Free Will 

   I’m always amazed when people say they don’t understand why God allows evil in the world.  Evil is in the world not at the choice of God but by the choice of humanity whom God blessed with free will.  We choose evil over God; ironically it is our God-given right to do so through our free will.

   God created us because of love; He loves us and desires that we love Him.  But love can’t be coerced or demanded; if so it becomes slavery and abuse.  Our love must be given to God willingly.  Sadly, many make the decision to deny Him their love and instead love self above all else.  In that choice is the source of evil in the world.

   Some would have God just over-ride our free will so that the evil will stop; He gave us free will, surely He could take it away.  Perhaps He could but He created man in His own image and that includes the ability to accept God or reject Him.  Even the angels had the ability to turn from God; hence Satan and his followers were cast out from heaven and have been creating havoc on earth ever since their fateful choice.

   In the end evil has been overcome, Jesus said, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16: 33).  Even though our free will is the source of so much evil, God loves us so much that He will allow us to walk that path if we so choose.  But He will never stop loving us and will continue reaching out to us, hoping to bring us home to Him.