Answers

By   •   June 5, 2006

Q:

I know God is supposed to be in control of everything, but why did He make people like Hitler or Stalin, who were responsible for the deaths of millions? Doesn't that make God responsible for all those deaths?


A:

God is not responsible for what evil men do; they alone are responsible, and they are accountable to God for their evil actions. The Bible warns, “The soul who sins is the one who will die. … The wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him” (Ezekiel 18:20).

You see, when God first created the human race, He made them completely free. In other words, they were not puppets; they had the freedom to choose whether to love God and follow Him or to turn against Him. Since that awful time in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided to turn away from God, the human race has been infected with a spiritual disease—a disease the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

When men allow sin to take over their souls and live without any restraints, they end up doing terrible things to others. Some years ago, my wife, Ruth, and I visited the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz, and I found myself so overwhelmed at what had taken place there that I could hardly speak.

But listen: Life doesn’t have to be this way! Jesus Christ came into the world to bring us forgiveness by His death on the cross. He also came to change us and give us new life. He alone can change our hearts—and He will, as we open our lives to Him. Have you asked Him to come into your life as your Lord and Savior?