1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Dr. Robert Jeffress
  4. Episodes
  5. Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know God Is Good With All The Suffering In The World?
Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know God Is Good With All The Suffering In The World?

January 20, 2025 | S25:E33

Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know God Is Good With All The Suffering In The World?
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Faith #Evil #Religion #Law #Goodness #WordofGod #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Morals #Suffering #Reconciliation #Nature

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know God Is Good With All The Suffering In The World? | January 20, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.423
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:00.890 --> 00:00:06.696
  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
  • 00:00:06.796 --> 00:00:09.065
  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.066
  • Dr. robert jeffress.
  • 00:00:12.268 --> 00:00:14.537
  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
  • 00:00:14.604 --> 00:00:16.606
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.606 --> 00:00:18.708
  • If you've ever watched a family member suffer through a serious
  • 00:00:18.708 --> 00:00:21.878
  • Illness or struggled through a season of financial hardship,
  • 00:00:21.878 --> 00:00:26.082
  • You've probably asked yourself the question, if god is good,
  • 00:00:26.082 --> 00:00:29.986
  • Why does he allow bad things to happen?
  • 00:00:29.986 --> 00:00:33.022
  • Today my goal is to help you reconcile the reality of evil
  • 00:00:33.022 --> 00:00:37.227
  • With the certainty of a loving god.
  • 00:00:37.227 --> 00:00:39.629
  • We're answering the question, "how can i know god is good with
  • 00:00:39.629 --> 00:00:43.666
  • All the suffering in the world?"
  • 00:00:43.666 --> 00:00:45.735
  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:45.735 --> 00:00:49.506
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:49.506 --> 00:00:55.345
  • Announcer: it's okay to have questions about your faith, but
  • 00:00:55.345 --> 00:00:58.314
  • You need answers you can trust.
  • 00:00:58.314 --> 00:01:00.316
  • In his book, "how can i know?"
  • 00:01:00.316 --> 00:01:02.018
  • Dr. robert jeffress addresses seven of life's most
  • 00:01:02.018 --> 00:01:05.288
  • Important questions.
  • 00:01:05.288 --> 00:01:06.689
  • If you've ever wondered how you can know the bible is true or
  • 00:01:06.689 --> 00:01:10.226
  • How you can know if you're going to heaven, this book makes a
  • 00:01:10.226 --> 00:01:13.296
  • Compelling case for answers you can embrace with confidence.
  • 00:01:13.296 --> 00:01:17.133
  • Request your copy of, "how can i know?"
  • 00:01:17.133 --> 00:01:19.269
  • When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of
  • 00:01:19.269 --> 00:01:22.172
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:01:22.172 --> 00:01:28.344
  • Jeffress: lee strobel, our friend and best-selling author,
  • 00:01:28.411 --> 00:01:32.282
  • Once commissioned a national survey that asked one question.
  • 00:01:32.282 --> 00:01:37.687
  • The survey said, "if you could only ask god one question and
  • 00:01:37.687 --> 00:01:42.625
  • Knew that he would answer, what would you ask him?"
  • 00:01:42.625 --> 00:01:46.329
  • The number one response, why does god allow suffering and
  • 00:01:46.329 --> 00:01:51.367
  • Evil in the world?
  • 00:01:51.367 --> 00:01:53.937
  • It's a question that baffles believers, unbelievers, and
  • 00:01:53.937 --> 00:01:58.775
  • Even doubters.
  • 00:01:58.775 --> 00:02:00.810
  • Perhaps you've wrestled with that question as well.
  • 00:02:00.810 --> 00:02:04.781
  • That's why today as we continue our series, "how can i know?"
  • 00:02:04.781 --> 00:02:09.085
  • We're going to talk about, for a few moments, how can i know god
  • 00:02:09.085 --> 00:02:12.155
  • Is good with all the suffering in the world?
  • 00:02:12.155 --> 00:02:16.993
  • John stott, the renowned theologian and pastor, said that
  • 00:02:16.993 --> 00:02:21.297
  • Suffering represents the greatest single threat to
  • 00:02:21.297 --> 00:02:25.501
  • Christianity in the world today.
  • 00:02:25.501 --> 00:02:28.738
  • Why would he make such a claim?
  • 00:02:28.738 --> 00:02:30.340
  • I mean, have you ever heard anybody ask the question, "how
  • 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:33.610
  • Can i know god is good with all the porcupines in the world?"
  • 00:02:33.610 --> 00:02:38.815
  • I mean porcupines do not represent a threat to the
  • 00:02:38.815 --> 00:02:42.885
  • Goodness of god, but the existence of evil in the
  • 00:02:42.885 --> 00:02:46.889
  • World does.
  • 00:02:46.889 --> 00:02:48.858
  • Why is that?
  • 00:02:48.858 --> 00:02:50.193
  • It's because evil seems to contradict everything else we
  • 00:02:50.193 --> 00:02:53.229
  • Know about god.
  • 00:02:53.229 --> 00:02:54.664
  • I put down on your outline some of the things most of us believe
  • 00:02:54.664 --> 00:02:58.101
  • About god.
  • 00:02:58.101 --> 00:02:59.435
  • God exists.
  • 00:02:59.435 --> 00:03:00.803
  • How many of you believe that?
  • 00:03:00.803 --> 00:03:02.138
  • How many of you believe god is all powerful?
  • 00:03:02.138 --> 00:03:04.974
  • How many of you believe god is good?
  • 00:03:04.974 --> 00:03:08.778
  • How many of you believe evil is a reality in the world today?
  • 00:03:08.778 --> 00:03:13.716
  • How do you put all that together?
  • 00:03:13.716 --> 00:03:16.419
  • Some people say, "suffering is just an illusion."
  • 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:20.089
  • That is, there's no such thing as real evil, it's just
  • 00:03:20.089 --> 00:03:23.192
  • Our perception.
