All the terrible things in the
world prove that a good, all-
powerful God doesn't exist,
right? Not necessarily. Even a
perfect God might allow bad
things to happen for a time,
as part of some higher plan.
God could know exactly
what's going on all of the time
and only allow so much, all as part of his grand
scheme.
The God of the Bible is that God. He claims that
nothing on Earth happens without his say-so. He
is completely sovereign over all things. "Who can
speak and have it happen if the Lord has not
decreed it?"22 "I make known the end from the
beginning, from ancient times, what is still to
come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do
all that I please."23 "The plans of the Lord stand
firm forever, the purposes of his heart through
all generations."24 "It is the Lord's purpose that
prevails."25
This does not mean, however, that everything
that happens is something God likes. For
example, Jesus told his disciples how to pray; in
that prayer, one of the key statements is: "Thy
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."26 God's
moral will is always done in heaven, but not on
Earth. While God is sovereign over all things, he
doesn't like everything that takes place on Earth.
But for some reason, he allows those things to
happen (his permissive will), maybe as part of the
freedom of choice we have as human beings.
But the God of the Bible does have a plan, and he
will not rest "until he fully accomplishes the
purposes of his heart."27 What is that plan?
God's ultimate goal is to dwell with people in a
totally different environment than what we
presently experience. Of that next world, this
God says, "Now the dwelling of God is with men,
and he will live with them. They will be his
people, and God himself will be with them and
be their God. 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. I am making everything new!
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