I have previously argued for rational thought proving “good” must have existed before “evil.” This is in line with what the Bible tells us; however, we are still left to reason why evil exists. Why would the good Creator make anything capable of being–or turning–evil?
It’s important to note that there is no definitive biblical answer to this. The Bible records how man first became aware of the concepts of good and evil (Genesis 3), but neither the story of Satan nor the “invention” of evil are canonical. Some mysteries are meant to be hidden (see: Matthew 24:36). With that disclaimer, I will do my best.
First, let’s prove the condition. Ephesians helps us argue that God knew what would happen within creation. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13, ESV) The promised Holy Spirit is the inheritance Paul declares believers receive and is God’s will, according to verse 11. Verse 5 cites our predestination of adoption through Jesus. We were appointed to salvation before the foundation of the world in verse 4. By working backward like this, we see that the will of God was–always–for man to receive the Holy Spirit after responding to the Gospel, which is the story of Christ. Being saved through Jesus was God’s plan of salvation, before the world, before the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, and before man was ever created. Man’s salvation through Jesus was always the plan. If salvation through Christ was God’s will before creation, this must mean that God created everything while knowing evil would rise. God knew His creation would attempt to usurp His power. Satan would revolt. Man would fall. Therefore, God knowingly created those who would bring sin–evil–into the world. In essence, He created the conditions for evil. But, why?
As I like to do, let me begin with experience. My son loves to wrestle. The bigger and stronger he becomes, the more he likes to exert that energy. As a dad, I have the pleasure of bearing the brunt. Our wrestling usually involves stuffed animals, imagined superpowers, and silly storylines. We even hold onto an old mattress to reduce hard landings.
One particular time, my son had help from his two sisters. They all ganged up on me. In return, I “took off the governor,” so to speak. My shoves were stronger. My flips were more perilous. My priority was speed and strength rather than safety and fun. Within short order, all three of my children had cried; no one was abused or injured but were jostled uncomfortably. Perhaps it wasn’t my best parenting moment.
However, each of the kids learned something about Dad’s strength that day. Though my son’s many previous experiences might suggest that he was an even match, that day was a glimpse of just how far he still had to go. My former concern for how softly he landed had not prepared him for what a true confrontation might look like. He was unaware of my full strength. Now he knew.
My children recognized the existence of my previous restraint only after it was absent. The absence of my careful control revealed their necessity for it. Until then, they thought they were in control. The same could be said for any of us; none of us know what we don’t know until we learn it. Then, we can look back on our naivete and understand the world better in the present. This, I posit, is the reason God created creatures that could–that would–choose sin over peace: so that we may better know the scale of His power, love, and grace. Experiencing evil makes us yearn for the day it’s finally gone and for the One who will defeat it.
Yet, not everyone sees it that way. We see the Israelites routinely forget their history as new generations questioned God’s existence despite the stories of their forefathers. American generations are similar. When His power is evident, man still assumes we can either equal it (Exodus 7:22), doubt it (2 Kings 18:30), or control it (Acts 8:19). In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders demanded a sign at their discretion, to accept Jesus’ authority. Jesus declined to bow to their will in Matthew 12:39. Never mind the increasing accounts of miracles and the investigations they had conducted themselves (John 9); because their hearts did not want to believe in God’s dominion over them, they would not accept God’s dominion.
Man’s hard hearts remind me of my son’s wrestling tears. To him, it was unfair for me to wrestle him so strongly–he expected himself to be an equal to my strength and size. While my son punched me with closed fists and with all his weight, my undefeatable dominance injured his innermost pride. He simply wasn’t strong enough on his own. His disappointment convinced him something was unfair. He would rather stop playing than accept reality. Does that kind of pride sound familiar?
That is the position humans remain in, all these millennia later. When we truly understand our powerlessness contrasted with God’s power, we can either claim He is unfair or honor His previous protections, blessings, and restraints. We can only make that assessment if we experience evil. Those who live fully for Christ have seen–and accepted–God’s true power contrasted against evil. Perhaps we made a mess of our own lives, and our pleas to God changed things inexplicably. Perhaps our child could not walk, but in deep, humble faith, we asked and saw a miracle. Sin, death, and evil set the stage for God to steal the show.
The existence of evil brings about the revelation of good. Those who accept God’s position will forever appreciate His grace, love, and power, so that when He finally defeats evil, we will be all the more glad for it. When I wrestle with my full strength, my children understand the blessing of my previous–and future–protection. Similarly, when we experience evil, we understand the ways in which God has and can bless us. Those of us willing to live in that humility will spend eternity doing so. Evil serves God’s purpose of drawing our hearts into Him.
To be sure, He does not delight in our suffering, just as I did not delight in making my children cry in our family cage match. The existence of evil suggests that some–many–may eternally reject Him, yet we read God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV) and “our Lord’s patience means salvation” (2 Peter 3:15, NIV) As God promised Solomon at the dedication of the first temple, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV) He wants to heal our land. He wants to bless you. He simply wants your heart more.
Reflect on the miraculous events in your life–the things you could never naturally explain. What made these moments so impactful? Their improbability within a selfish, hateful, death-riddled world. When we recognize that evil and unfairness only exist because God allows them to, we can open our eyes and appreciate the blessings He has given us in spite of them. We can also desire more passionately the perfect eternity He has prepared that is entirely separate from our current experience. The curse of evil helps us understand the blessing of grace.
To the unbeliever, Jesus freaks appear fanatical, gullible, or unreasonable. However, we have simply seen the depths of evil within ourselves and others. Therefore, we recognize the inverse heights of God’s love, grace, and power. Because of this, we declare, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3, NIV) The Lord is great, and the existence of evil proves it.
41 - Why did God create evil?