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2. The Great Questions Answered

By Jeanne Gowen Dennis, BreakPoint Centurion

The Bible Has the Answers

Where did we come from?

God created us and the whole universe out of nothing (Gen. 1:1, Col. 1:16–17). He spoke the word, and everything came to be (Gen. 1:1–26). Everything He made was good (Gen. 1:31). And He made man, male and female, in His own image (Gen. 1:27). He set them above the animals and put them in charge of the earth, to take care of it and subdue it (Gen. 1:28).

Why is there evil in the world?

Adam’s choice to defy the Creator, called sin, defiled all of creation and separated us from God. Death, disease, and evil of every kind entered our world because of sin (Gen. 3:16–19, Rom. 5:12).

We all have the freedom to choose to obey God or not, but everyone makes the wrong choice at some point, just as Adam did. We all sin (Rom. 3:23). Our sins and the sins of others have far-reaching effects. Sometimes people get hurt or die. Sometimes relationships or possessions get broken. Sometimes bad things happen that make no sense. But sin is still the reason.

How can the problem of evil be fixed?

God planned the solution from the beginning, and He promised to be our Redeemer (Gen. 3:15, Isa. 54:5). We can have salvation and changed lives through Jesus (Acts 4:11–12). God will make all things new. Creation also waits with groaning to be released from its bondage.

How does that apply to my life?

I can have salvation and forgiveness of sins as a free gift from God. I can know God through His Son, Jesus.

Salvation comes with both benefits and responsibilities.

Some of the benefits: God views me through the righteousness of His Son, Jesus. He chooses not to remember my sins. I am sealed with the Holy Spirit for eternal life. The Holy Spirit lives in me and guides me in all truth. He comforts and sustains me.

Responsibilities: We have been bought with the price of Jesus’ blood. We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), basically living our lives for God as an act of worship, giving thanks for everything (Eph. 5:20), and doing all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Obeying God gives us lives filled with inexpressible joy (1 Pet. 1:7–9).

The answers to the above four questions ultimately answer the rest:

Is there really a God?

Yes, the omnipotent Creator.

What is God like?

Greater, scarier, and more wonderful than we could imagine. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

Does God really care about my problems?

Absolutely! (Matt. 6: 28–33)

If God is good, then why do the innocent suffer? Can’t He prevent tragedy?

This is probably the hardest question of all. And we can’t completely understand the answer. God’s ways are not our ways. Sometimes the innocent are taken away to save them from worse evil, and even though it is unpleasant at the time, suffering helps us grow stronger (Jam. 1:2–4). God promises to work out everything for our good and to make us more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28–29).

Suffering is a consequence of a world marred by sin. But God cares, and He is in control. We don’t know why God allows bad things to happen. But we can trust Him through it, whether we believe it at the time or not.

God knows the future we can’t see. He knows the effects, the consequences, the ramifications of everything that might happen.

It’s something like when an adult is getting ready to cross the street holding a child’s hand. The adult is tall enough to see what’s on the other side of a hedge or parked car, but the child is not. Let’s say the child pulls away and starts to run into the street on his own. The adult yanks him back violently and the child falls and skins his knee or hits his head. He’s hurting, yes, but he doesn’t see that the adult just saved him from being mowed down by a speeding car.

We can’t know what God might be saving us from or leading us to when He allows us to suffer. But it only makes sense to put our trust in the One who can see what we can’t see.

What is death? Why do we die?

In death, the spirit leaves the body, and all life within the body ceases.

Is there life after death? If so, what will it be like for me?

Yes, there is life after death. Your life after death will depend on the choices you make now. If you accept the free gift of forgiveness and salvation God offers you through Jesus, then your life after death will be glorious. If you don’t, it will be eternal misery.

For More Information

The information above is not complete. Only the Bible has the whole Christian worldview. It is the best source of information about life and living. If you don't have a Bible of your own, you can read it online at BibleGateway.com.

Please visit my blog to find more discussion of the Christian worldview and ways to pass on the heritage of faith to the next generation.

© 2008 Jeanne Gowen Dennis. U.S. and Worldwide rights reserved.