How Could a Loving God?

We've all heard the question right? How could a loving God allow all this sickness, pain, heartache, death, and disaster happen daily all over the world? Children are starving, mothers are losing their babies, people are sick with cancer or other horrible diseases. Why does God let this happen??

...and most of us have heard the common answer. God made a perfect world. Man sinned. The penalty for sin is death. Therefore, things decay and eventually we all die.

I believe all of that. But it has never satisfied me.

I questioned why, if God knew we were going to sin, did he even bother to make us? He knew he was going to send His Son to go through extreme agony and then die for us. Why did He go through all that trouble for a people that He knew was going to be sinful, rebellious, and disobedient?

I finally found an answer that encompassed the other answer, but added a little more understanding to it. I was reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis last year for school (I think this is the book where I found this information). He pointed out that God had two options: To make us with the ability of choice and emotions or to make us robots that always behaved perfectly because we were programmed to; not because we chose or wanted to do it. God didn't want this. He wanted relationship. He wanted us to be able to choose to love Him. He loved us enough to make us with the ability to choose. He didn't want to force us to behave perfectly and then sit back and watch us do it. He wanted relationship! The reason He "bothered" to create us is because He wanted someone to glorify Him, to worship Him, and to enjoy Him forever! But He wanted us to do it because we loved Him. Not because He forced us to.

I also like the way Voddie Bachum answers the "How could a loving God?" question.
He reminds us that the penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He says our question should not be, "How could God allow all these nasty things to happen to me?" Our question should be, "Why is God not smoking us all in our boots right now?"

We violate God's law every day and He demands justice. Thankfully for us, He is also a patient and merciful God who gives us a chance to choose life everlasting! 

Voddie makes a humorous point to show us all that we sin every day.
(This isn't an exact quote, it's been a while since I've heard this sermon. ;)
"You steal God's air every day! It's like this. God created everything and you breath daily. So you're taking air into your lungs every day and not giving it back. Last time I checked, when you take something that isn't yours and you don't give it back; you're stealing!" ;)    

Thankfully, God (who does require justice and will punish sin) has mercy and grace. He gives us a chance, while on earth, to choose to love Him and accept His free gift of salvation. (2 Peter 3:9b He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.)
Life is fleeting though. We never know when we will take our last breath. (James 4:14 ...you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.) Don't keep putting of salvation until "the perfect time in your life". Confess Jesus as Lord and ask for His forgiveness to wash away your sin! (Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.)

These are just my thoughts on the subject. Please don't hesitate to comment with your thoughts. (Or corrections if I have said something inaccurate!)