When we set a goal, we have a purpose in mind.
I remember when I ran my first marathon. My goal was to finish! I found a beginner plan that would prepare me for the 26.2 miles. Over the course of 20 weeks, I ran the miles in the plan. As the miles in the plan got longer, it got harder on my body.
I have a goal to finish, so I needed to do the painful work of training. Thankfully, it paid off, and I did finish the race.
For the greater good.
When we look at evil in the world, we sometimes see a greater purpose or good attached to it.
Evil was not a direct creation of God, but a corruption of the good by humanity to have their own way.
The providence of God is one example we can experience in our lives of a greater good. God has a greater purpose in that evil situation, and we are often amazed at His goodness to us.
In a situation, it can be hard for us. We want life to be happy and comfortable, but that cannot be the case in the world we live in. God uses evil to bring about something significant.
The best example is the cross.
Our redemption.
The greatest act of evil produced the greatest good for humanity.
Christ’s death on the cross. His sacrifice for humanity to pay the penalty of sin for a world that rejected Him. Jesus suffered a horrible death for us to have a right relationship with God. It goes without saying that without the cross, we would be eternally lost.
So out of death came life for all of humanity. The greatest good!
“For the Almighty God, who as even the heathen acknowledge, has supreme power over all things, being Himself supremely good, would never permit the existence of anything evil among His works, if He were not so omnipotent and good that He can bring good even out of evil.”
-Augustine
References
A Visual Guide to Biblical Apologetics by Joseph M. Holden and Sarah R. Enterline
Why Does God Allow Evil? By Clay Jones
Without a Doubt Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions by Kenneth Samples
Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis
