Yes the bible says that God has created all things for His pleasure.
People have children often for the joy of bringing a new life into this world to raise and nurture. As parents they provide them with the best instruction they can as to what is right and wrong and how to get along in this world. At some point that child makes a conscious decision as to wether they will follow those instructions, whether they will do good or evil. They have a choice and are not compelled any longer by that parent.
The same is with God. Humans are part of His creation, why would He not want to seek pleasure in us just as a parent does with their children.
At the same time He has provided us with free choice, our will. We can choose to follow His instructions (the bible) or not.
In Genesis ..." And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man...."
The bible shows that with God the physical life we lead here is so temporary, roughly 70 years, but our soul lives on forever. If this is true think how insignificant that amount of time will appear 250 million years from now. The decisions we make now affect where we stand with God for the future.
<< He created, and gets pleasure out of, hideous suffering by innocent beings, then, of course.>>
God hates it.
In Matthew 18 Jesus says in reference to a little child...
vs 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
vs 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
I am not speaking about faith in God or the bible from a sheltered rose colored position. I am no stranger to the suffering of innocent persons and violence and have experienced much of it first hand including the deaths of children and adults. On some of those occasions they died in my arms.
The bible says those children are with God in heaven. It says the evil that perpetrated their demise is called sin and God hates it and there are consequences for that sin. Does this sound like He is toying with us? Or is there a plan in mind and you are on a proving ground?
John |
