What is the Origin of Evil?6 min read

Origin of Evil

What is the Origin of Evil?6 min read

What is the origin of evil if God, who created all things, Colossians 1:16, is holy and just?

Evil exists because it is the opposite and the absence of good, just a dark is the absence of light. Evil highlights the mercy and goodness of God. You only see something is bad when it is compared to something that is good.

The War

The real war is spiritual between God who is good and Satan who is evil. Lucifer, where the origin of evil began, became proud because of his richness, Ezekiel 28:6. However, even before evil was found in Lucifer’s heart, Ezekiel 28:15, the outcome was foretold.

God had a plan to destroy evil, not evil people. He chose to absorb all the world’s evil into Himself. He allowed it to crush the sacrificial Lamb of God, John 1:29, on the cross of Calvary. A plan devised in eternity, Revelation 13:8, and bought to pass in time. Evil is nothing more than a tool in the hands of God.

Eternal Plan

God is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. He does not evolve or change with circumstances. God dwells outside time and knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. He has a perfect eternal plan, according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Ephesians 1:11.

His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven, for God is purifying for Himself, a people for His own possession, Titus 2:14. Nothing in heaven or earth can thwart the will of God.

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him, Ephesians 1:4. We were created in His image, Genesis 1:27, to eternally and perfectly fellowship Him. Hell was never designed for man. Men end up there because of their free will.

Free Will

God created man and angels with a free will, which cannot exist without the possibility of choice.  Both men and angels have the choice of worshipping God Almighty, or not.

Sin comes into being when the created uses free will against the Creator. Yet, God knew what both Lucifer and Adam would do before He created them. Because of Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the entire human race, Romans 5:12. Yet, God knew what evil would do to the perfect world He created.

Satan’s Plan

Lucifer was cast out of heaven, Isaiah 14:12, Revelation 12:7-9. He became Satan, whose plan is to confuse, distort and destroy anything that belongs to God. However, he can read the scriptures the same as we can and they reveal Satan’s eternal fate, Revelation 20:7-10.

Satan blinds the minds of men, so they rebel against God and even claim that God does not exist. However, God uses what Satan designs for evil for good, Genesis 50:20.

God’s Redemption

Satan’s plot to destroy the created backfired on him, for it only proved how gracious and good God is. The redeemed saints of God are paid for with a price, 1 Corinthians 6:20, that is far above riches on any scale.

Before God created man, His plan of redemption was already in place, Revelation 13:8. He sent His only Son, who is God, to pay the only redemption price that cleanses us from sin. Through Christ’s death and resurrection our sins are forgiven and we have the only way, John 14:6, back to full fellowship with the Creator.

The life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, Leviticus 17:11. According to the law almost all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin, Hebrews 9:22.

Temporary

Our time on earth is only temporary. It may feel like ‘thousands of years’, but in God’s sight it is merely a blink of an eye. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day, 2 Peter 3:8.9. We are already seated in heavenly places, Ephesians 2:6.

Our time on earth is a testing ground for the wonders that lie ahead, 1 Corinthians 2:9,10. Therefore, we are not to be dismayed when fiery trials come to test us, 1 Peter 4:12.

Everything we go through has a purpose that only God knows, but His grace is sufficient for us for His power is perfected in weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Through the Lamb of God we demonstrate the awesome redeeming power of God. Yet, it took a baby born in a humble stable, born to die in our place, to ensure our adoption into the kingdom of God, Ephesians 1:5. We are predestined only through the omniscience of God, who knows our end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10.

Victory or Defeat

The message from Genesis to Revelation is that Satan cannot operate without the express permission of God for God’s good purpose, Job 1:12. Trials serve the purpose of testing where our faith is centred, for blessed is a man who perseveres under trial, James 1:12.

Do we really trust God for everything no matter the circumstances? Do we have the endurance to persevere through it all? Having done all stand, for we are on the winning side, Ephesians 6:13. Greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world, 1 John 4:4.

We know either victory or defeat and not just on earth, but in eternity. God is not a God to be mocked for whatever a man sows this he will also reap, Galatians 5:7.

Parasitic

The very origin and nature of evil is parasitic. It cannot exist on its own but only in relation to the good against which it wars. That war can appear overwhelming and relentless, but it is only for a time. Evil exists in the realm of falsehood and illusion, before it will be eternally gone.

Children of God are headed for total victory, while Satan is headed for total destruction, Revelation 20:10. He knows his time is short so his rage, havoc and terror are on the increase. His days are numbered and finite while the goodness of God is infinite and eternal.

The Origin and Future of Evil

We know the origin of evil for God is not the author of evil, only the devil and humans are. God always had a plan and has the final judgement on all evil. The Lamb of God who was killed on a cruel cross, rose as the victorious Lion of the tribe of Judah, Revelation 5:5.

Overcomers have a special place in the Kingdom of God. Their presence in heaven will speak of the wonder of the goodness and mercy of God for all eternity. Those who have been tried in the fire of living in a world where evil appears to rule, 1 Peter 4:12-19, will forever tell of the goodness and righteousness of God.

Evil fails because of who Satan is. Good prevails because of who God is and true believers are hid in Christ Jesus, Colossians 3:3. Our victory over evil is because God is good and Christ is the Way, the truth and the life, John 14:6. Lift up your head for your redemption is drawing near, Luke 21:28. It is vital we live each day in a deep and personal relationship with the great I am that I Am, Exodus 3:14.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

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