“If God is the so called “Supreme Being”, why is there War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime and corruption?”

This is a question that I have received several times in my emails so I thought I would post the answer on here so others can read my answer.

There hasn’t always been War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime and corruption. In Genesis Chapter one we hear the account of how God created the Earth. Several times He says that it was good, but in Verse 31 it says, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Everything that God made was perfect.

So what happened?
Adam and Eve, the first Man and Woman, were allowed to live in the garden of Eden and were given the fruit of EVERY tree in the garden to eat, except for ONE: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

But Satan, disguised as a serpent, tricked Eve by lying to her, and she disobeyed God. She ate the fruit from that tree and gave some to Adam to eat too. They had disobeyed the one rule that God had made. They had disobeyed God. Now because God is Holy and righteous (without sin) He has to punish sin and He judged Adam and Eve. (You can read these judgements in detail in Genesis Chapter 3) Basically their sin brought death into the world. Instant spiritual death and also the beginning of physical death.

So what has that to do with War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime and corruption?
The events that took place in the garden of Eden were the beginning of all these things. Sin, hatred, sickness disease etc all became worse and worse and all people will now die. The ultimate proof of your sin is your death. (Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”)

In a way death was a gift from God to escape from this wicked sinful world. Possibly God had to throw Adam and Eve out of the garden so they didn’t eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life because if they had they may have been stuck on this earth forever. Now we can get rid of these sinful bodies and be given new bodies. This world is going to get worse and worse until finally Jesus returns to destroy this fallen earth and make a new earth. In the meantime if we recognise our sin, repent of it, ask Jesus to take our punishment for us, then trust in Him, we can have eternal life with God.

Why is it God’s fault?
If you drive down the road and see a car all crashed up and bent with it’s windows smashed, do you say, ” Hey, Henry Ford, why is that car like that? You made it, it must be your fault!!” No! It isn’t Henry Ford’s fault that the car is in a mess. Neither is it God’s fault that the world is in a mess. When He made it, it was perfect. He gave man the opportunity to live in the garden of Eden, in a perfect paradise, for as long as they wanted. No suffering, no weeds, no backache!! But they chose to sin against God. They only had one rule and they sinned!! Just like you and I would have done too. Wars are caused by hatred and greed in man’s heart, as is hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime and corruption.

As well as God’s curse on mankind He also cursed the ground, and the earth is groaning as it falls apart. There are going to be more earthquakes, disasters, disease, etc. The only thing God promises He will never do again is flood the whole earth with water, as He did in Noah’s day. The flood was God’s judgement on wicked man and He gave mankind the chance to start again and guess what we did? Exactly the same as we did before. The Bible says that God is going to destroy this earth, and make a New Heaven and a New earth. We don’t know exactly when God is going to do this, but He gives us signs to look out for and it appears that there isn’t much time left. God is very patient and is giving people the chance to turn to Him first, but one day He will keep His word and it will be too late.

So instead of asking, “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” shouldn’t the question be, “Why doesn’t God just destroy us all? Why does He allow us to drink a cool glass of water and see a beautiful sunset?”

God is very patient. As we see a glimpse of what God’s wrath is going to be like we need to count it as a warning of what is to come. God made Hell for the devil and his angels, but God can’t and wont let sinners in to Heaven. The results of our sin is hurting others around the world, but most of all it is hurting God. He will not force anyone to come to Him, but He wants us to look around and see the results of our sin and call out to Him.

If you want to follow through a study that will help you understand better you can go to Finding God’s Way. This is a 4 lesson study from the Bible that will explain what God has done for you in more detail.

I hope this has helped to answer some of your questions. If you have any further questions after you have gone through Finding God’s Way then let me know.

Have a great day

Deborah Drapper

Take a look at Paul Grover’s website and see some of the suffering caused by wars and conflicts around the world today. Paul is an amazing photographer that I met when “The Telegraph” did an article about me back in March. Thanks Paul for letting me use your photo.

One thing that was not shown well on the documentary, and many people have asked me about, is actually how to be saved.

The focus of the film was on sin, and that we’re all sinners, and all heading to hell. What it didn’t show at all was that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for OUR sins so that we don’t have to go to hell.

Do you want to know how? Click Here

If you are seeking God and want to find his way for your life you can click here

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

Deborah Drapper

I was emailed this question above so decided to write an article for you all to read.

First of all, my definition of “God” is not actually relevant. What is important is what God is, not what I think He is.

I believe in the God of the Holy Bible. I believe that the Bible is God’s word and so what the Bible says about God is what we need to look at. If we do not look at what the Bible says then we may start inventing what we want God to be like, and form God in our own image, breaking the second Commandment.

So what does the Bible say about God?

I am only going to pick out the main attributes of God. I could spend hours, and write a whole book about who, what, where, why, when, and which God, but for now I have chosen a few important ones. There are also so many different verses that I could take, so again I have just chosen a few.

God is One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (The Trinity)
1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

God is Creator
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Colossians 1: 16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

God is Eternal.
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

God is omniscient (all-knowing)
1 John 3:20 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

God is omnipotent (all-powerful)
Revelation 19:6 “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

God is omnipresent (present everywhere)
Psalm 139:7-10 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me”

God is Holy
Revelation 4:8 “…and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

God is wise
1 Corinthians 1:24-26 “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
1 Timothy 1:16-18 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God is Just
Deuteronomy 32:3-5 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

God is Judge
Psalm 7:11 “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

God is Almighty
Genesis 35:11 “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty:”

God is Love
1 John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

Jesus Christ is God. Truly God and truly man.
John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus is unchanging
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

So What?

God never intended us just to become great theologians, filling our brains with knowledge of God. If that was the case then Satan and his devils know God much better than we do. (James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”)

It’s not just knowing about God or believing in who God is: God wants to have a personal relationship with man, now on earth, and for eternity. He created us in His own image, with purpose, and has a plan for each one of us that is above our understanding. But we have gone our own selfish way!!

The Bible says that…

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” Acts 2:38

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6

If you want to know more about God then you can look at the links below.

Need God? This website will take you through a series of questions and help you to recognise whether you need God or not.

Finding God’s Way is a 4 part Bible study that will help you find God’s purpose in your life.

Growing Christians is a website with short 15minute Bible studies of most of the Books in the Bible.

Have a great day,

Deborah Drapper