Where did evil come from?

Last Saturday night, we got into one of those GREAT discussions over a question that has vexed mankind since the beginning of time - Where did evil come from? Now, if all the great theologians over the course of recorded history can't answer this question, I don't expect that any of us came out with any cut-and-dried answers, either! However, I personally left that night with a little more clarity. You might say that my iron was sharpened by the iron of other's thoughts and the truth of Scripture. The following are some thoughts from my journal that I came away with on the subject:

As the Holy Spirit was moving in our discussion last night, it occurred to me that God didn't create evil but he did create free will. There isn't, nor was there ever, any such thing as "good vs. evil" in the realm of heaven, only free will - the will of the Creator vs. the will of the created. He didn't create robots without choice - even in the case of the angels. Angels are described in Scripture as God's servants, not slaves. (One of the best books I've ever seen on the topic of angels is "Angels: Elect and Evil" by C. Fred Dickason, Moody Press) In order to have true love, you have to have true choice. That choice is not between good and evil. Rather, that choice is between God's will or MY will. God's will leads to goodness and life. My will leads to evil and death. No wonder Scripture describes pride as one of the things God hates! (Prov 6:17; 8:13; 16:18)



Looking at Ezekiel 28 tells us that Lucifer made the choice to follow his own will. Pride was found IN HIS HEART - it wasn't the outside influence of evil somewhere in God's realm - it was the result of a created being following his own, corrupted desires which is ALWAYS a possibility in the arena of free will.



Is there evil in the world? Absolutely. Did God create it? Only in the sense that he created free will. When we choose our will over God's, evil is sure to follow because it is the natural result of following our own corrupted wills.



I once heard someone say that you can't measure 'cold' - there is not scientific way. Cold is simply the absence of heat (which you CAN measure). Similarly, you cannot measure 'dark' - it is simply the absence of light. Evil is the same way. It is not some created concept that can be measured, it is simply the absence of God.



I was reading Isaiah 58 today and all of this made so much sense in the context of Israel's rebellion. Its not that they chose evil over God as much as they chose THEIR OWN WAY over God's way WHICH LED TO EVIL. Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray, EACH OF US HAS TURNED TO HIS OWN WAY..." You can pick any example in Scripture where someone or some group of people is at odds with God. Careful enough study will reveal that following their own will (as opposed to following God's will) will be at the root of the evil that ensues.


I think this is a great lesson for us to remember as we go about our daily lives. Just because we call ourselves followers of Christ doesn't mean we automatically follow his will. None of us lives this out perfectly but its certainly something to consider as we make even the most menial of decisions. Regardless of the thought, decision, or action, the first question we should ask is, "Am I following God's will in this or my own?"



God's will protects us leading us to life and freedom, my will leads me down a path to evil, ultimately resulting in spiritual (if not physical) death and bondage.