VIIa.1. Is the World’s Condition God’s Fault?

Question:  If God created everything, then everything that happens is His fault. Since He created Satan, why can’t he destroy him? God knew what sin I would commit before I existed. Why can’t I point a finger at Him?

Answer:  You’re confusing God's foreknowledge with God's predestination.

"For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:27)

Just because God knows what is going to happen doesn't mean He causes it. God knows the things that would have happened if the things that did happen, didn't! God is omniscient, i.e., all-knowing.

(Read Ezekiel 28:12-19). God created Satan "perfect" (v. 15); until "iniquity was found in thee." God did not create Satan with flaws. He gave him a free will. Ezekiel 28:17 tells us how Satan exercised his free will. "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty.." This is pride.

We see more of Satan's rebellious choices in Isaiah 14:12-17. "For thou hast said in thine heart ... I will be like the most high." Satan wanted God's very throne. He corrupted a third of the angels (now known as demons) to follow him. (Revelation 12:9,7-12). Satan has been judged (Genesis 3:15) and will be destroyed. The Lake of Fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

When did this happen? In the dateless past, after the original creation (Genesis l:1-2a). In the remodeling of the world in six days, as we know it now, Satan was already the evil character we know from Scripture. (Genesis 1:2b through Genesis 3:1; John 8:44).

God created man in innocence (untested righteousness) (Genesis 2:21,22), with a free will, the ability to choose God's will or his own. (Genesis 2:16,17). Of course, we know the "rest of the story," as it is given in Genesis 3:1-19. The Devil tempted Eve, she took the forbidden fruit "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," and gave it to Adam. Physical and spiritual death entered the human race the moment Adam partook. They began to die physically through natural processes; though Adam lived to a ripe old age of 930 years (Genesis 5:5). God drove them out of Eden as, if they had eaten of the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in this sinful state.

Adam and Eve died spiritually, as well (Romans 5:12). Their sinful nature separated them from God, and this they have passed on to the whole human race. "For all have sinned" in that we are descended from Adam and Eve. (Romans 3:23). Did God have a remedy for this great tragedy, the seeming ruination of his beautiful creation? Yes! Christ knew before the foundation of the world what His mission was to be. (1 Peter l:18-20). He was to be the perfect sacrifice, the Savior of the world. (John 1:29).

Why? God wanted us to know His grace. (Romans 8:28-32).

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." (32)

All things! Everlasting life! God, the Holy Spirit living within us to help at all times! If He had made us just "robots"; we would have missed all this. We could never experience the graciousness of Almighty God.

Yes, God knew you before you were ever born (Psalm 103:8-14; Psalm 139:16). He knows all about you and He wants you to love and accept Him out of your own free will. Just as Satan, Adam and Eve had a free will; so do you.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. " (John l:12,13).

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