That sounds a bit ominous, doesn’t it? I struggled somewhat with how I should describe the theological plane that landed a few days ago. But, despite the threatening sound of this, I’m sticking with it.
The topic is large and overwhelming and confusing and perhaps even faith-destroying.
I’m talking about the age-old question of why a good God allows evil in this world. Why did Adam and Eve sin in the Garden of Eden? I wouldn’t be surprised if every person, Christian or not, has wrestled with this issue at some stage of their lives.
It’s a topic that raises its head often through this grief ministry. Many who have suffered the loss of a loved one, especially if it’s been in a traumatic or sudden fashion, want some answers from God. I’m not going down the Job-story route this week, but feel free to review an earlier blog on that topic here.
First, I want to share with you the ways I’ve addressed that deep question as it’s arisen over the past five years or so.
- God allows suffering because it [should] draw us closer to him. (See Psalm 23:4)
- Suffering is often God’s sanctifying tool to develop the character he desires in us. (See James 1:2-4)
- Through our weaknesses, we often find God is our only source of strength. (See Psalm 73:26)
- God takes Satan’s plan to harm and destroy us, and turns it on its head by bringing something good from it. It’s God’s one-two punch to Satan. (See Romans 8:28)
- Our suffering, and subsequent comfort from God, gives us a deeper compassion for others who are going through affliction. (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
- God is most glorified on that final Judgment Day when Satan is destroyed and those of us who have put our faith in Christ live a perfect eternity praising him. (See 2 Corinthians 4:17)
I still stand behind these statements because, in most cases, I have lived these realities. And more importantly, there are clear scripture texts to support them.
But after my pastor shared a deeper, more all-encompassing, and might I add, more satisfying explanation for that age-old “why” question, I realized I hadn’t fully landed the plane.
Yes, I had flown around the airport a lot and had snippets of correct theology about God’s purpose in allowing the fall back in the Garden, but I realized I hadn’t found an entirely sufficient explanation. It was a light-bulb moment. Maybe even a lightning bolt moment!
He took us back to that Garden and examined the extent to which Adam knew God. At that point in history, Adam knew God primarily as provider, companion and creator. Undoubtedly those are important pieces of who God is and what he is to us.
But does that fully encapsulate God’s character? Are there qualities of God that weren’t apparent at that point? Unquestionably.
What Adam, and all of us, have available to us AFTER the fall in the Garden is a much more complete picture of God’s character.
Specifically, after the fall and in the life we all now live, we see God’s redemption, his salvation, his mercy, his grace and a deeper, more personal love, just to name a few.
God wants to be fully known by us. When sin entered this world through Adam, yes, it brought all the heartaches that we struggle through in this life.
But, praise God, it also opened up for us the complete palette of his character, at least on this side of Glory.
As I walk through this life, as I struggle with the sin in my own heart, I am eternally grateful that I know a God who extends that redemption, salvation, mercy, grace and love to me!
The plane has landed. The fall in the Garden allows us to know God more fully. I hope that gives us all one more reason to be incredibly thankful to and for this God who loves us so deeply.
And this is eternal life, that they know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3
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