This is Part 5 of 5 parts answering the question, “Is it Sin that Causes God to Allow Suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?”
What You Should Consider when You Suffer
This is a precursor to Part 4 [of the overall set of questions, this is Part 3 in that set of questions], but I want you to have some hope as we continue to answer “What is the Reason for Suffering?” What does suffering mean to you? Did you sin? What should you consider when you suffer?
This is Part 4 of 5 parts answering the question, “Is it Sin that Causes God to Allow Suffering?” in the larger question of “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?” Part 5 will be posted tomorrow.
Suffering from Satan
There are separate chapters that will deal with the suffering that comes from Satan, but it needs to be addressed here also. The picture of suffering from Satan is clearly described in Job. In his section on Satan’s attacks on Job, Larry Waters explains,
This is Part 3 of 5 parts answering the question, “Is it Sin that Causes God to Allow Suffering?” of the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?” Parts 4-5 will be posted over the next two days.
Suffering Caused by Personal Sin
We often reap suffering because of foolish decisions. Examples are scattered throughout Proverbs. For instance, the lazy become hungry (13:4), those who choose evil friends suffer difficult consequences (1:10-19) and those who enjoy adultery are led to a deep pit of misery (2:16-20). Proverbs teaches that fools suffer harm (15:27), and poor financial stewards are found wanting, without God’s blessing (8:17-21).
This is Part 2 of 5 parts answering the question, “Is it Sin that Causes God to Allow Suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?” Parts 3-5 will be posted in the next three days.
The Effects of Suffering Caused by Sin in the World
When Adam and Eve sinned there were irreversible effects on planet earth that will only be changed when the Lord returns. As God told Adam,
This is Part 1 of 5 parts in the question, “Is it Sin that Causes God to Allow Suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?” Parts 2-5 will be posted in the following days.
Some people blame all suffering on sin – either our own sin, someone else’s sin against us, or because Adam’s original sin resulted in a fallen world. Is that belief founded in God’s Truth? Would there have been suffering in the Garden of Eden?
The answer? Suffering is related to sin, but it is also related to violations of natural law. Let’s be more specific, so we can be clear on identifying its sources. Part of the anguish of suffering is ignorance of how it started, what it is, how long it will last, what the effects will be or how it will affect other areas of life. The lack of knowing can be gut-wrenching!
This is Part 4 of 4 parts answering the question, “Could God have created a place where there was no suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?” This concludes this chapter.
God Has a Higher Purpose in Suffering
But by allowing suffering God has a greater good in mind! He is able to show that even in the worst of situations He is able to take the difficult sufferings of life and “synergize them together” for His purposes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”(Rom 8:28 NKJ) In the same way as many of the heroes of faith never saw the promise made to them in their time, we may not see the good worked out in life, but the promise would be given to them in eternity. For example, Abraham never saw the city God promised him,
This is Part 3 of 4 parts answering the question, “Could God have created a place where there was no suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?” Part 4 will be posted tomorrow.
God Did Create a Place Where There Was No Suffering
Could God have created a place where there was no suffering? The answer is a simple, “Yes, He did.” We know that the world was made perfect, because six times, after each day of creation, God said “it was good.” (Gen. 1:4,10,12,18,21,25) And as God looked at all He had created at the end of the sixth day, He said that “it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31). God rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:2; Ex. 20:10). Stephen Bramer highlighted,
This is Part 2 of 4 parts answering the question, “Could God have created a place where there was no suffering?” in the larger question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Parts 3-4 will be posted in the following days.
God Desired to Receive Love from Man
God also desired to receive love from man. To test his love, God gave him only one command in the Garden of Eden, “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” That was a very simple choice to show his loyal love to God, but Adam failed the test by eating of the forbidden fruit.
This is Part 1 of 4 parts answering the question, “Could God have created a place where there was no suffering?” in the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?” Parts 2-4 will be posted in the following days.
Now that we’ve examined many different ways that people suffer and looked at man’s way of dealing with suffering, we’ve begun to look at reasons why it exists. We’ve asked the question, again, of how and why a loving God would allow suffering and briefly looked at His character. Yet, we should also ask the question, “Could God have created a place where there is no suffering?” And, we should ask, “If He is God, all-powerful, all-knowing and loving, why didn’t He just create a world where there would be no suffering?” Those are two different questions. They seem alike, but they are very different.
This is Part 5 of 5 parts answering the question, “Who is the one who started the suffering that God allows?” of the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?”
God’s Judgment on Satan
When Satan thought those things in his heart, God cast him out of heaven and the most likely place is what Scripture says. Isaiah recorded,
Shepherding Truth 