  • 00:03:23.192 --> 00:03:24.794
  • By the way, that's a common belief of christian scientists.
  • 00:03:24.794 --> 00:03:28.931
  • They don't believe in the reality of suffering or the
  • 00:03:28.931 --> 00:03:31.501
  • Reality of sickness.
  • 00:03:31.501 --> 00:03:33.169
  • It's all an illusion.
  • 00:03:33.169 --> 00:03:36.005
  • A second possibility is that the god of the bible really
  • 00:03:36.005 --> 00:03:40.943
  • Doesn't exist.
  • 00:03:40.943 --> 00:03:42.879
  • Some people say, "you can't reconcile it.
  • 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:45.515
  • Therefore, the god of the bible doesn't exist."
  • 00:03:45.515 --> 00:03:48.117
  • They don't wanna say, "god doesn't exist."
  • 00:03:48.117 --> 00:03:50.820
  • They don't wanna discount the idea that there could be some
  • 00:03:50.820 --> 00:03:53.723
  • Force out there, some intelligent being, but it's
  • 00:03:53.723 --> 00:03:57.226
  • Certainly not the god we read about in the bible.
  • 00:03:57.226 --> 00:04:00.163
  • There's no way to reconcile him with suffering.
  • 00:04:00.163 --> 00:04:03.466
  • A third option is to say, "god is limited."
  • 00:04:03.466 --> 00:04:06.969
  • That is, there is a god.
  • 00:04:06.969 --> 00:04:09.305
  • He's a loving, good god.
  • 00:04:09.305 --> 00:04:11.240
  • He hurts when you hurt, he weeps when you weep.
  • 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:14.243
  • He would love to intervene, but he can't intervene because of
  • 00:04:14.243 --> 00:04:19.515
  • The laws of nature or the law of free will.
  • 00:04:19.515 --> 00:04:23.119
  • God cannot intervene.
  • 00:04:23.119 --> 00:04:26.189
  • That was the conclusion of rabbi harold kushner after losing his
  • 00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:30.860
  • Young son to a disease.
  • 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:34.263
  • He said, "god would like to keep evil in check,
  • 00:04:34.263 --> 00:04:38.000
  • But he just can't do it," why?
  • 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:39.969
  • He said, "i recognize god's limitations.
  • 00:04:39.969 --> 00:04:43.172
  • He's limited in what he can do by the laws of nature and by the
  • 00:04:43.172 --> 00:04:47.343
  • Evolution of human moral freedom."
  • 00:04:47.343 --> 00:04:50.913
  • One jewish writer responded, "if that's who god is, why doesn't
  • 00:04:50.913 --> 00:04:54.884
  • He resign and let somebody more competent take his place?"
  • 00:04:54.884 --> 00:05:00.089
  • Have the laws of nature kept god from intervening and preventing
  • 00:05:00.089 --> 00:05:05.228
  • The evil?
  • 00:05:05.228 --> 00:05:07.029
  • Can god be controlled by the laws of nature?
  • 00:05:07.029 --> 00:05:10.500
  • Remember when job was going through his period of suffering,
  • 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:13.403
  • He cried out, "god, why don't you do something?"
  • 00:05:13.403 --> 00:05:16.639
  • What did god say?
  • 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:17.974
  • In job 38, verses 4 to 8, he said, "you little pipsqueak--"
  • 00:05:17.974 --> 00:05:23.746
  • Well, that's in the original hebrew, it doesn't appear in
  • 00:05:23.746 --> 00:05:26.516
  • Your bible, but it's basically what he says.
  • 00:05:26.516 --> 00:05:28.918
  • He says, "where were you when i laid the foundation of
  • 00:05:28.918 --> 00:05:32.688
  • The earth?
  • 00:05:32.688 --> 00:05:34.056
  • Tell me, if you have understanding, who sets the
  • 00:05:34.056 --> 00:05:36.826
  • Earth's measurements, since you know?
  • 00:05:36.826 --> 00:05:39.595
  • Or who stretched the line on it?"
  • 00:05:39.595 --> 00:05:42.131
  • And for the next verses, god doesn't answer, he explodes, as
  • 00:05:42.131 --> 00:05:46.269
  • One writer says.
  • 00:05:46.269 --> 00:05:48.137
  • He doesn't answer the why question, but he answers the
  • 00:05:48.137 --> 00:05:50.773
  • Who question.
  • 00:05:50.773 --> 00:05:52.108
  • He says, "i am in control."
  • 00:05:52.108 --> 00:05:54.677
  • God does not serve nature, nature serves god.
  • 00:05:54.677 --> 00:05:58.748
  • Yes, god has set certain laws into effect, but he's free to
  • 00:05:58.748 --> 00:06:02.218
  • Break those laws anytime he wants to and intervene.
  • 00:06:02.218 --> 00:06:05.688
  • By the way, just think about how many laws of nature were broken
  • 00:06:05.688 --> 00:06:10.693
  • When god parted the red sea for moses.
  • 00:06:10.693 --> 00:06:14.030
  • How many laws of nature were broken by the feeding of
  • 00:06:14.030 --> 00:06:17.200
  • The 5000?
  • 00:06:17.200 --> 00:06:19.168
  • How many laws of god were broken at the resurrection of
  • 00:06:19.168 --> 00:06:22.972
  • Jesus christ?
  • 00:06:22.972 --> 00:06:24.674
  • God can intervene anytime he chooses.
  • 00:06:24.674 --> 00:06:27.810
  • No, he's not limited by the laws of nature, nor is he limited by
  • 00:06:27.810 --> 00:06:33.816
  • Human freedom.
  • 00:06:33.816 --> 00:06:35.151
  • Some people would say, "well, god just can't intervene and
  • 00:06:35.151 --> 00:06:39.555
  • Contradict man's free will."
