#BoldBeliefDevotional by Paul Natekin
Key Bible Verse:
“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'” — Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV)
Have you ever wondered why God allowed sin and evil into the world? It’s a tough question that many struggle with. Let’s dive into the heart of this issue and see how our understanding of free will can bring us closer to God.
Apologetic Insight:
(from Greek ἀπολογία, ‘speaking in defense’) Defending and explaining faith with reason and evidence.
Norman Geisler explains that God created humans with free will because love requires the ability to choose. He states, “God could have created a world without free creatures and thus without the possibility of evil, but it would have been a world without the possibility of genuine love and moral goodness” (NormanGeisler.com). This aligns with the biblical account where Adam and Eve were given the freedom to choose, resulting in the introduction of sin and evil when they disobeyed (Genesis 3:1-7).
J. Warner Wallace adds that our free will explains not just moral evil but also natural disasters. He notes, “The corruption of creation, as described in Romans 8:20-22, is a direct result of humanity’s sin nature, which was introduced by Adam and Eve’s misuse of their free will” (ColdCaseChristianity.com). This perspective helps us understand why the world, once described as “very good” (Genesis 1:31), now faces such challenges.
Encouragement & Application:
It’s comforting to know that our struggles with sin and evil are not because God failed, but because He values our ability to choose. Even though we live in a world marked by the consequences of those choices, we can turn to God for forgiveness and guidance. Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you use your free will to honor Him, and seek out a community where you can grow in faith and understanding.
Reflection Questions:
- How does understanding the role of free will change your perspective on the existence of evil?
- In what ways can you use your free will to choose love and goodness today?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us the gift of free will, even though it means we can choose to turn away from You. Help us to use our choices to draw closer to You and to reflect Your love in the world. Forgive us for the times we’ve chosen wrongly, and guide us to make decisions that honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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