The Great Turnaround

Consider with me a world where judgment does not exist, wrong has no consequences, and no moral baseline governs the world. People have free will to exercise their own choices, but nothing modifies those choices. If no holy God created the Universe, then no morality or righteousness would be judged or rewarded. What would be the point of treating others lovingly? What reward would come from having integrity? If everyone enters the grave with no hope beyond, then we might as well live however we want while we have the chance.

Recently, a handwritten paper circulated social media declaring that God did not create evil, darkness, or the cold. These things only existed absent of what God did create, which was good, light, and heat. However, this statement directly contradicts Scripture.

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west,
that there is none beside me.
I am the Lord, and there is none else.
I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil:
I the Lord do all these things. Isaiah 45:6-7

He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth:
his word runneth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool:
he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels:
who can stand before his cold? Psalm 147:15-17

It is clear from Scripture that God did create evil, darkness, and cold. But for what purpose?

One of my daughter’s secular professors in college confused her by saying that God created Satan, therefore all evil and sin was created by God, making it His fault that suffering existed in the world. Satan is better at spinning truth to his advantage than any media outlet today. In truth, when God created man with a free will, evil had to exist or there would only be one choice available. To be created in the image of God, man had to know both good and evil so he could recognize the depravity inside his own heart. Thankfully, all evil is governed by God’s sovereignty and is only allowed by His measure. (See Job 1-2).

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

Once Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, sin became not only a possibility, but a flourishing weed, taking over every part of the perfect planet God designed.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 2:16-17

With the knowledge of good and evil came consequences. Death was now the end of every living creature. And because God is perfectly holy and good, those consequences would have to be upheld. There is evil on this planet that happens when men choose sin. There are consequences for that choice that God will carry out. The longsuffering of God, governed by His holiness, may delay that judgment with the hope that sinful men will call upon God’s mercy, but judgment will come. Do not mistake the longsuffering of God for His indifference.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

The only way to get your name in that book of Life and avoid eternal separation from God is to call upon the name of Jesus, who died to spare us the consequences of our sinful choices. How amazing is a God who allowed Himself, in flesh, to experience all the suffering this life had to offer so that sinners could be rescued from the consequences they deserved?

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

What does this have to do with 1 Peter 4? Everything, as Peter’s entire sermon in 1 Peter points believers to live for the end—the great turnaround. One day, evil will no longer relish its temporary rewards. Death will no longer separate loved ones. Hate will have no ground to take root. Those who persecuted followers of Jesus will be silenced and separated from the righteous for eternity. And every person will give an account of his works in this life. Even believers will have their works on display, and only those actions that brought glory to God will gain crowns that last for eternity.

Suffering as it stems from the evil of others can only affect believers as God allows which He uses to purify and disconnect them from the temporary and ultimately unsatisfying, false gods of this world. Evil, then, becomes an agent for good in the hands of God, just like Paul promised in Romans 8:28-29.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

There will come a day when all evil will be judged. I hope you are preparing for that Great Turnaround. Below, you will find the printable for 1 Peter 4.

Have a blessed weekend!