  • 00:06:39.555 --> 00:06:43.059
  • God would really like to prevent that rapist from attacking that
  • 00:06:43.059 --> 00:06:46.596
  • Elderly woman, but he's incapable of doing so.
  • 00:06:46.596 --> 00:06:50.199
  • One reason is, he didn't know ahead of time that was going
  • 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:52.935
  • To happen.
  • 00:06:52.935 --> 00:06:54.303
  • Did you know there's actually a new strain of so-called
  • 00:06:54.303 --> 00:06:56.839
  • Christianity called open theism that says, "god doesn't have a
  • 00:06:56.839 --> 00:07:01.611
  • Definite plan for things.
  • 00:07:01.611 --> 00:07:03.880
  • God is always changing his plans to conform with the choices of
  • 00:07:03.880 --> 00:07:08.417
  • His creatures.
  • 00:07:08.417 --> 00:07:09.752
  • He doesn't know what you're gonna do ahead of time and so
  • 00:07:09.752 --> 00:07:12.955
  • When you react, he reacts."
  • 00:07:12.955 --> 00:07:15.858
  • Can you imagine believing in a god like that,
  • 00:07:15.858 --> 00:07:18.828
  • A god who had no plan, who made his will subject to your will?
  • 00:07:18.828 --> 00:07:23.966
  • Psalm 139, verse 16 says, "god sees everything about us.
  • 00:07:23.966 --> 00:07:28.804
  • In his book were written all the days of our life before we lived
  • 00:07:28.804 --> 00:07:33.342
  • One of them."
  • 00:07:33.342 --> 00:07:34.710
  • God knows the details of everything believers and
  • 00:07:34.710 --> 00:07:37.780
  • Unbelievers are going to do.
  • 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:40.049
  • Well, the person says, "god may have known that person was gonna
  • 00:07:40.049 --> 00:07:44.186
  • Assault the elderly woman, but he has no freedom to interfere
  • 00:07:44.186 --> 00:07:48.257
  • With that person's free will."
  • 00:07:48.257 --> 00:07:50.927
  • Is god really subjected to the authority of his creation?
  • 00:07:50.927 --> 00:07:55.598
  • Remember what pontius pilate said to jesus?
  • 00:07:55.598 --> 00:07:58.601
  • Pontius pilate said, "don't you realize i could have
  • 00:07:58.601 --> 00:08:01.437
  • You crucified?"
  • 00:08:01.437 --> 00:08:02.939
  • And jesus said in john 19:11, "you would have no authority
  • 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:07.543
  • Over me unless it had been given to you from above."
  • 00:08:07.543 --> 00:08:13.249
  • John chapter 7, when jesus equated himself with god, it
  • 00:08:13.249 --> 00:08:17.887
  • Made the pharisees so angry they determined they were going to
  • 00:08:17.887 --> 00:08:20.990
  • Kill him.
  • 00:08:20.990 --> 00:08:22.325
  • But in verse 30 of john 7, it says, "so they were seeking to
  • 00:08:22.325 --> 00:08:25.328
  • Seize him; and no man laid his hands on him because his hour
  • 00:08:25.328 --> 00:08:30.399
  • Had not yet come."
  • 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.702
  • They had a will to kill jesus, but they were prevented from
  • 00:08:32.702 --> 00:08:36.973
  • Doing so because jesus's time had not yet come.
  • 00:08:36.973 --> 00:08:42.478
  • Yes, god gives man and god gives women the ability to make
  • 00:08:42.478 --> 00:08:47.049
  • Certain choices, but sometimes god overrides those choices.
  • 00:08:47.049 --> 00:08:51.921
  • Human beings are free until they're not.
  • 00:08:51.921 --> 00:08:55.758
  • Many years ago, amy and i were driving in west texas back to
  • 00:08:55.758 --> 00:09:00.630
  • Our home in wichita falls.
  • 00:09:00.630 --> 00:09:03.332
  • It was nighttime, there was a blinding rainstorm.
  • 00:09:03.332 --> 00:09:07.637
  • You couldn't see 2 inches in front of you.
  • 00:09:07.637 --> 00:09:11.007
  • And then the headlights of our new car, brand-new car went out.
  • 00:09:11.007 --> 00:09:15.811
  • There was a malfunction in the electrical system.
  • 00:09:15.811 --> 00:09:19.415
  • So, there we were, traveling in darkness.
  • 00:09:19.415 --> 00:09:23.586
  • I could have pulled over to the side of the road, but i was
  • 00:09:23.586 --> 00:09:26.455
  • Afraid somebody would hit us in the blinding rainstorm.
  • 00:09:26.455 --> 00:09:30.026
  • I noticed in my rearview mirror there was an 18 wheeler
  • 00:09:30.026 --> 00:09:33.729
  • Following us.
  • 00:09:33.729 --> 00:09:35.064
  • So, i slowed down, allowed the 18 wheeler to pass us, and then
  • 00:09:35.064 --> 00:09:39.201
  • I focused on those red tail lights.
  • 00:09:39.201 --> 00:09:42.605
  • And as i focused on those tail lights, they gave me the
  • 00:09:42.605 --> 00:09:46.175
  • Direction to follow until we got home.
  • 00:09:46.175 --> 00:09:49.178
  • You know, psalm 119:105 says that, "god's word is a light
  • 00:09:49.178 --> 00:09:55.017
  • Unto our path."
  • 00:09:55.017 --> 00:09:56.752
  • And i would suggest to you that when you are going through a
  • 00:09:56.752 --> 00:09:59.889
  • Storm in your light.
  • 00:09:59.889 --> 00:10:01.824
  • And what you can't see in front of you, you don't know what's
  • 00:10:01.824 --> 00:10:04.794
  • Going to happen.
  • 00:10:04.794 --> 00:10:06.162
  • You're looking for answers.
