WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL?

God created a perfect world. God also created us with free will. Free will gives us the ability to either follow God or rebel against Him. This way when we do follow Him it is because we want to, not because we have to.

Adam was Man’s first representative and he decided to rebel against God (Genesis 3). We can trace all the world’s problems back to this event.

Jesus is referred to as the Last Adam (1Co 15:45) because He came to act as a Man’s second representative. We can choose either Adam or Jesus to represent us. See this verse:  

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

God will soon rid the world of evil, since He is too pure to tolerate evil for eternity (Revelation 20:7-15).  He doesn't do it right away because He is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Psalm 145:8-9). He is also "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

So God is giving everyone a chance to choose Jesus so they can avoid God’s judgment. As God said in Ezekiel 33:11:

"I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live…”

Sadly, as people continue to do evil things children are too often caught in the middle.  But God turns something horrible into something wonderful in that these children who die go to God where they will be safe forever.

Atheists use the fact that there is evil to support their claim that there is no God. Because if He exists then why would He allow evil? But really it’s just the opposite. If there is no God then there is no higher, moral law, there is no right and wrong - we do whatever want with no accountability. But if that’s true then how is it we can identify good and evil? The answer is that there is a God and He has placed in Man’s heart what is right and what is wrong.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” -- Romans 1:18-20