The only way a brick layer can determine if his wall is straight is by comparing it to a perfect standard. So, he uses a square, a level, and a plumb line. The only way you can know that you are being treated fairly when you buy a pound of anything is to set it on a scale that has been calibrated by the standard established by the government office of weights and measures. A pound is 16 ounces and an ounce is 28 grams.

Just as mathematics is a perfect science, so morality, the difference between right and wrong is also perfect. Is it wrong to murder? Is it wrong to rape? Is it wrong to steal? Is it wrong to lie? Any honest person must admit that yes, these things are inherently evil in and of themselves.

HERE IS THE COMPLETE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION

The number one objection people raise against the existence of God is based on this question of evil. If God is God why doesn't He remove all the evil people? It is a good thing He does not. If He removed all the evil people using His standard, none of us would still be here (including you)!

Nevertheless, the question of evil is a legitimate question that deserves an answer and the Bible provides it. The answer is found not in the Garden of Eden, but in Heaven. In Ezek. 28:12, God reveals the mystery of iniquity, and allows us to see exactly what happened before time began!

Thus says the Lord, "You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless n your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God."

And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.

THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF HATE IS ONLY UNDERSTOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF LOVE!

When God created the angels, He created one who was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. He was known as the anointed cherub. I have never seen an angel. But, I do know according to the Bible, they are not Caucasian females with long blonde hair, nor are they little babies with wings floating on clouds and playing harps!

According to the Bible, angels are extremely powerful creatures capable of performing feats of strength far beyond any mortal man. In 2 Kings chapter 19, we read the account of an angel that slew 185,000 men from the Assyrian army in one night!

If an angel suddenly appeared in your church next Sunday, no one would have their heads in the air, their faces would be in the dust! In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said He could have called 12 legions of angels (Matt. 26:53), which would have been enough sword power to destroy the entire Roman army in one day.

To get more on the story of what happened with Lucifer, we turn to the prophet Isaiah, written 750 years before Christ came to Earth. In Isa. 14:12-14 we read: How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

There you have it. The first sin in the universe covetousness. Lucifer became discontented as the guardian cherub, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, he wanted to be worshipped! It was then that his name was changed from Lucifer (which means the light one) to Satan (which means the adversary).

THE REBELLION IN HEAVEN

It is believed (based on Rev. 12:4), that Lucifer convinced 1/3 of the angels to follow him instead of God. So, here we have 1/3 of the angels in opposition against God. The question is, what should He do about it? Look at His options. He could have vaporized them instantaneously. He could have crushed the rebellion with a word! The problem with that approach would be obvious. If the Creator had simply wiped out the fallen angels, the worship in Heaven would have been tainted by fear. We are assured in 1 Jn. 4:18-19 that . . .

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love Him, because He first loved us.

EVEN THOUGH GOD IS SOVEREIGN, ONE THING HE CANNOT DO IS TO MAKE SOMEONE LOVE HIM FORCED LOVE IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS.

If God were to violate your free will here, true love would not be possible. So, God said, in effect, I will prove my love, not with a show of force, but with a demonstration of perfect love. That is where we come in. We are exhibit "A" to all the host of Heaven, that God is love. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jn. 3:16

For more on this see Why Has God remained Silent.