“SM” asks questions about Satan, suffering, and free will:
If God exists and is all powerful, then why does he allow the devil and demons to exist? … Why is so much pain and suffering allowed? … Why must we be tested as if our lives are a game of chance? Why would God create a world for us but tell us not to enjoy the world? Why were we created in the first place? Free will seems to be behind many of these questions. I want to believe, but WHY?
Thank you for submitting these thoughtful questions! You raise at least three major issues. You wonder about the WHY of (1) the reality of Satan, (2) the existence of suffering, and (3) the point of human existence. WOW!
We address these issues in other articles, so I will adapt some of that material and encourage you to read them for more information. (See the links below.) Here, I’ll share several considerations that I hope will help.
First, Scripture is clear that a cosmic adversary exists who opposes God and who has immense influence in our world—and on us. Satan (the devil) “has been sinning from the beginning” (1 Jn. 3:8). He’s the “father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). He’s called “the ruler of this world” (Jn. 12:31) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). He tempted Jesus (Matt. 4), and he prowls like a roaring lion to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). He kept a woman bound in disability for 18 years (Lk. 13:11,16), and he even has the “power of death” (Heb. 2:14). Paul emphasizes that our “struggle” (NIV) is not against flesh and blood but against “cosmic powers” and against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
Second, what isn’t so clear is how, and why, this cosmic adversary could originate in the heavenly realm. How could this happen? Did angels have free will? Why would an all-powerful God allow it? Scripture does say that some angels “sinned” (2 Pet. 2:4); they “did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode” (Jude 6). This implies that they had sufficient freedom to rebel. But Scripture does not directly explain how this is possible or why God would allow it.
However, I believe that reasonable inferences can suggest some answers to such questions. One intriguing idea is that God’s choice to create the physical universe and humanity might be connected to the purpose of angels and even to the fate of fallen angels.
- The angels were created, in part, to worship God (Rev. 5:11-14; 7:11-12). But angels were also created because God foresaw their eventual role with humanity. The Bible is filled with references to the human-directed work of “the angel of the Lord” or of the angels. And angels were also important for Jesus’ earthly life (e.g. Rom. 2:8-15; Matt. 2:23; 4:11; Lk. 22:43).
- The creation of angels fits within a larger purpose of God—to create a realm with physical beings (i.e., humans), some of whom would be redeemed from their fallen sinfulness. In my view, this is a key distinction between angels and humans: there was no “plan of redemption” for angels; whereas God predestined a “plan of redemption” for humanity (e.g., Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29-20; Eph.1:5-11). The writer of Hebrews even says that “it is not angels that [Jesus] helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham” (see Heb. 4:14-18). (Keep in mind that, according to Jesus, the “eternal fire” (i.e., hell) was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41) who will be “thrown into the lake of fire” and judged eternally (Rev. 20:7-10).
- God’s creation of angels was necessary for His cosmic plan, which involved human redemption, to come to fruition. And God’s creation of humanity was necessary for God, through Jesus, “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14) and to demonstrate God’s righteousness (Rom. 3:25-26 NIV; Titus 3:3-7).
Third, all of this has enormous impact on understanding our suffering and inevitable death. Scripture doesn’t suppress the reality of our suffering, but it does (1) remind us that Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to suffer for us (Lk. 17:25; 22:15; Acts 3:18), and (2) it offers an ultimate solution to suffering and death (Rom. 8:18-25, 1 Cor. 15:50-56; Rev. 21:2-4). But without such a loving creator God, there is no point to the universe and, consequently, no solution for suffering. As the atheist Alex Rosenberg poses it, “Individual human life is meaningless, without a purpose, and without ultimate moral value” (The Atheist’s Guide to Reality, 19). He asks, “Why is there a universe at all?” His answer? “No reason at all…. What science and scientism tell those who hanker for more is “Get over it!” (Ibid., 38-39). Thankfully, God provides a much better alternative.
Fourth, Scripture helps us see why God granted humans free will, even with its disastrous and divinely-foreseen consequences. (1) Free will is a prerequisite for genuine love. (Robots can’t love.) God’s greatest commands are to love Him and one another (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:35-39). (2) Free will enables us to repent and choose between the Savior and Satan (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30-31). This can either bring the joy of salvation or the consequences of unforgiven sin. (I’m not suggesting that humans alone have a sufficient capacity for repentance. God’s Spirit is integrally involved.)
Hopefully, these considerations will help you understand that our lives are not just “a game of chance.” We are part of a loving, eternal cosmic plan. And God intends for us to enjoy this world with God’s benefits. We can relish God’s forgiveness, experience ultimate meaning and personal purpose, and possess confidence before God (Rom. 8:1; Heb. 4:16).
This is extremely attractive—and it makes sense.
For related posts, see the following:
