WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SO MUCH SIN IN THE WORLD?

READ PSALM 10

ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED MORE FERVENTLY THAN UNBORN HUMANS

Psalm 10:1

Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

How often we are dismayed by the news stories that come across our media, and wonder that the Lord is allowing such rampant sinning against Him.

A godless world, with enemies of God seeming to have control, is not new. It was a problem thousands of years ago, just as it is today. The psalmist describes a world where the wicked oppress the poor, the powerful rule over the weak, men live to satisfy their own lusts, men boast of their wicked deeds, and, in their arrogance, they assert that there is no God. 

So many today are careless about God’s commands, and act as if they are in total control of their own lives.  

Watching the world superficially, one can see scarce cause for hope. The weak and the needy are severely oppressed, and are then tempted to wonder if God even cares or if He is really in control. 

Have you ever wondered where God is? Have you questioned if He really cares? There is so much evil in the world. Animals are protected more fervently than unborn humans. The wicked get richer, while the ones who are honest seem to be in continuous need. Families are victims of the behavior of the ungodly. Deranged people walk into schools, theaters, shopping malls, and kill innocent people. Diseases are causing young and old to suffer. Has God turned His face away? Has God forgotten His own?

The psalmist cries out to God for relief.  

Psalm 10:12

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;

forget not the afflicted. 

As I read this psalm, I cannot overlook the pain of some dear loved ones who are suffering right now. What is God doing? What does He want from us? What is our hope? 

My first thought is that God wants us to focus our trust upon His kingship and His will, rather than upon the pursuits of this passing world. He wants us to trust Him to deal justly with the wicked, who despise both the afflicted and God, Himself. (Psalm 10:3-11) 

1 John 2:15-17 

                Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.               

God wants our grip on the things of the world to be loosened. He wants us to desire Him more than anything else. He wants us to desire what is eternal. I know for sure that an easy life can be much more spiritually dangerous for us than injustice or material needs are. 

What a wonderful gift, to have our attention redirected to Him and become more and more able to see our dependence upon Him! 

Believers have nothing to fear:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

                “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

                “O death, where is your victory?

                  O death, where is your sting?”

Paul had the right focus: an eternal perspective on both the present and the future. 

Philippians 1:21-26

                For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 

Paul knew that, as long as he was alive, he was to live for Christ.  He lived for the progress of the Gospel in the world and for the spiritual progress of believers. His comfort or safety was not what produced joy in him. 

The psalmist, in his cry to the LORD, did not lose faith, but was secure in God’s care. 

Psalm 10:16-18

The LORD is king forever and ever;

the nations perish from his land.

O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;

you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

The LORD is sovereign; He will take care of His own. He is totally aware of the needs of those who depend on Him. He will answer their cries in due time, and during the hardships, He will fortify their hearts. I have watched suffering believers grow closer to God and find in Him strength that was very surprising to the unbelievers who knew them. God is carefully involved in our lives; He is active in bringing us closer to Him. His work is to produce sanctification in us. He never stops, He is always timely, and He is always caring. 

May we, too, be totally aware of these truths, as we live in this world where the wicked seem to be prospering. May we never envy those who do not know the loving care of our heavenly Father.  May we grasp every opportunity to point men toward God and glorify our loving Shepherd.