Why Is There So Much Suffering In The World?

"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 Why is that so? It's so because we have an enemy. You don't hear a lot of preaching about Satan, also called the devil. Some, even among the clergy, don't even believe he exists. That's been one of Satan's greatest deceptions, making people believe he doesn't exist. That way, people will of course blame God for the horrendous things Satan does. The Bible has MUCH to say about Satan, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, so one cannot believe the Word of God and disbelieve God's Words about Satan. You can't "allegorize" him, he's not a symbol, he's not a force, he's a created being, a fallen member of the angelic host who tried to usurp God's place in heaven and was cast out of heaven for his rebellion. He now lives in hatred for God and tries to corrupt and destroy all that God loves. Jesus spoke of Satan to unbelievers: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT." John 8:44 He truly IS a liar. And that is his chief method of operation - lies. The very first record of Satan occurs in the very first book of the Bible, in Genesis chapter 3 which shows Satan approaching Eve saying to her, "Has God said...?" and then he tells her that what God has said is not true (Genesis 3:1-4). And he continues to say to mankind today, "Yeah right, did God really say.....? Well good grief, it isn't true!" He hasn't changed his chief way of corrupting human beings. To this day he continues to suggest to the mind of every human being that what God has said is not true. And this is how he brings them down. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10 And that's the TRUE explanation for the suffering in the world. God doesn't murder, steal,or kill. That's Satan's agenda. So if you've been blaming God all this time for whatever destruction has happened in your life, you've been blaming the wrong person. "So why DOES God allow it," many ask? You can tell a child not to touch a stove, but to the child those are only words. He will not believe your words until he has touched that stove. Likewise, growing up in the knowledge of the truth takes a lifetime of learning, and God uses the rials of life to teach us and to mature us. He gave us his Word, but we oftentimes don't believe it until we touch the stove. What lies have you believed? What part of God's Word do you not believe? Do you think he might be wrong in some area? If you've believed that, you've been deceived. God is not wrong, God is the essence of truth. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 God has already pronounced Satan's doom. Satan's efforts will come to an end. He has a window of time and that's all. But for those who have overcome his lies, they will have an eternity of peace and joy ahead. And eternity is a long, long time. So when a person faces a painful situation brought on by sin and by its originator Satan, what is that person to do? He is to take it immediately to God and open up God's Word, the Bible which he has given us. Through prayer and seeking direction from God, the Lord will speak to that person through his Word. It was his Word which was violated, and it is his Word which will lead to victory. Again, Jesus said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." "BUT," he added: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." And there you have it. Although attempts will be made against you to bring you to destruction, Jesus has come to bring to you LIFE, and that - more abundantly. It depends on whom you listen to - the liar who comes to destroy you, or the one who comes to lead you into truth. Jesus said: "I AM ...the way, the TRUTH, and the life." John 14:6