It is written:
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)
Calvinists teach (among other things) that God not only foreknew the evil that would contaminate our universe, but that He willed the evil to happen. As one highly recommended Calvinist author has written, God…”“very obviously predetermined every Event which would happen…. even the sinful acts of men are included in this plan.” (Lorraine Bottener, The Reformed Doctrine Of Predestination, 24)
This is in line with the writings of John Calvin himself, who wrote:
“‘Nor ought it to seem absurd when I say, that God not only foresaw the fall of the first man, and in him the ruin of his posterity; but also at his own pleasure arranged it.’” (John Calvin, Institutes Ibid., 4.16.6, p. 532).
Yet what does the Bible teach us about these matters?
Genesis 18:25-Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Deuteronomy 32:4-He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
2 Chronicles 19:7-Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
Habakkuk 1:13-You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
Psalm 5:4-For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.
James 1:13-Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
Friends, mankind is responsible for the evil in our universe. Thankfully, God loves us and has provided a means for our salvation-through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for sinners, was buried, and arose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Why not today turn your life to Jesus Christ and be saved? The Bible commands believers to repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). If you are a Christian who has done this but has turned away from the Lord, why not turn back to Him today in repentance and prayer (1 John 1:9)?
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