God Uses Evil

This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. (John 11:4)

​We look out at the world, particularly what we see happening in Ukraine, and we see all the evil in the world, all the suffering and pain, and we can wonder where is God?  Some will be led to think there must not be a God.  If God exist with so much evil in the world, then either God is not good or God is not all-powerful.  He is not able to control what happens in the world.  However, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11) gives a different perspective on suffering.  There we are told that when Jesus received word that Lazarus was gravely ill, he tarries two more days and allowed Lazarus to die.  Then when he was ready to go to Lazarus, and the disciples wondered why, he says to them, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.”  Jesus was glad that he was not there?  What needs to be kept in mind is what Jesus initially says to them in v.4: “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  God allowed Lazarus to suffer and die.  He allowed Lazarus’ family to suffer and mourn his loss.  He allowed evil to wreak havoc on their lives and turn their world upside down, so that God would be glorified.  This is always the case, though in this world we are not always given the privilege of seeing how God is glorified through our suffering.  But know for certain, God uses evil like a razor sharp blade in the hands of a skilled surgeon—for our good and His glory.