It’s funny how often we use the same quote as if they were the answers for all the questions in this world. Some of these being "Life is unfair”, “What goes around comes around” etc. Recently a young friend of mine teased me for attributing everything disharmonious as “living in this fallen world!”
She set me thinking... Have I resigned to accept bad things as a matter-of-fact because we live in a fallen world? And this phrase "this is a fallen world" has become the basis for the evil I see around me. While this phrase is true, it is incomplete!
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord works out everything for His own ends –
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
The Lord works out everything for His own ends –
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
God is the Beginning. He is the Creator of all things and He is the One who appoints everyone his place.
Even the wicked! He is the One who gives the wicked the ability to make choices and He allows the wicked to execute those evil choices.
God is also the End. He created all things for His purpose and glory. While God is not glorified by the wicked, the wicked will nonetheless serve His purpose and result in bringing Him glory.
John Piper in “Has God Predetermined Everything? Even Sin?” said ‘Pilate's choices, the soldiers' cruel mockery, the piercing of his side, the cries, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" - these few hours in history were the climax of the worst wickedness that has ever been performed on the planet or ever will be. And God planned it so that we might be saved from those sins.’
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
There is nothing more random than casting a lot. Yet, God says that every decision is from Him. Nothing in life happens randomly. God allows both the good and the bad so that His purpose and will is achieved in and through my life. Indeed, the Lord works out everything for His own ends.
ps. I must say that I am not learnt enough to write anything about the existence of evil. Neither do I dare to give a simplified answer to the pain and injustice people suffer due to evil. But my hope is in the Word of God. One day, all of us, including the wicked, will each have to give an account to God.
Jessica Ho
