Introduction
The question of evil is one that humanity has wrestled with for centuries: If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world?
It's easy to wonder how a good and loving God could allow such things to happen when we witness suffering, injustice, and pain.
Many skeptics point to the existence of evil as evidence against God’s existence.
But today, I want to approach this question from a different angle.
I believe the very fact that people can recognize evil—call it out, label it, feel disturbed by it—points to the existence of something else: a standard of good.
And where does that standard come from? That’s what I want to explore with you today.
The Problem of Evil: A Universal Struggle
Evil is not something confined to one time, place, or culture. We see it everywhere—in wars, in poverty, in violence, in deceit.
Even in our own lives, we experience betrayal, heartache, and suffering. And so, the question "Why does evil exist?" is understandable and deeply personal for many.
However, when people raise this question, they make an assumption: that evil is real and identifiable. We call something evil when it violates a sense of justice, when it causes harm or suffering that feels unnatural or wrong.
But how can we even recognize evil without some understanding of good? What is this "rightness" that evil seems to oppose?
Recognizing Evil Implies a Standard of Good
Imagine for a moment that there was no such thing as good or evil—just a morally neutral universe. In that case, actions like murder, theft, or lying wouldn’t feel wrong; they would just be actions, neither good nor bad.
The fact that we experience certain things as evil means we must be comparing them to something we perceive as good. There’s a moral standard at play.
C.S. Lewis, in "Mere Christianity", made this point when he said, “A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” In other words, our ability to label something as wrong suggests we know, deep down, what “right” is.
Where does that standard of goodness come from?
- It can’t simply be a matter of personal opinion, because that would mean that what’s "evil" for one person could be perfectly acceptable to another, and we know instinctively that certain things are wrong no matter who you are—like genocide or child abuse.
- It can’t be solely societal, because societies disagree on certain issues, and some have even endorsed horrific acts like slavery or genocide, which we universally condemn today.
So, if this sense of good and evil transcends individual opinions and societal norms, we must consider that it comes from something beyond us.
It points us to the existence of a moral lawgiver—someone who has imprinted this understanding of right and wrong on our hearts. That lawgiver, I believe, is God.
God as the Source of Goodness
The Bible tells us that God is the ultimate standard of good.
James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God in His very no nature embodies goodness, justice, and love.
So, if God is the source of all good, why do we experience evil in the world?
The answer lies in the fact that God created humanity with free will. To be truly capable of love, we must also be capable of choosing not to love. And with that freedom comes the possibility of evil.
The first humans, Adam and Eve, exercised their free will to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden, choosing disobedience over trust.
Since then, sin and brokenness have entered the world.
Evil is a consequence of that rebellion, not a reflection of God’s character. But in giving us free will, God also gave us the potential to experience true, self-giving love—both for Him and for one another.
God's Response to Evil: Redemption, Not Removal
When people ask, "Why doesn’t God just remove evil?" we must understand that to do so, He would have to remove human free will.
To eradicate evil would require erasing the very freedom that makes love, goodness, and relationship with God possible. Instead of simply removing evil, God chooses to redeem it.
Through Jesus Christ, God entered into our suffering.
He didn’t stay distant from the evil of the world; He confronted it head-on at the cross.
We see God’s plan to defeat evil in Christ's death and resurrection, not by obliterating it in an instant, but by transforming it into something that leads to redemption.
Romans 8:28 reassures us of this: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Even when we can’t see it in the moment, God is working to bring good out of the brokenness in the world. He is weaving a larger story of redemption, one where evil does not have the final word.
Finding Hope in the Face of Evil
Evil and suffering are real, and they hurt deeply. But they do not negate the existence of God; rather, they point us toward the ultimate source of goodness.
We are acknowledging that a standard of good exists when we recognize evil, and that standard is God Himself.
As believers, we can find hope in knowing that God is not indifferent to our suffering. He has a plan to redeem it, and in His timing, every tear will be wiped away, every wrong made right.
Revelation 21:4 promises that, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Our call in the meantime is to partner with God in bringing His goodness to the world.
We are called to be agents of love, justice, and mercy—to push back against the darkness and reflect God’s light. As we do this, we point others to the ultimate hope that lies in Him.
Conclusion
We are asking why there is evil in the world. We are actually pointing to the deeper truth that good exists, and that we have been given a sense of it by God.
The presence of evil doesn't disprove God; it highlights our need for Him. Our longing for justice and goodness points us back to the One who is good, who has provided a way to redeem all things through Christ.
So, when faced with evil, let us remember that it is not the final chapter. God’s goodness will prevail, and His timing is perfect.
We may not understand everything now, but we can trust that the One who gave us the ability to discern good and evil is working all things together for good. Amen.