  • 00:10:06.162 --> 00:10:08.064
  • There are some lights you can focus on that come from
  • 00:10:08.064 --> 00:10:12.301
  • God's word.
  • 00:10:12.301 --> 00:10:13.636
  • Four truths you can count on when going through the tunnel of
  • 00:10:13.636 --> 00:10:17.840
  • Suffering in your life.
  • 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.742
  • Number one, god is good and god is all powerful.
  • 00:10:19.742 --> 00:10:25.381
  • God is both good and all powerful.
  • 00:10:25.381 --> 00:10:28.050
  • You know, we read horrendous stories of evil that people
  • 00:10:28.050 --> 00:10:31.587
  • Commit against one another and say, "how could a good god
  • 00:10:31.587 --> 00:10:34.690
  • Allow that?"
  • 00:10:34.690 --> 00:10:36.025
  • But scripture tells us in exodus 34, verse 6, "the lord, the lord
  • 00:10:36.025 --> 00:10:41.464
  • God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and
  • 00:10:41.464 --> 00:10:45.735
  • Abounding in lovingkindness and truth," exodus 34, verse 6.
  • 00:10:45.735 --> 00:10:52.007
  • Even outside of scripture, we can see the goodness
  • 00:10:52.007 --> 00:10:55.010
  • Of god all around us.
  • 00:10:55.010 --> 00:10:57.379
  • Yes, floods and earthquakes do come and kill thousands of
  • 00:10:57.379 --> 00:11:00.916
  • People sometimes, but most of the time rivers stay within
  • 00:11:00.916 --> 00:11:04.887
  • Their banks.
  • 00:11:04.887 --> 00:11:06.255
  • Most of the time the tectonic plates don't shift and cause
  • 00:11:06.255 --> 00:11:09.358
  • The earthquakes.
  • 00:11:09.358 --> 00:11:10.826
  • Yes, farmers have droughts occasionally that keep them from
  • 00:11:10.826 --> 00:11:14.497
  • Having crops, but most of the time the rains do come, the
  • 00:11:14.497 --> 00:11:18.868
  • Crops come, and the food is produced.
  • 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:22.004
  • Yes, we read of horrible crimes that people commit.
  • 00:11:22.004 --> 00:11:25.908
  • But the reason they make news is because they're the exception,
  • 00:11:25.908 --> 00:11:29.378
  • Not the rule of the way things are.
  • 00:11:29.378 --> 00:11:32.615
  • "but robert, if god has the ability to stop it, why doesn't
  • 00:11:32.615 --> 00:11:36.552
  • He stop evil?"
  • 00:11:36.552 --> 00:11:38.687
  • Some people try to limit god's authority, god's power, and say,
  • 00:11:38.687 --> 00:11:43.025
  • "god would love to help, but he's powerless to do so."
  • 00:11:43.025 --> 00:11:46.695
  • But does that really bring any comfort to people?
  • 00:11:46.695 --> 00:11:49.832
  • Do you want to think of yourself as a victim in which
  • 00:11:49.832 --> 00:11:52.735
  • Circumstances or other people can do whatever they want to do?
  • 00:11:52.735 --> 00:11:57.439
  • Do you wanna live in a world in which any one of a trillion
  • 00:11:57.439 --> 00:12:01.610
  • Cells in your body could suddenly, on its own, start to
  • 00:12:01.610 --> 00:12:04.947
  • Multiply, and create cancer, and bring death?
  • 00:12:04.947 --> 00:12:09.018
  • Do you wanna live in a world in which any stranger could do
  • 00:12:09.018 --> 00:12:12.321
  • Whatever evil he wanted to just by his own choice?
  • 00:12:12.321 --> 00:12:16.926
  • No, the fact that god is sovereign and is in control,
  • 00:12:16.926 --> 00:12:21.197
  • Even though we don't understand, should bring great comfort
  • 00:12:21.197 --> 00:12:25.100
  • To us.
  • 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.435
  • Job said it this way in job 42, verse 2, in the midst of a storm
  • 00:12:26.435 --> 00:12:31.140
  • Of his own suffering, job cried out, "i know that you can do all
  • 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:36.412
  • Things, and that no purpose of yours, god, can be thwarted."
  • 00:12:36.412 --> 00:12:42.551
  • I think about chuck swindoll's quote.
  • 00:12:42.551 --> 00:12:45.087
  • He said, "the sovereignty of god does not answer all of my
  • 00:12:45.087 --> 00:12:49.692
  • Questions, but it does relieve me of all of my anxiety."
  • 00:12:49.692 --> 00:12:55.197
  • God is good and he's all powerful.
  • 00:12:55.197 --> 00:12:59.168
  • Secondly, a second light you can focus in on is this, and that is
  • 00:12:59.168 --> 00:13:04.106
  • That evil and suffering are not attributable to god.
  • 00:13:04.106 --> 00:13:09.511
  • Most of the things we blame god for are actually man's fault.
  • 00:13:09.511 --> 00:13:14.884
  • Let me explain what i mean.
  • 00:13:14.884 --> 00:13:16.886
  • Theologians categorize evil into two categories.
  • 00:13:16.886 --> 00:13:20.689
  • There's natural evil.
  • 00:13:20.689 --> 00:13:22.524
  • Think earthquakes, tsunamis, cancer.
  • 00:13:22.524 --> 00:13:25.327
  • And then there's moral evil.
  • 00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:27.496
  • Think murder, genocide, injustice.
  • 00:13:27.496 --> 00:13:30.966
  • Both natural and moral evil ultimately come from man.
  • 00:13:30.966 --> 00:13:35.971
  • For example, think about natural evil.
