complete.

Q: I know I ought to read the Bible, and I’ve tried, but I’ve always been a poor reader, and finally I just gave up. Does God think I’m a bad person?

A: God knows both what you can do and what you can’t do—and He doesn’t get angry with you or look down on you because of this. We aren’t all the same; God created us with different abilities. The Bible says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6).

Don’t misunderstand me, however. The Bible is God’s Word, and if we ignore it, our lives will be morally and spiritually impoverished. Just as we need food and water to grow and be physically healthy, so we need the “food” and “water” of God’s Word to grow and be spiritually healthy. Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12). Make it your goal, therefore, to build your life every day on the Bible’s truth. Remember: through God’s written word, the Bible, we come to know God’s living Word, Jesus Christ.

How can you make the Bible part of your life? First, even if you aren’t a reader, I suggest you read at least a few sentences from the Bible every day. (You might begin in Psalms or Proverbs, or one of the Gospels.) In addition, listen carefully to your pastor and other gifted teachers in your church as they speak from the Bible. Christian radio and daily devotional books may also be helpful.

Make certain of your personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Then ask God daily to help you build your life on His Word, the Bible. Jesus said, “I have given them your word. … Your word is truth” (John 17:14, 17).