DEAR JOHN & DOVES:

I NEED YOUR HELP!  I CONDUCT A SMALL JAIL MINISTRY AND I HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION NEITHER I NOR MY PASTOR HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER SATISFACTORILY.  THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION MAY POSSIBLY DETERMINE WHETHER THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL EVER BE ABLE TO OVERCOME GRIEVOUS HURTS FROM THE PAST & TRUST IN GOD ENOUGH TO GIVE HER LIFE OVER TO CHRIST!

THE QUESTION IS THIS:

AFTER SATAN'S FALL, WHY DID GOD ALLOW HIM TO DECEIVE ADAM AND EVE, AND TO CONTINUE TO RUN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE EARTH DESTROYING LIVES WHEN GOD COULD HAVE SIMPLY CAST HIM INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE FROM THE BEGINNING AND HAVE IT DONE WITH, SPARING MANKIND (INCLUDING ADAM AND EVE)?

MY PASTOR SAYS ITS BECAUSE SATAN SERVES THE PURPOSES OF GOD.  BUT THAT IS TOO GENERAL A STATEMENT, AND IT JUST DOESN'T CUT THE MUSTARD WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHO CANNOT SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN SUCH A SCENARIO!

ANY HELP WITH THIS DILEMMA IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. ADVANCE THANKS TO ALL YOU DOVES!

M.A.P.