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EVIDENCE FOR GOD IN A SINFUL WORLD

Atheists try to use the evils in this world to argue that God does not exist: “If God is loving, why does he allow evil?” Or, “Because there is so much evil, how can a loving God be in control?” Blaming God for evil is illogical because God is love (1 John 4:16) and the source of all things that are good and loving (James 1:17). Evil is a consequence of rejecting God and following our own sinful desires. God created us to love and to be loved and to have fellowship with him (Genesis 1; 2; 1 John 1:3). To do this, he gave us a free will — the ability to choose to love him and follow him, or not. Love cannot exist unless there is a choice — not any kind of love. Sexual love without choice is called “rape,” and even the world recognizes that rape has nothing to do with love. In Genesis 3 we see that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and listen to Satan. We also see the consequences of their sin and their choices.

The consequences of rejecting God and his ways are evident today in this world of sin and evil. God gave humans a free will. When we reject God and all that he represents, we follow our own desires, which God says are sinful. (Romans 1:18-32). In so doing, we have to realize too that there is another powerful spiritual force in the world which the Bible calls Satan, the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4). The Bible also refers to him as “the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4) and “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

When we choose not to follow God and his teachings, we become vulnerable to the temptations of Satan. Whether we recognize his power and influence or not, he is the source of sin and evil, NOT God! James 1:13-14 tells us that God does not tempt any of us, but each one is tempted “by his own evil desire.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 we read, “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; … the work of Satan which is displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, … that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

The word of God is truth (John 17:17). When we reject God and his word, we are open to Satan's control. The sin and wickedness in the world are evidence of the rejection of God and his word.

— Cynthia Clayton

Picture credits:
©Patty Gibson

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.