Why does suffering exist?

The question of suffering has often been considered to be the bane of those defending a Christian viewpoint. The problem is that we are asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, "Why would a good God allow people to suffer?" We should be asking, "Why would a fair and just God allow any of us to live?" The fact is that every person has sinned--failed to measure up to God's perfect standard (Rom3:23)--and deserves to be punished (Rom 6:23). We perceive suffering to be unjust when we deem those who suffer to be innocent. No one is innocent before God, therefore everyone deserves to suffer. It is God's patience and love that cause him to allow the world to continue to exist. When an instance of undeserved suffering was brought to the attention of Jesus he replied that those who died were not worse sinners than everyone else but that this event should serve as a warning that unless we turn away from our sin we will perish as well (Luk 13.1-5). The idea that this is a good world in which suffering is an unfortunate occurrence is a false one. God's word tells us that this is a world in rebellion to him who is loving and good, and that it will pay the penalty of eternal death. But Jesus Christ offered a way to cancel all of our shortcomings and be perfect before God (Rom 4:24-25). We need only to turn from our sin and believe in him (Rom 10:9).