The Mystery of Evil by John Orr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 22, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 12.

The Mystery of Evil

By John Orr

MYSTERY SERIES. No. 4.

The Mystery of Evil.

EVIL is defined as "anything which impairs the happiness of a being, or deprives a being of any good; anything which causes suffering of any kind to sentient beings." Happiness, although derived from a word which means chance, luck, or fortune, is now generally understood to mean an agreeable feeling arising from fortunate circumstances, or a condition of being attended with enjoyment. Anything, then, which detracts from this state of mind is evil, because it is opposed to one's highest peace of mind.

No one can really love another and do that which causes him loss of enjoyment in any degree, because love is a strong and tender feeling of attachment one has for another, which leads him to devote life and substance to secure the happiness of the person loved. Love is, therefore, the exact opposite of evil; it is the sum of a perfect existence and of a perfect life-work, one that is controlled by Jehovah; for He is "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." Deut. 32:4.

Whoever, therefore, is not inspired by love in all his conduct is evil; he does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8. It is this attribute of character in God which makes Him "just and right" and "without iniquity." The same attribute in other beings would not only render them like God in disposition, but would also put them in perfect agreement with Him in all His thoughts. Had this high and holy element been preserved by all from the beginning, only perfect harmony with the ways of heaven could ever have existed in all the universe. But to weaken this cord in the least degree could not fail to produce friction, because with that principle weakened, union of sentiment must inevitably cease.

Love is the foundation of God's government, and the happiness of all intelligent creatures has from the first depended upon their being in accord with its eternal principles, which are righteousness. When the Saviour of the world was asked what was the underlying substance, or energy, of God's law, He replied: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. 22:37-40.

This is a most wonderful statement, and yet how true it is that men who do not love God above every other object must surely fail to live in perfect agreement with all His requirements!

Self or other considerations absorb the interest and attention, and the commandments of God are thus made of secondary importance. True service of obedience to God springs entirely from love; hence love, and love alone, "is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:10. No outward form, then, of perfunctory ceremonial can satisfy the demands of the law, since every duty it requires must be the expression of a grateful, loving heart.

But to transgress the law is sin. 1 John 3:4. It is therefore clear that, since the law is fulfilled only by love, to fail in love is to commit sin. In other words, whoever fails to love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself, violates the two great fundamental principles of God's law, which is the expression of the character of Jehovah Himself. The first appearance, therefore, of such a disposition must have been the origin of evil.

There is a record of one being who was created perfect in all his ways, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. The home of this being was in the garden of God, in the midst of all the brilliant precious stones which adorn the heavenly city. He had been anointed as one of the covering cherubim of the throne of God. Few had been more exalted than he, yet there came a time when he was found to be contaminated with iniquity. He had perverted the freedom granted to all of God's creatures, and so broken the hitherto quiet harmony of heaven. Being author of the first disturbance ever known among heaven's subjects, he was cast, as profane, out of the mountain of God. Eze. 28:12-16.

The name of this being was Lucifer, or shining one. He was also called "son of the morning," or day star. Isa. 14:12. He was really one of the morning-stars in the galaxy of the angels of heaven. Since the fall of this being, but one morning-star has been made known to men: "I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-star." Rev. 22:16. From the fact that Christ was and is a "morning-star," it will be gathered that Lucifer had once held a high place among the heavenly inhabitants, but for some reason sacrificed it to ever after bear a name of reproach.

Christ said to His disciples, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18. This statement doubtless has reference to the fall of Lucifer. But notice the change in name that has taken place. The word "Satan" means adversary, or opposer. His wrong consisted and still consists in being an opposer of God; hence his name.

But how came one so beautiful, and having so great advantage of station in God's government, to become His opposer? Herein lies the mystery of the origin of evil. Its appearance was an anomaly. Could a good and sufficient reason for its existence have been given, it would not have been an evil. The only reason, therefore, to be given for its being evil is that it is contrary to God, who is love and is therefore in direct opposition to Him in everything. The origin of evil was therefore a failure to act in harmony with the principle of love, which is the essential element of God, and the rule of His government. The whole matter is stated thus: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Eze. 28:17.

All the beauty possessed by Lucifer was the gift of God's love, yet he failed to appreciate the Giver. Instead of giving God the supreme place in his affections, he centered his mind on himself, and sought to attract others toward him. A sense of his beauty was permitted to lift his heart in pride and corrupt his wisdom. Altho enjoying the distinction of the position in which God had placed him, he assumed that his personal advantages fitted him to occupy a higher place than that which the wisdom and love of God had assigned.

Secret dissatisfaction was nursed until he determined in his heart to exalt his place above every being but One. He therefore said, "I will be like the Most High." Isa. 14:13, 14. This was the effect of permitting selfishness to sit in the throne of love. The next step was to insinuate doubts among his fellows as to the justice of God's dealings. By deceit and cunning he trafficked in the merchandise of his heart, and instilled his own sentiments into the minds of others who sympathized with him, until violence filled their midst. Eze. 28:16.

In the attending foment, a division of sentiment became marked, calling for a separation of the heavenly forces. Those who were found in opposition to the rule of Heaven were therefore cast out from the presence and glory of God, to dwell in the midst of darkness until the judgment of the great day shall settle their cases. 1 Peter 2:4. Thus, while evil may be traced to its origin, no good reason can be assigned for its existence.

God having endowed every sentient being with volition, or will, He sacredly refrains from attempting to control that will by force. After setting before His creatures the principles of love, and the effect of not adopting them as the rule of life, He lets each choose for himself which course he will pursue. No other sort of service could reveal the true inwardness of the heart and develop character; so this was the only course to follow, even among angels. Those who prove loyal under such a test are thus known to have a will in perfect harmony with the reign of righteousness, which is the generous outflow of love for Him who has bestowed upon them the gifts of His grace.