If God Is Good… Why Does He Allow Evil?
Part 3: The Harvest Is Coming – Final Judgment, Restoration, and the Hope for the Righteous
When Justice Feels Too Late
When we see evil thrive and the wicked go unpunished, it’s hard not to wonder: “Will justice ever come?” “Has God forgotten what happened?” “Does it even matter if I keep doing what’s right?”
The truth is, we live in a time where injustice often seems to win. Corruption flourishes—the guilty escape. The innocent suffer. And if this world was all there is, the darkness would have the last word. But the Bible is clear — there is a greater reality right now and in the future, and this is not the end of the story.
The Parable’s Ending: A Promise of Justice
In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus ends with a sober yet hope-filled image. At the time of harvest — the end of the age — the wheat and tares will be separated. The tares will be gathered and burned, and the wheat will be brought into the Master’s barn.
Jesus explains the meaning plainly:
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire… Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:41–43)
The harvest is coming. God’s justice is not forgotten — it is scheduled…!
God’s Delay Is Not God’s Approval
When evil goes unpunished for a time, it’s easy to think God is overlooking it. But 2 Peter 3:9 tells us the real reason:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
God’s patience is mercy. He is giving time for repentance, for salvation, for the possibility that those far from Him (tares) might turn and live (become wheat). But this delay will not last forever. As Paul writes:
“He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.” (Acts 17:31)
What the Final Judgment Means for the Righteous
For those who belong to Christ, the Day of Judgment is not a day of fear, but of vindication. Every wrong suffered for righteousness’ sake will be acknowledged. Every hidden act of faithfulness will be rewarded. Jesus Himself said:
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)
For the righteous, that day will not be about condemnation — because our sin has already been judged at the cross — but about reward, restoration, and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The Restoration of All Things
God’s justice is not just about punishing the wicked — it’s about making all things new. Revelation 21:4 paints the breathtaking picture:
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying… for the former things have passed away.”
Creation itself will be renewed (Romans 8:18–23). The brokenness of this present world will be replaced with a reality where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
Why This Hope Sustains Us Now
Knowing that God will set all things right gives us the strength to keep going when life feels unfair. It reminds us that no act of faith, no suffering endured for Christ, no stand for righteousness is wasted.
Paul could endure hardship because he knew:
“There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
This is the finish line we run toward…
PRAYER: Lord, Keep My Eyes on the Harvest
Father, thank You for the promise that justice will be done and that every wrong will be made right. Help me to trust Your timing, even when I can’t see it yet. Strengthen my heart to keep walking in righteousness, knowing that my labor in You is never in vain. Keep my eyes fixed on the harvest day, when You will wipe away every tear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
COMING NEXT (Part 4)
If God knew evil would happen, why did He create the possibility for it in the first place?
In the final article, we’ll return to the Garden of Eden — to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil — and discover how the answer is rooted in God’s desire for real love, freedom, and relationship.