  • 00:13:35.971 --> 00:13:38.240
  • We read the scripture from romans 8, verse 20 that reminded
  • 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.044
  • Us that because of the fall of man in the garden, it affected
  • 00:13:42.044 --> 00:13:45.848
  • All "creation, for the creation was subjected to futility, not
  • 00:13:45.848 --> 00:13:51.353
  • Willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that
  • 00:13:51.353 --> 00:13:55.291
  • The creation itself will one day be set free from slavery to
  • 00:13:55.291 --> 00:13:59.662
  • Corruption into freedom."
  • 00:13:59.662 --> 00:14:01.997
  • What's the futility he's talking about?
  • 00:14:01.997 --> 00:14:04.400
  • He's talking about the futility we call it the second law of
  • 00:14:04.400 --> 00:14:07.736
  • Thermodynamics, and, that is, everything in the world is
  • 00:14:07.736 --> 00:14:11.540
  • Moving from order to disorder.
  • 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:14.176
  • Everything is running down.
  • 00:14:14.176 --> 00:14:15.844
  • Everything's in the process of becoming chaotic.
  • 00:14:15.844 --> 00:14:19.481
  • And it's that reality of the natural evil that explains
  • 00:14:19.481 --> 00:14:25.888
  • Everything in our world from earthquakes to the aches and
  • 00:14:25.888 --> 00:14:28.824
  • Pains of old age.
  • 00:14:28.824 --> 00:14:30.726
  • All of that is because we live in a world that is infected
  • 00:14:30.726 --> 00:14:34.229
  • With sin.
  • 00:14:34.229 --> 00:14:35.564
  • This is not the world the way god planned it to be.
  • 00:14:35.564 --> 00:14:38.701
  • Likewise, moral evil, for the most part, is the fault of man.
  • 00:14:38.701 --> 00:14:43.872
  • C.s. lewis said it this way,
  • 00:14:43.872 --> 00:14:46.008
  • "most of the evil in the world can be attributed
  • 00:14:46.008 --> 00:14:48.777
  • To men with guns, bayonets, and bombs."
  • 00:14:48.777 --> 00:14:53.415
  • That's true when you think about it.
  • 00:14:53.415 --> 00:14:55.417
  • It's not god's fault, it's man's fault.
  • 00:14:55.417 --> 00:14:58.754
  • And yet somebody would say, "well, even if god doesn't
  • 00:14:58.754 --> 00:15:01.523
  • Directly cause evil, if he has the power to stop it, isn't he
  • 00:15:01.523 --> 00:15:06.595
  • Somewhat responsible for it?"
  • 00:15:06.595 --> 00:15:08.864
  • I mean, think about a school shooter.
  • 00:15:08.864 --> 00:15:11.633
  • I mean, does god have the power to jam his gun?
  • 00:15:11.633 --> 00:15:15.270
  • Yes.
  • 00:15:15.270 --> 00:15:16.839
  • Does god have the power to change his heart
  • 00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:18.841
  • And keep him from doing that?
  • 00:15:18.841 --> 00:15:20.576
  • Yes.
  • 00:15:20.576 --> 00:15:21.977
  • Does god sometimes do that? occasionally, he does intervene.
  • 00:15:21.977 --> 00:15:26.415
  • But if--think about this, if god were constantly intervening,
  • 00:15:26.415 --> 00:15:30.152
  • Overriding natural laws or the natural free will of people,
  • 00:15:30.152 --> 00:15:34.957
  • There would be no such thing as human goodness.
  • 00:15:34.957 --> 00:15:38.427
  • What we call human goodness would be mere programming by the
  • 00:15:38.427 --> 00:15:43.265
  • Head programmer, god himself.
  • 00:15:43.265 --> 00:15:45.934
  • No, we do have free wills and most of the time, evil can be
  • 00:15:45.934 --> 00:15:52.107
  • Attributed to those free wills.
  • 00:15:52.107 --> 00:15:54.510
  • The late theologian norman geisler said it this way, "since
  • 00:15:54.510 --> 00:15:58.347
  • God is love, he cannot force himself on anyone against
  • 00:15:58.347 --> 00:16:03.018
  • His will.
  • 00:16:03.018 --> 00:16:04.420
  • Forced love is not love, it is rape.
  • 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:08.724
  • And god is not a divine rapist."
  • 00:16:08.724 --> 00:16:12.895
  • Where freedom exists, there will always be the possibility
  • 00:16:12.895 --> 00:16:16.698
  • Of evil.
  • 00:16:16.698 --> 00:16:18.200
  • A third light we can focus on when going through suffering is
  • 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:22.204
  • A reminder that god can use suffering and even evil
  • 00:16:22.204 --> 00:16:26.775
  • For good.
  • 00:16:26.775 --> 00:16:28.977
  • Sometimes we call such things evil because we don't have the
  • 00:16:28.977 --> 00:16:34.016
  • Full picture.
  • 00:16:34.016 --> 00:16:35.851
  • We don't understand everything.
  • 00:16:35.851 --> 00:16:38.087
  • Think of it this way, imagine you knew nothing about heart
  • 00:16:38.087 --> 00:16:42.024
  • Transplants, but one day you're at the hospital and you stumble
  • 00:16:42.024 --> 00:16:45.794
  • Into an operating room.
  • 00:16:45.794 --> 00:16:47.863
  • And you see a man with a mask on, and a robe on, and he's got
  • 00:16:47.863 --> 00:16:52.034
  • A drill, and he's drilling into somebody's chest.
  • 00:16:52.034 --> 00:16:56.371
  • And once he gets the chest cavity open he reaches in and
  • 00:16:56.371 --> 00:16:59.808
  • Takes out a beating heart.
  • 00:16:59.808 --> 00:17:02.077
  • What would you think?
  • 00:17:02.077 --> 00:17:03.912
  • You'd think you had witnessed the greatest sign of torture and
  • 00:17:03.912 --> 00:17:07.249
  • Evil possible, but you would have made your judgment
  • 00:17:07.249 --> 00:17:10.686
  • Too soon.
