Why Does God Allow Evil to Exist?

Scripture: “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” Romans 7:14b-15

God is good. But if we’re His creation, why are we so bad? When we try to do what’s right, our desire for sinful things often takes over. If God doesn’t like evil, why does He allow it to exist?

We Have Free Will

Sin entered the world after Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Since that day, all humans have been affected by evil. But why? It’s because God gives us free will. That means we have the freedom to make choices. For example, God “wants all people to be saved” (I Timothy 2:4), but He gives us the choice between eternal Salvation and eternal separation from Him. We get to choose between good and bad.

The Bible instructs us to “keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers” (Romans 2:7). We make the choice between good and evil. When we see evil in the world, it’s a result of making the wrong choice.

We All Sin

When we make the wrong choices, we do evil things and sin. Evil is sometimes defined as wickedness. However, Christians consider evil to be an absence of goodness. God’s goodness is lacking when evil is at work on the earth. The Bible tells us “everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). When we do evil things, we’re lacking God’s goodness. Evil is darkness, so we need the goodness of God’s light to shine in our lives.

Evil Won’t Always Exist

Right now, God allows evil. However, one day God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), which will exclude evil. At that time, God will reign in glory with peace, justice, and mercy. Until then, the best way we can bring God glory is to choose Him over sin and evil. God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (II Peter 3:9). And His Word says, “I have made [people] for My glory” (Isaiah 43:7). Therefore, we can bring God glory by choosing His goodness over earthly evil. One day, we won’t even have to worry about evil in the world.