You are good, and what you do is good. (Psalm 119:68)
I believe that behind the universe there exists a thoroughly good Being… God.
God IS good, and therefore God DOES good; whatever God does is good.
But this does not mean that everything that happens is good.
The reason: this good God created a universe managed by free humans capable of choosing good, or not.
Everything God does is good, but God does not do everything!
He does not rape, murder, steal, lie, cheat, abuse, vandalize, oppress, torture.
But He allows it, isn’t that the same thing?
This is God’s dilemma: He can either have free humans with the possibility of evil, or enslaved puppets with no choice.
If He were to intervene to prevent evil, He would have to get rid of all of us, or turn us into robots.
It’s the same dilemma we face: why have children when we know there is a good possibility that they will hurt us?
God chooses love, God chooses freedom, God chooses the best world possible, given this dilemma.
And through it all God inserts His goodness.
He shows us what love is all about, and reminds us of the seriousness and deadliness of evil.
He judges those who refuse to change for good, and He helps those who admit their need for mercy and help.
God is not the cause of evil, but behind it all His goodness is at work.
He allows His children to choose, but He also provides abundant opportunities to choose what is good.
He is good, and what He does is good!