  • 00:17:10.686 --> 00:17:12.054
  • If you stay a little longer, you can watch that man with the mask
  • 00:17:12.054 --> 00:17:15.624
  • Pick up another beating heart, and place it in the patient's
  • 00:17:15.624 --> 00:17:18.894
  • Chest cavity, and stitch him back together, and the patient
  • 00:17:18.894 --> 00:17:22.498
  • Awakens and thanks the doctor for new life.
  • 00:17:22.498 --> 00:17:26.568
  • It's the same way with evil, sometimes evil suffering can be
  • 00:17:26.568 --> 00:17:30.973
  • A precursor to good.
  • 00:17:30.973 --> 00:17:33.609
  • The crucifixion of jesus was evil.
  • 00:17:33.609 --> 00:17:35.844
  • Jesus endured suffering.
  • 00:17:35.844 --> 00:17:37.579
  • It caused him to even question his heavenly father, crying out,
  • 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:41.450
  • "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?"
  • 00:17:41.450 --> 00:17:45.387
  • And yet, three days later from the perspective of an empty
  • 00:17:45.387 --> 00:17:49.224
  • Tomb, what appeared to be evil was in fact good.
  • 00:17:49.224 --> 00:17:54.329
  • In acts 2:23, just a few weeks after the resurrection, peter,
  • 00:17:54.329 --> 00:17:58.700
  • Preaching the sermon on pentecost, said, "this man,
  • 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:01.937
  • Jesus, delivered over by the predetermined plan and
  • 00:18:01.937 --> 00:18:05.541
  • Foreknowledge of god, you nailed him to the cross by the hands of
  • 00:18:05.541 --> 00:18:09.678
  • Godless men and put him to death."
  • 00:18:09.678 --> 00:18:12.314
  • Peter was preaching to the very people who had crucified christ.
  • 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:16.485
  • He said, "what you did was evil, but god is bigger than you are.
  • 00:18:16.485 --> 00:18:21.123
  • And he was able to take your evil deeds for which you're
  • 00:18:21.123 --> 00:18:23.926
  • Responsible and create good from it."
  • 00:18:23.926 --> 00:18:27.596
  • God can create good from evil.
  • 00:18:27.596 --> 00:18:30.933
  • And you know, whenever i think about that, i think of the story
  • 00:18:30.933 --> 00:18:33.835
  • Of joni eareckson tada, a friend of our church and our ministry.
  • 00:18:33.835 --> 00:18:38.974
  • She was 17 years old and she dove into the chesapeake bay and
  • 00:18:38.974 --> 00:18:43.145
  • Hit her head on a rock, became a quadriplegic, has been in a
  • 00:18:43.145 --> 00:18:48.417
  • Wheelchair for over five decades.
  • 00:18:48.417 --> 00:18:52.621
  • She's the one who famously said, "i would rather be in a
  • 00:18:52.621 --> 00:18:55.824
  • Wheelchair with god than able to walk without god."
  • 00:18:55.824 --> 00:19:01.930
  • Now, just think about it.
  • 00:19:01.930 --> 00:19:03.565
  • If god had asked joni when she was 17 years old, "how do you
  • 00:19:03.565 --> 00:19:08.737
  • Feel, joni, about this plan i have for you?
  • 00:19:08.737 --> 00:19:11.907
  • You're gonna hit your head on a rock.
  • 00:19:11.907 --> 00:19:14.009
  • You're gonna be paralyzed the rest of your life.
  • 00:19:14.009 --> 00:19:17.012
  • How does that sound?"
  • 00:19:17.012 --> 00:19:18.547
  • I doubt she would have chosen that plan for herself.
  • 00:19:18.547 --> 00:19:21.850
  • No 17-year-old would, no 67-year-old would.
  • 00:19:21.850 --> 00:19:26.255
  • But fortunately god doesn't solicit our approval for the
  • 00:19:26.255 --> 00:19:30.092
  • Plan he has for us.
  • 00:19:30.092 --> 00:19:32.227
  • He has a plan for our lives, and that plan includes evil
  • 00:19:32.227 --> 00:19:36.665
  • And suffering.
  • 00:19:36.665 --> 00:19:38.267
  • As joni says it, "god permits what he hates to achieve what
  • 00:19:38.267 --> 00:19:44.473
  • He loves."
  • 00:19:44.473 --> 00:19:46.208
  • God can use evil and suffering for his purpose.
  • 00:19:46.208 --> 00:19:50.946
  • And the fourth and most important truth to remember is,
  • 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:55.217
  • God will ultimately defeat evil and end suffering.
  • 00:19:55.217 --> 00:20:00.722
  • You know, i've, over the years, been called in to give
  • 00:20:00.722 --> 00:20:04.092
  • Commentary when there's some great national tragedy or some
  • 00:20:04.092 --> 00:20:08.463
  • Horrific act that's taken place and ask that question, why would
  • 00:20:08.463 --> 00:20:12.534
  • God allow that?
  • 00:20:12.534 --> 00:20:13.902
  • I used to try to give detailed answers and so forth in three
  • 00:20:13.902 --> 00:20:17.939
  • Minutes or less.
  • 00:20:17.939 --> 00:20:19.908
  • I've come to understand, the best response when people ask
  • 00:20:19.908 --> 00:20:24.012
  • About the evil in the world is to say, "we do not live in the
  • 00:20:24.012 --> 00:20:28.216
  • World god originally created."
  • 00:20:28.216 --> 00:20:31.086
  • Suffering, murder, injustice were never part of god's plan
  • 00:20:31.086 --> 00:20:35.490
  • For the world.
  • 00:20:35.490 --> 00:20:36.825
  • We're not in the world god has planned, but thank god we will
  • 00:20:36.825 --> 00:20:41.330
  • Be one day.
  • 00:20:41.330 --> 00:20:42.831
  • There is a new world coming.
