PAIN – What’s wrong with this world?
REFLECT
HAVE YOU EVER ASKED THE QUESTION: ‘WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE WORLD?’
FOR EVERYONE HAS SINNED;
WE ALL FALL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORIOUS STANDARD.”
ROMANS 3:23
Satan’s goal is to destroy us
THE ORIGIN OF EVIL
The Bible tells us how evil, pain and suffering started in the first place:
• The highest angel in heaven, who was called Lucifer, became ambitious and thought he could take God’s position in the universe.
• Lucifer secretly started to lead other angels to doubt God’s goodness and love.
• Finally, Lucifer became Satan and led an open rebellion
against God.
• Satan led the first human beings, Adam and Eve, to doubt God and not trust Him.
THE HAPPY ENDING IS REAL
Jesus has already won the victory in the battle between good and evil through His death on the Cross:
• He gives us forgiveness and freedom from the guilt and shame that Satan tries to use to pull us away from God.
• Jesus entered our world and experienced our pain so that He could demonstrate His love for us.
• The day is coming when Jesus will put an end to all evil, pain and suffering in this world.
MAKE AN ACTION PLAN TO ALLEVIATE SOME SUFFERING IN SOME WAY IN THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
FURTHER STUDY
BIBLE TEXTS
AMOS 3:7.
2 PETER 1:21,
2 TIMOTHY 3:16,
1 PETER 1:24-25,
MATTHEW 24:35,
JOHN 5:39, 17:17,
ISAIAH 46:9-10
BOOKS TO READ
• The Problem of Pain — C. S. Lewis
• Walking with God through Pain and Suffering — Timothy Keller
• Where is God When It Hurts? — Philip Yancey
• The Great Controversy, Ch. 29: The Origin of Evil— Ellen White.
NEXT STEP
Would you like to experience God’s presence in your life and His spiritual support in the struggles that you may face?