There is no simple answer to this complex question. I am attempting to answer it the best I know how, and that is through the knowledge provided in the Bible. We may never completely understand it because it may be beyond our comprehension. But one thing we can be confident in, is that God is good, and God hates evil too.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:5

God hates evil

God is love (1 John 4:8). Sometimes I hear people blaming God for the evil in the world. Yet, evil is in such contrast to a loving and good God. God hates evil more than we do (James 1:13-14).

For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.

Psalm 5:4-5

So why is their evil?

God did not want to make robots.

God is love and desires to be loved. When He handcrafted us, He didn’t want to create robots that were forced to love and obey Him. He created people that had the free will to choose to love Him, like He chose to love us. After all, if we were forced to love God, would it truly be love?  The down side of free will is that we also have the choice to do evil and sin.

Fallen Angel (Is. 14:11-14)

In Heaven, before the creation of the world, angels were worshiping God.  One of God’s most beautiful angels, Lucifer, (Meaning: bright light) assumed equality with God was something to be attained (Is. 14:13). Pride became his ultimate downfall. He was thrown out of heaven and became known as Satan (Meaning: Accuser). Currently he is deceiving whom he can on earth, and reigning with evil as “god of this age.” (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8)

Fall of Man (Gen 3)

Through Satan’s deception and trickery he was able to deceive the first man and women to eat from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. This tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the catalyst from which sin entered mankind. Man chose to disobey, even in the most optimal conditions, and they still choose to disobey till this day.

Lose/Lose situation

If we were born without free will we probably would be upset with God that we didn’t have a choice. Now that we are born with a choice, we blame God because we are allowed to sin. Who should we really be upset with: God, Satan, or perhaps ourselves? Once we realize that God is not our enemy, but rather our solution of hope through Jesus Christ, hopefully our outlook and heart will change.

Wrap up

Satan is wreaking havoc through evil and sin in the world today. He deceives who he can, even to the extent of manipulating us to believe God is to blame. It’s time we start fighting for the right team, and take the free gift of hope Christ has to offer, instead of being upset at the only One who can save us.