  • 00:20:42.831 --> 00:20:46.802
  • This is only temporary.
  • 00:20:46.802 --> 00:20:49.004
  • And the best way to defeat evil, as somebody said, is to create a
  • 00:20:49.004 --> 00:20:54.009
  • World in which evil no longer exists.
  • 00:20:54.009 --> 00:20:57.446
  • And ladies and gentlemen, that world is coming.
  • 00:20:57.446 --> 00:20:59.781
  • God promises a new heaven, a new earth, where there'll be no more
  • 00:20:59.781 --> 00:21:04.753
  • Crying, or pain, or death for the first things will have
  • 00:21:04.753 --> 00:21:08.623
  • Passed away.
  • 00:21:08.623 --> 00:21:10.492
  • Until that time, suffering, pain, and evil are a very real
  • 00:21:10.492 --> 00:21:15.731
  • Part of our lives.
  • 00:21:15.731 --> 00:21:17.432
  • Philip yancey's a gifted christian writer.
  • 00:21:17.432 --> 00:21:20.602
  • His father was a gifted bible teacher.
  • 00:21:20.602 --> 00:21:24.473
  • And yet toward the end of his life--isn't it funny sometimes
  • 00:21:24.473 --> 00:21:27.242
  • Toward the end you suffer the worst things in your life?
  • 00:21:27.242 --> 00:21:31.480
  • He was struck with a debilitating illness,
  • 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:34.249
  • Confined to a bed.
  • 00:21:34.249 --> 00:21:35.617
  • He had to watch his adult daughters suffer some severe
  • 00:21:35.617 --> 00:21:38.787
  • Consequences of diabetes.
  • 00:21:38.787 --> 00:21:41.456
  • He experienced crushing financial pressure.
  • 00:21:41.456 --> 00:21:45.394
  • He began to question many of the things he once believed and
  • 00:21:45.394 --> 00:21:49.531
  • Taught from the bible to be true.
  • 00:21:49.531 --> 00:21:51.767
  • Toward the end of his life, he wrote his adult children
  • 00:21:51.767 --> 00:21:54.403
  • A letter.
  • 00:21:54.403 --> 00:21:55.737
  • He was very honest.
  • 00:21:55.737 --> 00:21:57.205
  • He said, "i am starting to question many of the things i
  • 00:21:57.205 --> 00:22:00.075
  • Taught you, many of the things i believe.
  • 00:22:00.075 --> 00:22:03.879
  • But there are three things i'm still absolutely sure of:
  • 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:10.619
  • Life is difficult, god is merciful, heaven is for sure."
  • 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:19.494
  • Good truths to remind yourself of when you find yourself in a
  • 00:22:19.494 --> 00:22:24.666
  • Storm of suffering.
  • 00:22:24.666 --> 00:22:27.469
  • Jeffress: it's possible you're watching "pathway to victory"
  • 00:22:31.706 --> 00:22:34.342
  • Right now and you've been contemplating the problem of
  • 00:22:34.342 --> 00:22:37.179
  • Pain and suffering.
  • 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:38.647
  • Maybe it's your pain and suffering.
  • 00:22:38.647 --> 00:22:41.483
  • I'm praying that today's message has helped you understand that,
  • 00:22:41.483 --> 00:22:44.619
  • Yes, life is difficult, god is merciful, but heaven is
  • 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:49.724
  • For sure.
  • 00:22:49.724 --> 00:22:51.092
  • I wanna close today's program by thanking all of our faithful
  • 00:22:51.092 --> 00:22:54.930
  • Supporters of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:54.930 --> 00:22:57.299
  • This ministry wouldn't be possible without you.
  • 00:22:57.299 --> 00:23:00.869
  • And if you haven't already, let me encourage you to take the
  • 00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:03.772
  • Next step in your support of "pathway to victory" by becoming
  • 00:23:03.772 --> 00:23:07.542
  • One of our valued pathway partners.
  • 00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:10.579
  • A pathway partner is someone who financially supports "pathway to
  • 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:14.616
  • Victory" every month.
  • 00:23:14.616 --> 00:23:16.485
  • As a pathway partner you receive exclusive benefits as well, but
  • 00:23:16.485 --> 00:23:21.089
  • The best part is this: god will use your monthly giving to help
  • 00:23:21.089 --> 00:23:25.694
  • Us pierce the darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:25.694 --> 00:23:29.698
  • Thanks so much for trusting us with your generous gifts.
  • 00:23:29.698 --> 00:23:33.502
  • Now stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:33.502 --> 00:23:36.171
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:36.171 --> 00:23:39.508
  • Announcer: if a friend or one of your children came up to you and
  • 00:23:39.508 --> 00:23:42.344
  • Asked, "how do you know christianity is the
  • 00:23:42.344 --> 00:23:44.746
  • Right religion?"
  • 00:23:44.746 --> 00:23:46.114
  • Could you give a clear and credible answer?
  • 00:23:46.114 --> 00:23:48.583
  • We'd like to send you a book from dr. robert jeffress
  • 00:23:48.583 --> 00:23:51.486
  • Containing answers to life's seven most important questions.
  • 00:23:51.486 --> 00:23:55.323
  • It's titled, "how can i know?"
  • 00:23:55.323 --> 00:23:57.526
  • Jeffress: if we're honest, every one of us has questions about
  • 00:23:57.526 --> 00:24:00.462
  • Our faith, questions like, how can i know the bible is true?
  • 00:24:00.462 --> 00:24:04.466
  • Or how can i know god exists?
  • 00:24:04.466 --> 00:24:07.168
  • In my book, "how can i know?"
  • 00:24:07.168 --> 00:24:09.170
  • I tackle seven important questions and provide
  • 00:24:09.170 --> 00:24:12.274
  • Biblically-based answers you can embrace with confidence.
