Hi Lacey
I am quoting Ray here in his responce to an e-mail he recieved from Liz
Ray writes...."The answers to your questions are directly related to the reason for the whole creation. Why did God create ANYTHING? THE EARTH? THE HEAVENS? US? ANGELS? ANIMALS?
God has always existed - He is ETERNAL. He is SPIRIT. He is LOVE. he is LONELY. GOD WANTS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
Since God is good and God is love, He naturally wants His sons and daughters to be good and love also.
Goodness, righteousness, virtue,character, and love AND INANIMATE things cannot be created as a rock, or water, or a star, etc By the very nature of goodness, virtue, etc, it requires TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE to devgelope (or create if you will) thes virtuous traits of charactger and love.
Since any and every virtue that you can think of is the result of overcoming some form of evil, EVIL, therefore, becomes a very important ingredient in the development of virtue, character and love.
As God does not DIRECTLY try anyone, He had to create adversaries todo this "dirty work." And so, God created His OWN ADVERSARY, Satan, the devil. There are lesser adversaries in the form of demons.
God gives man the illusion of having "free" will, which exalts his pride and vanity and causes him to think he can operate independently from God. This then brings about SIN. SIN is so bad that it needs tobe atoned for. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to be this Atonement.
Only a few are presently called to understand ANY OF THESE THINGS. The rest of humanity will be called at the great white throne judging.
There was NO evil present with God before Satan, for God UNDERSTANDS all of the ramification of good and evil. When all enemies and powers are brought under Chrits's subjection, then evil, sin, and even death itself will be abolished.
Sin and evil are absolutely necessary in the development of human character, virtue, and love.
God be with you
Ray"..........end quote
Lacey...the above explaination really helped me to get past many unknowns and unanswered grey areas ......I might add that I need to constantly return to study Rays Lake of Fire Series....Also I do not believe God made us to be human doings but human beings....Who God in HIS great love for us in in full control of....
1 Peter 5 : 10....And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who imparts all blessing and favor, Who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you outhght to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
Arcturs