‘THE GREAT CONTROVERSY: WHY GOOD AND EVIL COEXIST’

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

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