One of the greatest philosophical challenges to faith is the presence of suffering and evil in this world. In other words, if God is good then why does He allow evil to persist? The problem with such a question is that presumes that God owes mankind an explanation for His perceived activity or inactivity. As one minister said, “we want a God that is so big that He can do anything but so small that we can understand everything.” We do not get to have it both ways. So how do we come to terms with God’s sovereignty and evil’s persistence?
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
1 JOHN 4:1-4