Times Of Swaziland: ‘THE GREAT CONTROVERSY: WHY GOOD AND EVIL COEXIST’

‘THE GREAT CONTROVERSY: WHY GOOD AND EVIL COEXIST’
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Editor on 15/11/2024 08:13:00


Sir,
For thousands of years, philosophers and other thinkers have tried to offer a
satisfactory explanation for the bewildering mixture of good and evil that
exists in the world.
Why do flowers exist side-by-side with thorns? Why do animals kill and eat one
another? Why do people in some parts of the world have too much food while
people in other parts are starving? Why does an innocent child die in an
automobile accident while the guilty, drunken driver, escapes unharmed? Why do
ruthless people become rich while self-effacing people too often sink ever
deeper into poverty? Philosophers have offered a variety of answers. Atheists,
who hold that the world and all forms of life started by chance, suggest that
good and evil are in a kind of ‘survival of the fittest’ competition;
eventually, only one will survive. Others have suggested that at least two gods
govern the world; one is good, the other, evil.
Powerful
Still others have suggested that God is powerful but not powerful enough to
eradicate evil; hence, good and evil are in a kind of stalemate. The true
explanation, however, is found in God’s Word. According to the Holy
Scriptures, thousands of years ago, before this world was created, evil
originated mysteriously in the heart of Lucifer, the most exalted of the angels
in heaven. The fault was not God’s, for Lucifer was created perfect (Eze.
28:15). However, Lucifer was apparently dissatisfied with his status. He felt
that he should be given honour equal to God, particularly the Son of God (Isa.
14:12-14). He permitted envious, jealous thoughts to control him. Scripture says
the crisis continued until ‘there was war in heaven’ (Rev. 12:7-9).
Expelled
Lucifer and his sympathisers fought against Christ and the loyal angels,
attempting to capture God’s throne. But he was defeated and expelled from
heaven. God gave Lucifer time. God did not at once destroy Lucifer and his
followers but gave them time and opportunity to show whether their charges
against His character and law were justified. On earth, God placed Adam and Eve,
the first human pair in the Garden of Eden, and had set up a test of character
so they could demonstrate their loyalty to Him. The test was simple; God set
apart one tree in the garden and told Adam and Eve not to eat of it (Gen. 2:16,
17); or disobedience would bring death. Lucifer (now Satan) saw this as an
opportunity to tempt the holy pair to eat the fruit and thus join him in
rebellion.
Tragically and incredibly, Adam and Eve yielded to Satan’s temptation. In
mercy, God spared their lives so that they might have the opportunity to repent,
but the penalty for breaking God’s law had to be met. Thus, God offered His
own Son to come to this earth and die as a divine substitute, taking the place
of sinners. He also promised a continuing conflict between good and evil (Gen
3:15). As time passed, the effects of sin became increasingly evident, not only
in the human race but also throughout nature. And the principles advocated by
Satan, at first but dimly seen as dangerous, bore a harvest of evil fruit. In
order to give the inhabitants of our world ample opportunity to understand the
issues in the great controversy and to choose whose side they wanted to join,
God permitted the sin drama to continue.
Conflict
Today, the conflict is nearing its close. With great urgency, the Holy Spirit
and angels are seeking to help people choose God’s side and prioritise loyalty
to God, righteousness, and truth above life itself. Scripture makes clear that
the ultimate outcome will be complete victory for God and vindication of His
character and law. But until that day - the day when God destroys Satan and his
followers, and purifies the world by fire - good and evil will continue side by
side. A powerful testimony that supernatural forces are continuing their deadly
warfare begun long ago in heaven.
Bopoto Gwinyai