Counsel #1 — Origin Of Evil And Suffering

Picture: Counsel #1 — Origin Of Evil And SufferingCSe 72.1

How could a good God allow suffering is the continuing question of the ages. To answer we must look at what the Bible says about the character of God and the entrance of evil. Before sin and suffering entered the world, there was peace and joy throughout the universe. Everything was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will because the foundation of God’s government is love and freedom.CSe 72.2

But Lucifer, highest of all the created beings, chose to pervert this freedom. He harbored jealousy, pride, and the desire for supremacy and little by little diffused the spirit of discontent among the angels.^{[72]https://www.adventist.org/great-controversy/the-great-controversy}CSe 72.3

“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty… You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:12-15 NKJVCSe 72.4

“Though all his glory was from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to himself. Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly host, he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator.” Ellen White in The Great Controversy, p. 35CSe 72.5

Reflect: Do truth, justice, and loyalty sometimes war in your mind against envy and jealousy? How could you “feed” the former and “starve” the latter?CSe 72.6