  • 00:24:12.274 --> 00:24:16.311
  • Announcer: seven straightforward answers to seven
  • 00:24:16.311 --> 00:24:18.580
  • Pressing questions.
  • 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:20.048
  • The book, "how can i know?"
  • 00:24:20.048 --> 00:24:21.483
  • Is yours today when you give a generous gift to support the
  • 00:24:21.483 --> 00:24:24.920
  • Ministry of "pathway to victory" or when you sign up to become a
  • 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.790
  • Pathway partner.
  • 00:24:28.790 --> 00:24:30.158
  • And when your gift is $75 or more, you'll also receive the
  • 00:24:30.158 --> 00:24:34.896
  • Complete series on dvd and audio disc with newly updated content
  • 00:24:34.896 --> 00:24:39.467
  • For 2025.
  • 00:24:39.467 --> 00:24:40.936
  • Jeffress: it's not a sin to have doubts.
  • 00:24:40.936 --> 00:24:44.205
  • Sometimes doubt is a prerequisite to genuine faith.
  • 00:24:44.205 --> 00:24:48.510
  • Announcer: thank you for investing financially in
  • 00:24:48.510 --> 00:24:50.979
  • "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:50.979 --> 00:24:52.314
  • Your partnership will help our ministry broadcast god's truth
  • 00:24:52.314 --> 00:24:55.817
  • On television, on radio, and online, addressing doubts,
  • 00:24:55.817 --> 00:25:00.121
  • Clearing confusion, and transforming lives through the
  • 00:25:00.121 --> 00:25:03.325
  • Bold, biblical teaching of god's word.
  • 00:25:03.325 --> 00:25:09.197
  • Jeffress: the question of suffering and evil is one that
  • 00:25:09.264 --> 00:25:11.967
  • All of us have grappled with from time to time.
  • 00:25:11.967 --> 00:25:15.203
  • And while it's impossible for me to answer the question
  • 00:25:15.203 --> 00:25:18.306
  • Completely during this short program, i hope the answers i
  • 00:25:18.306 --> 00:25:22.243
  • Have provided have been a source of hope and encouragement
  • 00:25:22.243 --> 00:25:25.714
  • To you.
  • 00:25:25.714 --> 00:25:27.115
  • Well, it's one thing to reconcile the reality of evil
  • 00:25:27.115 --> 00:25:30.218
  • With the certainty of a loving god, but it's still difficult to
  • 00:25:30.218 --> 00:25:34.089
  • Forgive others when they mess up and it affects us.
  • 00:25:34.089 --> 00:25:38.627
  • And next time i wanna share with you how to let go when someone
  • 00:25:38.627 --> 00:25:42.397
  • Deeply hurts you.
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:44.132
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:44.132 --> 00:25:46.835
  • Series, "how can i know?"
  • 00:25:46.835 --> 00:25:50.472
  • Jeffress: when you refuse to forgive somebody, you're
  • 00:25:50.538 --> 00:25:53.008
  • Emotionally bound to that other person.
  • 00:25:53.008 --> 00:25:56.277
  • You can go no farther or faster in life than he or she is
  • 00:25:56.277 --> 00:26:00.415
  • Willing to go when you make your forgiveness dependent on what
  • 00:26:00.415 --> 00:26:04.185
  • They do.
  • 00:26:04.185 --> 00:26:05.553
  • But forgiveness is the way we separate ourselves from
  • 00:26:05.553 --> 00:26:08.256
  • Our offender.
  • 00:26:08.256 --> 00:26:09.591
  • It's a way that we say, "god, what this person did to me
  • 00:26:09.591 --> 00:26:12.861
  • Was wrong.
  • 00:26:12.861 --> 00:26:14.195
  • They deserve to pay for it.
  • 00:26:14.195 --> 00:26:16.331
  • You deal with it."
  • 00:26:16.331 --> 00:26:17.899
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:17.966 --> 00:26:21.136
  • "how can i know how to forgive someone who has hurt me?"
  • 00:26:21.136 --> 00:26:24.606
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:24.606 --> 00:26:27.876
  • Jeffress: if you could go back in time and walk with the
  • 00:26:29.844 --> 00:26:32.213
  • Apostle paul on one of his journeys, would you do it?
  • 00:26:32.213 --> 00:26:35.784
  • This may, let's go together on the life-changing "pathway to
  • 00:26:35.784 --> 00:26:39.054
  • Victory" journeys of paul mediterranean cruise.
  • 00:26:39.054 --> 00:26:43.258
  • Announcer: embark on a voyage of elegance and refinement aboard
  • 00:26:43.258 --> 00:26:46.394
  • The luxurious celebrity ascent.
  • 00:26:46.394 --> 00:26:48.930
  • Enjoy lavish state rooms, spacious balconies, and
  • 00:26:48.930 --> 00:26:52.000
  • World-class dining.
  • 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.368
  • You'll experience breathtaking views, famous beaches, and
  • 00:26:53.368 --> 00:26:57.038
  • Crystal clear water in beautiful island destinations like
  • 00:26:57.038 --> 00:27:00.642
  • Santorini, mykonos, and crete.
  • 00:27:00.642 --> 00:27:03.545
  • Jeffress: walk with me and other believers in the very places
  • 00:27:03.545 --> 00:27:06.781
  • Where god's word was written.
  • 00:27:06.781 --> 00:27:08.783
  • Join us as we study his word together.
  • 00:27:08.783 --> 00:27:11.486
  • Surrounded by natural beauty, we will seek our creator in
  • 00:27:11.486 --> 00:27:15.457
  • His creation.
  • 00:27:15.457 --> 00:27:17.625
  • Announcer: reserve your spot on the "pathway to victory"
  • 00:27:17.625 --> 00:27:20.228
  • Journeys of paul mediterranean cruise.
  • 00:27:20.228 --> 00:27:22.764
  • Call...
  • 00:27:22.764 --> 00:27:22.764