The issue of evil, my perspective

In class we were discussing the problem of evil when David said something that resonated so strongly within me that I could not help but get excited about it. As my classmates attacked the weak idea, I began to try to defend the, lashing out with cobbled together proofs which were promptly shot down. As the idea was under attack, I quietly let the subject lapse and cried in class. I don't think anyone noticed.

What idea is it that sits close to the core of my Christian conviction that I have to be silent when it is discussed lest I detract from the conversation with my emotional outbursts? What is this idea that I hold so close to the nexus of my being, and why is it so important to me? The idea is this: God, by allowing sin into creation and into man with the intention of saving a remnant of that fallen world and people for Himself, will be making a new creation so much more excellent than the garden, that eternity will not be enough time to praise God for how great it is. Why it's important to me: I only have guesses.

It's a weird idea to be so passionate about, and I guess many devoted Christians may never have considered it. I myself don't understand, but I will attempt to explain why I believe it is true in the rest of this post. Please bear with my lack of clarity as you are watching me figure out my beliefs on paper.

I think the Bible hints at this being true. I am thinking here specifically of Romans 5:8. "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." This is the first use of the word love in Romans outside of the initial greeting. Paul has covered laws, promises, sin, judgment, righteousness, forgiveness, and justification; but this is the first mention he makes of love. It seems to me that Paul has covered all of human history up to the death of Christ in the first 4 chapters of Romans and God's love has not yet been truly expressed. But now, in the death of Christ we see that love so clearly, that it cannot be questioned.

You may also find other verses which refer to this in other parts of the Bible. God shows his love in curing the sick, fathering the fatherless, lifting up the oppressed, but mostly in saving the world (John 3:16). We see God's love most clearly expressed in the saving of the world.

God shows his love for us in saving us, but wasn't the Garden better than it is now? Wasn't his love perfectly expressed to Adam and Eve? I would argue that it wasn't. It is true that everything in the Garden was good. God said that clearly, but no where does it show that he loved man. We see God's care and his loving nature everywhere in his provision for man in the garden, but ultimately man is pronounced as good, not as deeply loved. God created something beautiful, but in the end God's love is somewhat sterile, because the labor of attaining a relationship with man had no challenge. It was an almost effortless action. He spoke and it was so. There was no blood sweat or tears sowed into this creation.

Let me put it more bluntly. When Adam and Eve fell, God could easily have just killed them right there, extinguished the universe and then made another one. It took him a week after all, and in eternity there are many, many weeks. And he would have been totally justified in doing so. He would have done nothing wrong. However, God decides to show his love by literally pouring his blood, sweat, and tears into his creation (even more amazing when you consider that god is Spirit) to show his love.

I think we see this principle in the teachings of Christ as well. The good Samaritan, the old woman who tithes. The one who gives to the point of hurting is the one who really loves. The one who gives, but it does not hurt him does not really give in a meaningful way.

However, I have not really answered my own question. I have given proof for why one might believe this to be true, but not explained why I believe so deeply that it is true. Well I think it is true, because the most amazing thing I can see about God, and the reason why I trust, love, and adore Him above all else is because he did something for me that could not have been done in a perfect world: He forgave my sins.

This is not something esoteric to me. I am a huge sinner. I know that daily I slaughter those around me with anger, kill myself with lusts and desires, and deny the presence of the one whom I claim to love with my very life. And more than this, I know that I rebelled from him at such a deep level, that if I had been cast into the fiery pit, I could offer no defense for my soul.

Yet surer, than I know what I deserve, I know I will never receive it for Christ came, lived, suffered, died, and rose again in order that I could be with him now and forevermore. That is true love. There is no greater love than that one should lay down his life for another. God has now laid down his life for his creation. How much greater is that than making something beautiful?

The first Adam walked with God, but I weep for joy at what his love has wrought.