Created for Good: The Redemption of a Misused Tree...

Have you ever asked, “If there is a God, then how can He allow evil to exist?” You’re not alone, and this is a noble question. Our moral compass and cry for justice are inherent within us, just as God intended. I’d like to use this tree as an illustration, hoping it will shed light on this mystery.

Created for Good_ the Redemption of a Misused Tree

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Look at this tree. It was created by God for a purpose, just like you and me. This tree could serve many positive roles: providing shade on a hot day, producing oxygen so we can breathe, or offering shelter to various forms of wildlife. Its wood could be used for cooking, writing, or even building a home or piece of furniture. This tree is also completely dependent on God for its survival. Its very existence is an act of God, because if its seed had fallen on a rock, it would never have found the nutrients needed to grow. Unlike us, this tree did not choose where it would stand, 40 feet tall, offering a “Swiss Army knife” of functions for the world around it.

So, if God gives humans a choice about how to live, where’s the problem? The answer lies in our hearts. From birth, we are self-centered; it’s essential for survival. A baby that didn’t cry for milk would risk starvation. But there comes a point when we become aware of our self-centered behavior—a moment when we can choose between what’s best for ourselves and what’s best for the greater good. We recognize the difference between good and evil, and we have the choice to follow either path. We can choose to follow God and live as He intended, or we can go our own way, living without Him. Out of His love, God gives us this choice. Without it, we’d be like robots, and without choice, love cannot exist. Love, plain and simple, is a choice.

The absence of God is what we call evil, just like the absence of light is darkness or the absence of heat is cold. Darkness and cold don’t truly exist; they’re words we use to describe states where something essential is missing. Similarly, evil is the absence of following God.

Now, look closely at this tree again. See the ribbons and bracelets tied to it? Think back to the purpose God originally intended for this tree. It could have been a place of rest, a provider of shade, or a symbol of life. But through the choices of those who abandoned this design, it became a tool for unimaginable cruelty. Under the rule of a few, this tree—meant to give life—became a symbol of death. Through a civil war that spiraled into genocide, over three million innocent lives were taken. This tree witnessed the brutal end of nearly 200 infants, who never had the chance to grow and fulfill their potential, their lives taken out of fear that they might seek justice for their murdered parents.

The absence of God leaves a void—a void that can be filled with either darkness or light. Unlike this tree, we have a choice. We can choose to follow God’s design, to be agents of His light, bringing warmth and goodness to the world. Or we can ignore it, and face a world colder, darker, and further from the beauty He intended.

A few weeks ago, I stood before this tree, overwhelmed as I listened to a pre-recorded guide describe the inhumane ways it was used. I realized that, just like the men who led this genocide, I too was no better in God’s eyes. I had led a self-centered life, empty of God, for most of my life. But by His grace, I am now saved. By His mercy, I am forgiven. By His sacrifice, I am set free. And by His transforming power, He continues to redefine my life. I want the same for you, and so does the Lord.

Discover your purpose by giving up the perilous pursuit of filling a void that only He can. Jesus Christ died for you and me so that we might find life, meaning, and purpose. This tree may have been used for evil, but God can use even this for good.