Why does God allow suffering?

Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions: Why is it that God allows people to suffer from sickness and disease? Why are there wars, poverty and people who feel hopeless? Why do we have earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes? Why are there disasters somewhere every day?

It must be noted that suffering does come from another higher level because it does not discriminate. It does not care what color you are, what your economic status is, what your religious affiliation is, or what your gender or age is.

Human beings are subject to suffering. In fact, the Bible states: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1).

But here is where, perhaps, we can see why God allows suffering. It is not what God wants, but suffering came to be because God cannot go against His word.

Suffering began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve — whom God made free immortal creatures of choice — decided to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of their act, sin came into the world. And from sin cosmos was turned into chaos. God told them if you eat from or even touch the tree in the midst of the garden, ye shall surely die.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God is not a God of death. He is a God of life only. Suffering, sickness, disease, natural disasters all came, not because of God, but rather because the first Adam chose not to obey God. At one time, I used to be so angry with Adam. I wanted to ask him how could he allow such a thing to happen? Then, the Lord spoke to my heart and REV. CAREY N. INGRAM GUEST COLUMNIST

asked me, have you ever sinned? If so, how can you criticize Adam?

But thank God that before the beginning of time, he already had the second Adam on standby. The first Adam, created by God, brought sin into the world, but the second Adam, created by God, redeemed mankind taking away the sins of man. All man has to do is to believe in the second Adam, who is our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16-18).

As we think of suffering, remember what Jesus did for us. He lived with death threats all His adult life. He was lied on, marked and scorned. One of His disciples betrayed Him; another denied Him, and others ran away from Him when He needed them the most. He died the most horrible death a person could die. He was crucified. Yet, He arose with all power. He did it all for us, redeeming us of all our sins that we might one day be with Him forever in Paradise.

Apostle Paul reminds us that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18). Be encouraged. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Workers with Paul Lynn Construction of Vicksburg prepare “The Hand Pointing to Heaven” figure as it is remounted on the steeple of the First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson, Miss. The 200-pound hand Courtland Wells / The Vicksburg Post via AP

was fabricated from 24-gauge sheet iron and was replated in Virginia with German gold leaf. It is 10 feet, 4 inches tall, and the index finger is 4 feet long. It was last replated about 27 years ago.