If God didn't control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled.
Posted on October 29, 2009 by Pastor Tom
Have you ever wondered about how there can be evil and God’s Sovereignty. Here are some helpful thoughts from Joni Eareckson Tada today.
Permission Slips
‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
—Luke 22:31–32
“Satan has asked…” observed Jesus. We can be certain that the old snake didn’t check in with God out of politeness or protocol. He had to get permission and this means the devil operates under constraints. He can’t do what he wants whenever he wishes. He has to clear it with God.
Don’t think this means God and the devil are in cahoots. No way. And don’t think that God is somehow on the side of darkness because he makes the devil come to him for permission. God must control evil. And he does so because he is good. Imagine a God who didn’t deliberately permit the smallest details of your particular sorrows. What if your trials weren’t screened by him? Think what this would mean. First, the devil would be without constraints, free to do whatever he pleased. This means the world would be much worse than it’s present state of war, violence, greed and misery. Left to his own, the devil would make “Jobs” of us all!
I breathe a great sigh of relief over today’s verse. It teaches me that evil can only raise its ugly head where God deliberately backs away for a specific and intentional reason – always for reasons that are wise and good, even if hidden from this present life.
If God didn’t control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled. And so, God permits what he hates to achieve that which he loves – it’s just that most of us won’t always see it until the other side of eternity.
Think for a moment about the balance of painful and joyful things in your life. Think of how, by God’s grace, you are managing your problems. And now, consider how it could be worse. Were it not for God, it would be.
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Lord, I praise you for making the devil operate under constraints.
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