How can a perfect God allow all the suffering that goes on in the world?
It is in God’s design of things to allow (not cause) the various injustices that take place in this world. He uses these injustices as tests which prove the faith of man and discern those who are worthy of heaven. This same question was also a problem to the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 3:16-17. His answer was that the day will come when all of these injustices will be rectified. God has a time and a purpose for every work, and there is a time when God will judge the righteous as well as the wicked. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 states that God has allowed both good days and bad days to come so that man will not be able to find out what will happen after him. If man cannot know his own future, he cannot determine his own destiny and must, if he will be wise, put his faith in God instead of himself. This is in God’s purpose and causes man to desire all the more the heavenly realm (Romans 8:18-25). James states in James 1:2-5 that the various trials that come upon us actually improve our character. A
